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Holden Cruze: JH Cruze 1.4 turbo (A14NET) safety recalls: cold brake vacuum pump and oil fire risk on the belly pan

JH Cruze 1.4 turbo (A14NET) safety recalls: cold brake vacuum pump and oil fire risk on the belly pan is a common brakes fault on the Holden Cruze on the 2011–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $0 to $600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 13 documented faults on the Holden Cruze.

Vehicle
Holden Cruze
Engine
1.4L
Years
2011–2013
Fuel
petrol
System
Brakes

This page covers the Holden Cruze as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Cruze faults13 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Turbocharger yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The JH Cruze 1.4 litre turbo petrol (A14NET) was the subject of two safety recalls of its own. On automatics built from 22 February 2011 to 8 June 2012 the extra electric brake vacuum pump may not work while the engine is cold, so the brake pedal can need much more effort in the first minutes of driving (PRA 2013/13702). On 1.4 turbo cars the plastic lower air deflector under the engine can catch spilt engine oil, which can catch fire on the hot exhaust manifold or catalytic converter, so Holden modified the deflector (PRA 2012/13189). Both fixes were free at a Holden dealer, but an imported or long-neglected car may never have had them done.

What you would notice

  • Brake pedal feels hard or needs extra effort in the first minutes after a cold start
  • Burning oil smell after an oil change
  • Oil residue pooled on the plastic tray under the engine

How to check it

Where to look. Electric brake vacuum pump in the engine bay; lower air deflector (belly pan) under the engine

Start the car from cold if you can and, before driving off, press the brake pedal several times: it should feel the same as it does once the engine is warm, not hard and wooden. With a phone torch, look under the front of the car at the plastic tray below the engine for pooled oil or oil-soaked patches near the exhaust. Ask the seller for proof the two recalls were done, or have a Holden or GM dealer check the VIN for open campaigns. If a workshop inspection is possible: on a hoist, check the lower air deflector is the modified recall part and is clean, and have the brake vacuum pump operation checked on a cold engine.

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$0 to $600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Have the brake vacuum pump and lower air deflector recalls been done, and is there a record?”
  • “Has a dealer checked this VIN for any open Holden recalls?”
  • “Does the brake pedal ever feel hard just after a cold start?”

Now check the Holden Cruze you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Holden Cruze buyer questions

Is jh cruze 1.4 turbo (a14net) safety recalls: cold brake vacuum pump and oil fire risk on the belly pan serious on a Holden Cruze?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Cruze. The JH Cruze 1.4 litre turbo petrol (A14NET) was the subject of two safety recalls of its own. On automatics built from 22 February 2011 to 8 June 2012 the extra electric brake vacuum pump may not work while the engine is cold, so the brake pedal can need much more effort in the first minutes of driving (PRA 2013/13702). On 1.4 turbo cars the plastic lower air deflector under the engine can catch spilt engine oil, which can catch fire on the hot exhaust manifold or catalytic converter, so Holden modified the deflector (PRA 2012/13189). Both fixes were free at a Holden dealer, but an imported or long-neglected car may never have had them done.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Cruze?

$0 to $600 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Cruze years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2013 Holden Cruze. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Start the car from cold if you can and, before driving off, press the brake pedal several times: it should feel the same as it does once the engine is warm, not hard and wooden. With a phone torch, look under the front of the car at the plastic tray below the engine for pooled oil or oil-soaked patches near the exhaust. Ask the seller for proof the two recalls were done, or have a Holden or GM dealer check the VIN for open campaigns. If a workshop inspection is possible: on a hoist, check the lower air deflector is the modified recall part and is clean, and have the brake vacuum pump operation checked on a cold engine. Look here: Electric brake vacuum pump in the engine bay; lower air deflector (belly pan) under the engine