2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 865 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 10 Cruze model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 62 involved a crash and 18 involved a fire. 30 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 5, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJun 6, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
Campaign 14V300000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assistAug 15, 2013
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L DOHC gasoline turbo engines and 6T40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist.
A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's recall number is 12213.
Campaign 13V360000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJan 24, 2013
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign 13V023000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsOct 31, 2012
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Campaign 12V522000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assembly, mountingJun 22, 2012
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.
THE FUEL TANK COULD COME LOOSE IN A CRASH, POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR MISSING WELDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS MISSING WELDS, DEALERS WILL SECURE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS WITH FASTENERS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
Campaign 12V289000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingJun 22, 2012
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. SPILLED OR DRIPPING OIL (SUCH AS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE) MAY COLLECT IN THE ENGINE SHIELD (BELLYPAN) NEAR HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST SYSTEM SURFACES. AS A RESULT, THE OIL AND THE ENGINE SHIELD MAY IGNITE AND BURN.
EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ENGINE SHIELD TO PREVENT FLUID FROM CONTACTING THE SHIELD. ALSO, ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DEALERS WILL APPLY A PROTECTIVE TAPE TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WIRE HARNESS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
Campaign 12V288000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)
108 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 22, 2014
IT BEGINS WITH THE RADIO BLINKING ON AND OFF WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE NOTICE THAT GOES ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUCH AS SIGNAL LIGHTS NO SOUND, SOMETIMES PUTTING THE WINDOW UP WILL TRIGGER THE WRENCH TO BE DISPLAYED, ALSO LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL. NO CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE RADIO IS BLINKING. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT INCLUDE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING: WARNING INDICATORS WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF, SUCH AS "SERVICE STABILITRAK", "SERVICE POWER STEERING" AND "SERVICE ABS", WHILE DRIVING.RADIO BEGAN SHUTTING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE DISPLAY & RADIO SHUTS OFF, EVEN THE BLINKER WOULDN'T MAKE A SOUND. WHAT I FIND ALARMING IS DURING THESE EPISODES, THE POWER STEERING ACTUALLY FAILS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. ON A 20 MINUTE DRIVE, I EXPERIENCED 4 FAILURES AND THE ABOVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPENING NON-STOP FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP. A DAY LATER, AS A TEST, I DROVE MY CAR AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD (LESS THAN A 1 MINUTE DRIVE) AND EXPERIENCED ALL THE SAME ISSUES, INCLUDING LOSS OF POWER STEERING...I HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE WITH A DEALER...A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS AN ALARMING NUMBER OF CHEVY CRUZE OWNER WITH THIS ISSUE, WHICH POINTS TO MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT AND NOT WEAR & TEAR...LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE IN MOTION WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR....UPDATED 07/31/14 *BF *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 15, 2014
THE CENTER INFORMATION CENTER WITH THE RADIO BEGAN SHUTTING ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE DISPLAY & RADIO SHUTS OFF, EVEN THE BLINKER WOULDN'T MAKE A SOUND. SOMETIMES DURING THIS A NOTIFICATION WOULD COME UP "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" AND/OR "SERVICE STABILITRACK." I TRIED TROUBLESHOOTING IT MYSELF FOR A FEW DAYS. SOMETIMES THE BLINKER, SEAT WARMER, OR EVEN PLUGGING IN MY PHONE TO THE USB PORT SEEMED TO TRIGGER IT. I NOTICED THE VOLTAGE FLUCTUATING FROM 12.9 - 15.2V WHILE DRIVING OR AT A STOP. THE DAY THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, ALL THE NOTIFICATION LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT DURING A LEFT TURN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH BATTERY CABLES AND MENTIONED THAT THEY'VE HAD MANY OF THESE CARS IN WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE RESOLVED AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING GREAT, UNTIL YESTERDAY 1/15/14. EVERYTHING MENTIONED ABOVE, EXCEPT FOR THE POWER STEERING LOSS, IS HAPPENING AGAIN. IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET AND YOUTUBE, YOU'LL QUICKLY SEE THIS IS A GROWING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND RECALLED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Traction control system, Jan 15, 2014
RECENTLY, CAR RADIO HAS BEEN FLICKERING ON AND OFF, ALONG WITH SERVICE NOTIFICATIONS OF STABILI TRAC, TRACTION CONTROL. CHEVY DEALER NOTIFIED, SERVICED CAR, FOUND NOTHING AND HAS NO EXPLANATION. TODAY, STOPPED AT A CORNER TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. AS I WAS ACCELERATING AT APPROX 2-3 MPH AROUND THE CORNER, THEN STEERING WAS LOST AND COULD NOT TURN THE CORNER. LOST ALL CONTROL OF CAR. VERY FORTUNATE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY TO ANYTHING OR ANYONE. SCARY INCIDENT THAT COULD OF HAD A WORSE OUTCOME. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 6, 2013
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL INSIDE MY CAR CUTTING IN AND OUT, ALL ELECTRICAL TURNS OFF. SERVICE CHECKS COME ACROSS DASHBOARD FOR POWER STEERING, STABILITY CHECK CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL. THE POWER STEERING HAS STOPPED WORKING AT TIMES AS WELL. I AM NOT SURE BUT IF YOU ARE TURNING IT APPEARS THAT THE TURN SIGNALS STOP WORKING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. HEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMER THAN NORMAL WHEN IT CUTS IN AND OUT, IT FLICKERS WITH THE SHORTAGES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME THEY TIGHTENED A GROUND WIRE, THE SECOND TIME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, AND NOW I'M TAKING IT BACK A FOURTH TIME TO HAVE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 29, 2013
THE RADIO ELECTRICAL PANEL WOULD TURN ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY, THEN THE DRIVERS GAUGE PANEL WOULD FLICKER. AFTER THE GAUGE PANEL FLICKERED, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF. THEN THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THEN I WENT TO ROLL UP THE WINDOWS AND THE WHOLE DASH PANEL FLICKERED, THEN THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE. IT ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS SOMEWHERE. I AM TAKING IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 28, 2013, crash
THIS STARTED THIS WEEK, THE ELECTRICAL PARTS (RADIO, SPEAKERS, TURNING SIGNAL CLICKER, AC ETC) WILL CONSTANTLY FLICKER OFF THEN COME BACK ON AFTER ABOUT TEN SECONDS, EVERY TIME I HAVE THE CAR RUNNING. THE STABILITY WARNING WILL SOMETIMES GO ON BUT WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT. THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT OCCURRED THE THE 27TH OF AUGUST WHEN I WENT TO TAKE A LEFT TURN, ON TO A HIGHWAY. WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A PASSING CAR AND GET REAR ENDED. IT SPECIFICALLY LOCKED UP AT ABOUT TEN MILES AN HOUR WHILE PICKING UP SPEED. AFTER I RETURNED TO MY PARKING LOT IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A BARRIER, SLIGHTLY DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER. SINCE THEN MY POWER STEERING WILL SOMETIMES LOCK UP MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TT
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 16, 2013
WHILE DRIVING ON ORTEGA HIGHWAY WHICH IS A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND IS A CONNECTOR ROAD FROM INLAND EMPIRE TO ORANGE COUNTY WITH NARROW LANES RUNNING THRU CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST, I WAS DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, VARIOUS COMPUTER PANEL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST WENT OVER CLIFF. THIS WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC EXPERIENCE AND LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM DIRECTLY AND WILL CONTACT THE MEDIA IN THE EVENT I RECEIVE NO RESOLUTION. THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AT THIS POINT AND NOT DRIVABLE. SADLY I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. I REFUSE TO BE STUCK WITH THIS CAR THAT I COMPLETELY LOST TRUST TO DRIVE WITH MYSELF LET ALONE WITH MY CHILDREN. *TR