MYRModel Year Report

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2012 Chevrolet Cruze
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Cruze Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2012 highlighted. 2010: 2 complaints 2010 2011: 731 complaints 2012: 864 complaints 2012 2013: 585 complaints 2014: 698 complaints 2014 2015: 251 complaints 2016: 247 complaints 2016 2017: 201 complaints 2018: 109 complaints 2018 2019: 20 complaints 2019
2012: 864 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
20102
2011731
2012864
2013585
2014698
2015251
2016247
2017201
2018109
201920

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE 31%

31% of complaints: engine — 267 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I purchased this vehicle almost three weeks ago…I’m assuming it’s out of warranty…J am spending out of pocket expenses to have this car repaired….It has a faulty leakage in transmission that mechanics seem to can’t fix….I need my car...

NHTSA ODI report, 20230916

- There is a severe oil leak that. - 1. The vehicle broke down when driving, which put the family and other drivers at risk. 2. The burning of the oil and the vapor coming from the burning was not safe to breathe.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230908

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle overheated and lost radiator fluid. The engine overheated warning light was illuminated.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230905

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23%

23% of complaints: electrical system — 196 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 16%

16% of complaints: service brakes — 142 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

2012 CHEVROLET CRUZ. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKES MALFUNCTIONING WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A BRAKE VACUUM MICRO SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS

NHTSA ODI report, 20180316

POWER TRAIN 16%

16% of complaints: power train — 135 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20111028

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 13%

13% of complaints: electronic stability control (esc) — 108 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2012 — complaint volume: 864
I 20120328 — PE (closed 20120719)

Engine compartment fire

R 20120709 — fuel system, gasoline

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

Remedy: 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

Campaign 12V289000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20120710 — engine and engine cooling

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 CHANG

Remedy: 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

Campaign 12V288000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20121015 — AQ (closed 20141020)

Chapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine Recall

R 20130111 — air bags

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

Remedy: 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

Campaign 12V522000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20130213 — air bags

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

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

I 20130531 — RQ (closed 20140709)

Air Bag Non-deployment

R 20131007 — service brakes, hydraulic

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...

Remedy: 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 — check if this car was fixed

R 20140725 — air bags

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...

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 14V300000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161014 — electrical system, power train

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.

Remedy: 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.

Campaign 16V502000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2012 Chevrolet Cruze — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine issues (267 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (196 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (142 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 12V289000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V288000 (engine and engine cooling) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 12V522000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V023000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 13V360000 (service brakes, hydraulic) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 14V300000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V502000 (electrical system, power train) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2018 ▲ 2017 ▲ 2016

WORST YEARS

■ 2011 ■ 2014 ■ 2013

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.