Holden Cruze: Thermostat housing and turbo coolant hose leaks, overheating (1.6 turbo A16LET, SRi and SRi-V)
Thermostat housing and turbo coolant hose leaks, overheating (1.6 turbo A16LET, SRi and SRi-V) is a common cooling fault on the Holden Cruze on the 2013–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,500 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
- 1.6L
- Years
- 2013–2016
- Fuel
- petrol
- System
- Cooling
What you are looking at
Example of the part — not this vehicleA double-valve engine thermostat, labelled: the wax capsule is what sticks.
What goes wrong
The 1.6-litre turbo petrol used in the Cruze SRi and SRi-V from 2013 is prone to overheating, and a common cause is a failed thermostat housing that had to be replaced on many cars. The coolant hoses that feed the turbocharger were also not tough enough for Australian underbonnet heat and can split or leak. Owners commonly report these failures between about 45,000 and 90,000 km, and running the engine hot after a leak risks cylinder head damage.
What you would notice
- Temperature gauge climbing or overheating warning
- Coolant level dropping in the reservoir
- Sweet coolant smell after a drive
- Crusty pink or orange residue around hoses near the turbo
- Heater blowing cold
How to check it
Where to look. Engine bay, thermostat housing on the engine and coolant hoses at the turbocharger
With the engine cold, open the bonnet and check the coolant reservoir is at the mark and the coolant looks clean. Use a phone torch to look for dried coolant crust or wet patches around the thermostat housing on the engine and the hoses running to the turbo. On the test drive watch the temperature gauge in traffic and after a hill, and smell for coolant when you stop. Ask whether the thermostat housing or turbo hoses have been replaced and ask for invoices. If a workshop inspection is possible: have the cooling system pressure tested and check for overheating codes.
What it costs to put right
$400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Has the thermostat housing been replaced?”
- “Have the turbo coolant hoses been replaced?”
- “Has the car ever overheated or needed coolant topped up?”
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.
Where this comes from
Holden Cruze buyer questions
Is thermostat housing and turbo coolant hose leaks, overheating (1.6 turbo a16let, sri and sri-v) serious on a Holden Cruze?
We rate it major and common on the Holden Cruze. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol used in the Cruze SRi and SRi-V from 2013 is prone to overheating, and a common cause is a failed thermostat housing that had to be replaced on many cars. The coolant hoses that feed the turbocharger were also not tough enough for Australian underbonnet heat and can split or leak. Owners commonly report these failures between about 45,000 and 90,000 km, and running the engine hot after a leak risks cylinder head damage.
How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Cruze?
$400 to $1,500 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 2013–2016 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?
With the engine cold, open the bonnet and check the coolant reservoir is at the mark and the coolant looks clean. Use a phone torch to look for dried coolant crust or wet patches around the thermostat housing on the engine and the hoses running to the turbo. On the test drive watch the temperature gauge in traffic and after a hill, and smell for coolant when you stop. Ask whether the thermostat housing or turbo hoses have been replaced and ask for invoices. If a workshop inspection is possible: have the cooling system pressure tested and check for overheating codes. Look here: Engine bay, thermostat housing on the engine and coolant hoses at the turbocharger