VehicleVerdict

2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,353 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.5 times the median Cruze year — the 2012 model ranks #1 of 10 Cruze years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 36 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across engine (313), electrical system (307), and brakes (152), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

1,353

NHTSA complaints

7

Recalls

3

Investigations

104

Crash-involved

25

Fires reported

36

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2012 compare to other Cruze years?

Cruze NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted1,353 complaints2010: 2 complaints2011: 1,115 complaints2012: 1,353 complaints2013: 934 complaints2014: 1,096 complaints2015: 383 complaints2016: 391 complaints2017: 295 complaints2018: 166 complaints2019: 28 complaints
Cruze NHTSA complaints by model year, 2012 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Cruze years to avoid →

What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine31323%
Electrical System30723%
Brakes15211%
Transmission13810%
Steering1058%
Other887%
Fuel System524%
Speed Control514%
Visibility & Wipers433%
Airbags343%
Body & Structure212%
Lighting161%
Tires & Wheels161%
Seat Belts50%
Suspension50%
Seats30%
Latches & Locks20%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%
Driver Assistance10%

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

16V502000Electrical SystemJuly 5, 2016 · 8,367 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

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. 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.

14V300000AirbagsJune 6, 2014 · 31,520 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.

13V360000BrakesAugust 15, 2013 · 292,879 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

13V023000AirbagsJanuary 24, 2013 · 4,167 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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.

12V522000AirbagsOctober 31, 2012 · 2,949 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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 1-800-521-7300.

12V288000EngineJune 22, 2012 · 413,148 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

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 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.

12V289000Fuel SystemJune 22, 2012 · 53,239 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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 FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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.…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 29, 2012 · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 8, 2015 · fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID, CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · August 12, 2013 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AS THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 3, 2013 · crash

WE WERE DRIVING ON RT 206 IN JERSEY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVY STATING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE STEERING HAD INCREASED FRICTION AND CAN CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 23, 2014 · crash

2012 Chevrolet Cruze — common questions

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,353 complaints put the 2012 model at #1 of 10 Cruze years. It is one of the Cruze years to avoid.

What are the most common 2012 Cruze problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (313 complaints), electrical system (307 complaints), brakes (152 complaints).

Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns affecting the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Cruze years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Cruze years to avoid are 2012, 2011, 2014, 2013. The cleanest record among Cruze years belongs to 2010.

How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.