2012 Chevrolet Cruze: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2012 / chevrolet / cruze
known issues6 clusters (reviewed 2026-09-03)
complaints865 on file (2011-10-25 → 2026-08-31)
recalls7
investigations3
fars241 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Automatic transmission hard shifting and failurePOWER TRAIN15 complaints2019-05 → 2025-04cruze-2012-transmission-hard-shift-failure
  • 11655044 Had a 3-5-R wave plate failure. Symptoms started at around 87,000 miles. Bouncing/jerking when put into reverse. 5th gear slams hard into gear when upshifting and downshifting, making it feel like I have been rear ended
  • 11281651 TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 46,942 MILES IN 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE ON 10/14/19. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AT NIGHT. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SMALL, EMPTY ROAD IN TOWN CLOSE TO HOME. THE ENGINE REVVED BUT WOULD NOT UP SHIFT
  • 11428065 The transmission is a known issue, so much so they issued a service bulletin. The transmission will give out or shift very abruptly or shift in to neutral without warning and at various speeds
Windshield defroster and heater actuator failureVISIBILITY/WIPER7 complaints2019-06 → 2021-12cruze-2012-defroster-heater-failure
  • 11384107 THE HVAC BLENDER DOOR MECHANISM ( HEAT MODE DOOR LEVER) BROKE WHICH DISABLES THE DEFROST MODE IN THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED DURING A WINTER STORM AND I COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND ONLY PARTIAL VISION OF THE ROAD
  • 11439256 The problem I have is a very, very common problem and a huge safety issue to my life or anyone with the same car within around 2011 to 2015. The cheap plastic levers for the mode actuator for my defrost and vents do not work
  • 11443373 The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the windshield defroster would not operate as needed without warning. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired
Valve cover gasket and oil cooler leaksENGINE23 complaints2019-04 → 2025-10cruze-2012-valve-cover-oil-leak
  • 11693383 My son just purchased this car and nearly hit 100,000 miles. It started leaking oil in the engine area the valve cover gasket. It's drips all over the car causing it to smoke and smell
  • 11512592 I am wondering when GM is gonna admit fault on these Chevy Cruzes? My mechanic father owns one. He's had to replace Valve cover gasket on his 3x. Mine at least 4-5x now
  • 11388722 THE OIL COOLER NEEDS REPLACED. IT IS SOMEHOW LEAKING. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CARS, THAT ARE THE SAME AS MINE, THAT HAVE COME INTO THE SAME DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. IN THE LAST WEEK, ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS SAID 14 PEOPLE CAME IN BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM
Coolant leak and engine overheatingENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING29 complaints2019-03 → 2026-03cruze-2012-coolant-leak-overheating
  • 11728123 The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine started overheating, and a coolant leak was discovered
  • 11322727 MY CAR OVERHEATS EVERY TIME THE SEASONS CHANGE. ONE DAY IT WILL BE RUNNING FINE WITH NORMAL TEMPERATURE READINGS, I KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE TEMPERATURE DUE TO IT'S TENDENCY TO OVERHEAT, AND THEN THE NEXT MOMENT IT IS SMOKING AND IDLING MY ENGINE SECONDARY TO "HIGH ENGINE
  • 11197291 SIGNIFICANT COOLANT LEAK CAUSING ENGINE TO OVERHEAT
Sudden stall and loss of power while drivingVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE16 complaints2019-05 → 2026-04cruze-2012-stall-loss-of-power
  • 11733293 The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH and accelerating over a speed bump, the key slid out of the ignition switch. An independent mechanic was contacted
  • 11302576 I WAS DRIVING IN SUBDIVISION AT 20MPH AND VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. IT HAD A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITY TRACK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 5MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!
  • 11554508 The car's theft deterrent is not able to be turned off and is causing the car to stop working. I was driving my car on the highway and all of a sudden it completely shut off. I had it towed home
Brake assist failure when reversingSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC18 complaints2019-06 → 2026-06cruze-2012-brake-assist-reverse-failure
  • 11741926 My breaks do not work in reverse. Pump valve seems to be bad
  • 11421382 Brake assist, no brakes when backing up. This was recalled on almost 300,000 Chevy cruzes but not all. Recall number 12213. My vehicle being one that was not included
  • 11194780 THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING 55 MPH ON THE TURNPIKE AND TRAFFIC AHEAD WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND IT FAILED TO WORK. MY SON, THE DRIVER, PUSHED THE BRAKE AGAIN AND IT STILL WAS NOT BRAKING

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
8652011-10-252026-08-316218ENGINE:268; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:196; SERVICE BRAKES:152; POWER TRAIN:137; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):108

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
16V50200005/07/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral 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.
14V30000006/06/2014AIR BAGSGeneral 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.
12V28900022/06/2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTINGGENERAL 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.
12V28800022/06/2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGGENERAL 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.
12V52200031/10/2012AIR BAGSGeneral 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.
13V02300024/01/2013AIR BAGSGeneral 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.
13V36000015/08/2013SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSISTGeneral 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.

Investigations all years →

action_numberstatussubjectcomponentsopenedclosedrecall_campaignsummary
AQ12002closedChapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine RecallENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2012-10-152014-10-20·NHTSA opened AQ12-002 to determine whether Chapman Chevrolet of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations.The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. ? 30120(i)). NHTSA issued an information
PE12010closedEngine compartment fireENGINE2012-03-282012-07-1912V288000In a June 21, 2012 letter to NHTSA, General Motors LLC. (GM) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) identifying a defect in approximately 413,148 model year (MY) 2011 through 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured from October 2, 2009 through May 31, 2012 (Recall 12V-288). According to GM, engine oil change procedures can result in spilling or dripping of oil on the engine shield.Also, manual transmission vehicles with a completely worn clutch may cause hydraulic fluid to be expelled from the clutch housing vent hole.If oil, debris or the burning hydraulic fluid contacts hot engine or
RQ13002closedAir Bag Non-deploymentAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE2013-05-312014-07-0913V023000General Motors (GM) has initiated a safety recall of 31,520 model year (MY) 2012 Buick Verano and Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic vehicles to address a defect condition that could result in the primary or secondary stage air bag not deploying.These vehicles are a small percentage of all MY 2012 vehicles and were built on several specific production dates broadly ranging from December 1, 2011 to August 2, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-300 for more information).Also, see attached additional report for more information.This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of two uninfluenced safety

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-2024241legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/cruze
@misc{wrenchpro_2012_chevrolet_cruze_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2012 Chevrolet Cruze},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2012/chevrolet/cruze}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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