repaired · 2018 Q1
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
2012 Chevrolet CruzeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 865 owner complaints about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, most often about the engine. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-300 the manufacturer reports only 82% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 31, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has problems
865 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
268Engine27 crash/fire/injury
196Electrical system13 crash/fire/injury
142Service brakes26 crash/fire/injury
137Power train8 crash/fire/injury
108Electronic stability control (ESC)5 crash/fire/injury
103Steering8 crash/fire/injury
51Vehicle speed control
48Fuel/propulsion system
44Engine and engine cooling
16718 other systems36 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 268 | 27 |
| Electrical system | 196 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 142 | 26 |
| Power train | 137 | 8 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 108 | 5 |
| Steering | 103 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 51 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 48 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 44 | 1 |
| 18 other systems | 167 | 36 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2012 Chevrolet Cruze recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q4
Air bags
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2015 Q3
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2015 Q1
Air bags
Risk. 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…
Show 3 more recalls
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. 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,…
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
no report yet
Tank assembly: mounting
Risk. THE FUEL TANK COULD COME LOOSE IN A CRASH, POSSIBLY ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
67kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 205 engine complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.
46under 30k miles158under 100k miles47100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,150median
Middle half: $725 – $3,125
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2012 vs. every other Cruze year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cruze median. How we score
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2012 Chevrolet Cruze safety ratings
2012 Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, and the recalls they led to.
- Chapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine RecallNo recall
- Engine compartment fireLed to recall 12V-288
- Air Bag Non-deploymentLed to recall 13V-023
In owners' words
What Cruze owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I was driving and the engine caught on fire. The flames came from the turbo gasket compartment not sure why or how it ignited. Thankfully the damage was not that extensive the car was towed to my residence and it is not drivable it won't start.
Have called about this starting 2020. Had 137000. Also previous owner since 99000mi. Drive train & Turbo. Brake assist. Oil leaks, shutting off while driving. Now as of Saturday April 25 2026 Car shut off while driving and has been towed to dealership. Car deemed lemon by GM. In 2020 car to have…
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.
Own a 2012 Cruze?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.