2012 Chevrolet Cruze Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,353 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 68,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2018–2019.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all Cruze years
What owners report
“A/c off do to high engine temp engine overheating messages on dash. False. Sticking thermostat”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
“While driving at speed the traction control light would come on engine would start to jerk and then lost power”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
“Radio is turning on and off. Stabilitytrak control light comes on power steering give out and brakes”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
“Has a hard brake pedal will not stop sometime the switch was replaced on early recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
“While driving my car would not accelerate. The car will not move when changing gears. I took the car to the dealership because the check engine light and stabilik service light came on. The mechanic diagnosed the car and replaced a connector. Now, the car gears don't work. Misdiagnosis.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
“Power steering failed while in motion. The cost of the repair is $1,900.00 on a $16,000 vehicle that is less than 5 years old”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Cruze
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 1,055 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 56,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 84,135 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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.
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 13V023000.
Led to recall campaign 12V288000.
Technical service bulletins
1,816 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze drew 1,353 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2012).
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze are engine (313 complaints), electrical (213), and other (199).
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems around 56,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 84,135 miles.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.