Chevrolet halts sales of certain Cruze models

General Motors is telling Chevrolet dealers to stop selling some 2013 and 2014 model year Chevrolet Cruze sedans, though the automaker isn't saying why. On Thursday, March 27, the automaker issued a stop-delivery order via email to all U.S. Chevrolet dealers, requiring dealers to stop selling some Cruze models equipped with a 1.4-liter turbo engine.

It was not immediately clear how many Cruze models equipped with that engine are currently in dealer stocks right now, though all U.S. dealerships were sent VINs to help them identify the affected cars. Automotive News reports that one high-volume Chevrolet dealer in the Midwest commented that about 10 percent of their Cruze inventory is affected by the stop-sale order.

General Motors told Automotive News that Cruze models equipped with the 1.4-liter turbo engine in question represent about 60 percent of Cruze sales and approximately one-third of dealers' inventory at this point in time.

Chevrolet has sold a total of 248,224 examples of all Cruze models in the U.S. in 2013, with the sedan being its top-selling car in our market. The Cruze is available with a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine and a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel as well, but stop-sale orders do not affect those models.

The stop-sale order is said to not be related to the recall involving its predecessors, the Chevrolet Cobalt and the Pontiac G5, which are right now in the midst of a high-profile investigation.

By Jay Ramey