Worst 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Brakes
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 265 | 10 | 13 | 67,748 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 194 | 10 | 3 | 53,148 mi | |
| Brakes | 140 | 25 | 1 | 51,267 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 133 | 5 | 3 | 60,755 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 108 | 5 | — | 62,896 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 103 | 7 | 1 | 51,922 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 50 | 2 | — | 62,241 mi | |
| Fuel System | 48 | 2 | — | 59,341 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 39 | — | 1 | 50,213 mi | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 35 | 1 | — | 79,269 mi | |
| Airbags | 34 | 18 | 1 | 63,236 mi | |
| Body Structure | 15 | 5 | 1 | 36,465 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 14 | — | — | 65,031 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 9 | 2 | — | 53,311 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 7 | — | — | 24,226 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | 1 | — | 50,722 mi | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 5 | 1 | — | 68,667 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | 1 | — | 29,821 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Trunk Lid:Lock | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~806,269 vehicles.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Chevrolet Cruze Years
2012 Chevrolet Cruze — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Cruze reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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