2012 Chevrolet CRUZE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet CRUZE has 1353 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 16.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: 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. . ⚠️ 23 fire reports filed.

23 fire reports 73 crash reports 17 injuries

1353

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

16.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

313 complaints

23%

• 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.
• 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, F
• 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 A

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 14 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“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. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

197 complaints

15%

• 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 A
• TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM GIVES WARNING THAT IT NEEDS SERVICE, HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE IN THE PAST TWO DAYS FOR SAME PROBLEM AND NOW MUST GO AGAIN BECAUSE WARNING LIGHT IS BACK ON TO SERVICE TIRE MONITOR SYSTEM. *TR
• THE VEHICLES LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING (RADIO, WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH) AND THEN THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT WORK. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAPPENED OVER NEXT MONTH AND THEN CAR WOULD NOT START/RESPOND TO REMOTE. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WHILE LIGHTS BLINKING AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAW PRO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“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 A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

152 complaints

11%

• 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.
• 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 MONT
• LOSS OF BRAKING WHEN BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE. THIS HAS OCCURED TWICE 6/25/2012 AND 7/2/2012. *JS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 27 crashes

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

138 complaints

10%

• 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 B
• 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 C
• 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 TA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“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 B”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

108 complaints

• 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
• 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 OCCURR
• 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 WORKI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1353 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 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 B
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)