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: engine
308 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine and engine cooling, Jul 26, 2012
VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): CHEVROLET / CRUZE 2011-2012 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS LLCMFR'S REPORT DATE: JUNE 21, 2012 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V288000NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12010 COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 413,148 I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. THEY HAVE COMPLETELY REMOVED THE WHOLE CENTER SECTION OF THIS SHIELD SO NOW MY ENGINE IS EXPOSED TO ROAD SPRAY. THIS WAS A SELLING POINT ON THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL WE HAVE BEEN CHEATED OUT OF THIS FEATURE. THEY SHOULD HAVE OFFERED TO REPLACE IT WITH A NON COMBUSTIBLE UNIT. *TR
Engine, Jul 18, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED HESITATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REPAIR PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE THE SHIELD WAS REMOVED WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ADDITIONALLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,422.
Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Jul 16, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 760 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN
Engine, Jul 3, 2012
THE RECALL FIX FOR THE CHEVROLET CRUZE WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR. THE FIX WAS TO CUT THE ENGINE, OR UNDER THE ENGINE AREA, SKID PLATE EXPOSING THIS AREA. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, ENGINE, EXHAUST, OIL PAN AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE NOW EXPOSED. THE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE DURING THE ACT OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, IT MAY BE EXPOSED TO ROAD CONDITIONS, FOREIGN OBJECTS, OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND OVERALL SAFE HANDLING OF THIS VEHICLE. *JS
Engine, Jul 3, 2012
HAVE COOLANT ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER TESTED 3 TIMES, BUT CLAIMS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SMELL IS VERY BAD IN COLDER MONTHS. WINDOW FOGS. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN SOMEWHAT IN WINTER CONDITIONS. CHEVY NOW HAS A BULLETIN. BEEN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH GM REGIONAL - THEY ARE IGNORING ME. MANY OTHER CRUZE OWNERS HAVE SAME COMPLAINT/PROBLEM. *JS
Electrical system, Engine, May 24, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE DINGS AND SAYS "ENGINE OVERHEATING A/C TURNED OFF," I WAS VERY SURPRISED BUT KEPT DRIVING AND LITERALLY ONE MINUTE LATER THE CAR DINGS AGAIN. THERE IS A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAT SAYS "IDLE ENGINE OVERHEATING," AT THIS POINT I AM VERY WORRIED AND I PULL OVER AND CALL THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAS OCCURRED. I WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SO, I START THE CAR UP AND BEGIN THE DRIVE OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES AWAY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. NOT THREE MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE I GET THE SAME MESSAGE "IDLE ENGINE OVERHEATING," I'M VERY NERVOUS BUT KEEP GOING AND ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER I GET A NEW MESSAGE "SHUT ENGINE OFF ENGINE OVERHEATING." I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I SHOULD JUST CONTINUE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I GET ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE DEALERSHIP AND MY ENGINE STARTS SMOKING. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS AND I BASICALLY ONLY USE IT TO DRIVE TO WORK AND SCHOOL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES, I GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 4,000-5,000 MILES, IN FACT I GOT AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. *TR
Steering, Engine, May 13, 2012
THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 2010 AND SINCE THE PURCHASE ALL THE ISSUES THAT 2012 CHEVY CRUZE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO REGARDING RECALLS WE HAVE SUFFERED THEM. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED DUE TO THE FACT THAT, ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, GM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FLY WHEEL BOLTS. THESE BOLTS ARE INTERNAL AND ARE CURRENTLY LOOSE AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, May 10, 2012, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING OF A PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXSTINGUSIH THE FIRE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.