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
865 reports, newest first.
Suspension, Structure, Tires, Service brakes, Jun 4, 2012
I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN COMPLAINING OF A STRANGE NOISE, ALMOST LIKE A "POP" WHEN BRAKING. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT IT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STRUTS. THEY STATED THEY WERE WAITING ON A RECALL FROM CHEVROLET AND THAT I SHOULD JUST CONTINUE TO KEEP CALLING AND CHECKING ON IT. I CALLED THEM EACH MONTH SINCE. EACH TIME THEY ASSURED ME IT WOULD NOT AFFECT MY VEHICLE AT ALL AND THAT IT WOULD BE FINE. OBVIOUSLY, A STRUT IS A PART OF THE CAR, IT MUST BE NEEDED TO FUNCTION OR IT WOULD NOT BE ON THERE. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS IS AFFECTING MY VEHICLE INCLUDING MY TIRE WEAR, BRAKES, AND OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
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
Service brakes, May 22, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
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
Air bags, Seat belts, May 10, 2012, crash
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON MAY 5, 2012 IN WHICH I COLLIDED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. MY CAR IS BRAND NEW, LESS THAN A MONTH OLD HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE COLLISION WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AFTER THE COLLISION. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WHICH IS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE AND AM NOW AFRAID TO KEEP IT NOT KNOWING WHY THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT DIDN'T WORK. ALSO, I HAD ACTIVATED MY "ON STAR" SERVICE BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO INSPECT MY CAR BEFORE THE REPAIRS ARE STARTED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. *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.
Steering, Tires, May 4, 2012
WHEN ENTERING A CURVE VEHICLE SHAKES AFTER ABOUT A HOUR OF DRIVING DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE SO I TOOK IT TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A RACE CAR MECHANIC FOR 30 YEARS AND HE SHOWED ME THE ISSUE THE TIRES THEY PUT ON THE CHEVY CRUZE THE 215-60-16 FIRESTONE FR710 IS A S SPEED RATED TIRE THIS SHOULD BE A T OR A H SPEED RATED THE CRUZE WILL EXCEED THE 112MPH THE TIRES ARE RATED FOR AND THIS COULD CAUSE THEM TO BUST I ACTUALLY HAD ONE POP OFF THE RIM AND DEFLATE THIS LOW GRADE OF TIRE IS NOT MADE FOR CURVY ROADS WHICH IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE BUMPING PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING DURING CORNERING. *TR
Power train, Apr 27, 2012
BACK IN JANUARY 2012, I BOUGHT A CHEVY CRUZE 2012 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER TWO MONTH USING THIS VEHICLE, I FOUND OUT IT HAS A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING UP/DOWN HILL. DRIVING UPHILL, ONCE I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL THIS CAR ROLLS BACK AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. DRIVING DOWNHILL, ONCE I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO REAR AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL THIS CAR GOES DOWN AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I WENT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY TESTED MY CAR AND ANOTHER 2012 CRUZE FROM THEIR INVENTORY AND BOTH CARS DID THE SAME AS I DESCRIBE ABOVE. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND AT THIS TIME. THEN, I CONTACTED GM, GM CONTACTED ITS DEALER, AND THREE DAYS LATER GM CALLED ME BACK TELLING ME THE SAME 'NO PROBLEMS FOUND'. SO, I REQUESTED A LETTER WHERE GM TELLS ME THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY WILL COVER ANY FUTURE ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT GM TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME ANY DOCUMENT. AS A CUSTOMER, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE IN MY OPINION THOSE ISSUES ARE DESIGN DEFECTS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. *TR
Equipment adaptive/mobility, Apr 27, 2012
THE FLOOR MATS DO NOT STAY IN PLACE AND SLIDE UP UNDER THE PEDALS. THERE ARE RETAINING PINS, BUT THESE DO NOT WORK DUE TO POOR DESIGN. *TR
Power train, Apr 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF
Visibility, Jan 27, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS AUTOMATIC DIMMING LIGHT AND IT DOESN'T FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD. WHEN SOMEONE IS DRIVING BEHIND HIM WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON IT CAUSED A GLARE IN THE MIRROR WHICH OBSCURED HIS VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MIRROR WITH ONE THAT HAD TINT IN IT. AFTER HAVING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR REPLACED, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/07/12
Steering, Power train, Wheels, Nov 27, 2011
I JUST BOUGHT A 2012 CHEVY CRUZE. AT TAKE OFF AND TURNING AROUND CURVES AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING AND THE WHEELS SHAKE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT. VERY UPSETTING THAT IT IS BRAND NEW AND ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT WISH IT WAS FIXED. *TR
Visibility, Nov 23, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 TO 80 MPH, HE WOULD HEAR WIND ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WAS PRESENT ON ALL THE NEW VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Power train, Oct 28, 2011
MY 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO WITH THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS OCCASIONALLY REFUSED TO GO INTO 4TH GEAR, AND GRINDS OCCASIONALLY WHEN GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. I GET THE GRIND AT ABOUT 1200 RPM AND UP. MOST OF MY SHIFTING IS DONE AT OR BELOW 2500 RPM FOR FUEL ECONOMY REASONS. THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE REV-MATCHED, AND IT WILL STILL BALK/GRIND IN THOSE GEARS.THIS IS MY SECOND MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR AFTER PUTTING 70,000 MILES ON MY FIRST ONE, SO I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GRINDING THE GEARS. THE CAR PRESENTLY HAS 4700 MILES ON IT, AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES. I'M WORRIED THAT I MIGHT NEED TO DO A QUICK SHIFT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND BE UNABLE TO DO SO THANKS TO THE BALKINESS OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Visibility, Oct 25, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 12 MPH DURING A RAIN STORM WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED BUT WOULD ONLY OPERATE EXTREMELY SLOW. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADWAY BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY WIPERS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE WIPER SPEED WAS SLOWER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/14/11 *BF UPDATED 11/21/11