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CarComplaints.com Notes: In many ways, the 2012 Cruze continues the legacy of its predecessor. It's a legacy of sluggish transmissions and coolant leaks, but it's still a legacy.

To be fair, the number of complaints about the cooling system are way down versus the 2011 model which led to a class-action lawsuit.

On the flip-side, there's more concerns about brake problems.

However, there were far more Cruze vehicles sold for the 2012 model year so we'll give it our "Beware of this Clunker" badge rather than the "Avoid Like the Plague."

10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
21,650 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (2 reports)
  2. repair transmission (1 reports)
  3. reprogram the computer (1 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Cruze transmission problems

transmission problem

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments

problem #4

Nov 102015

Cruze 4.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

there is no gripe they supposely fixed the problem

- Jacqueline K., Markham, IL, US

problem #3

Aug 012012

Cruze LT 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,225 miles

give it back to gm so they can drive it and be the old good chevy again, not a piece of junk

- sprocket401, Foster, KY, US

problem #2

May 022012

Cruze LTZ 1.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 32,000 miles

So we have had the car in the shop 6 times 5 times for the transmission and 2 for the radiator antifreeze smell that enters the cabin.GM still has yet to fix any issue. Twice the program to the transmission has been updated and once the valve body has been replaced. Guess what? still havin' issues!!! Ended up getting a lawyer because GM wants to use everyone as lab rats to test their products and make us pay for the car. If you want me to test your product give it to me free or pay me for my services instead of me paying to test it! Makes no sense. Now I'm scared for the safety of me and my children (6 years old and newborn). THANKS GM FOR SCREWING ME OVER! I would definitely run away from this car!!!! Go away from American made because its all a bunch of crap! Audi is expensive but I have heard few complaints about the cars.

- smichlle1984, Dallas, TX, US

problem #1

Dec 072011

Cruze LS 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,195 miles

The 2011 Chevy Cruze is the worst vehicle to ever come out of Detroit. The 2012 is almost as bad. The 2011 fails the first day you get it. The 2012 drives normal at first and then progressive gets worse. They both have a special feature that clearly falls under the heading of "aggressive stupidity". Chevy found that they could DOWNSHIFT the transmission and use the engine to rapidly slow the vehicle whenever the driver backs off the throttle. They shut down the fuel injectors, alter the ignition timing and DOWNSHIFT the transmission. The computer takes control and the driver sits there helpless whenever this happens. The 2011 Cruze would also maintain control for the next 5 to 10 seconds. The drives could stand on the gas peddle, but nothing would happen. Only after this time period had elapsed, would the computer return control to the driver. The 2012 Cruze is not quite as bad. It will rapidly slow the vehicle whenever the driver backs off the throttle, but it will return control to the driver after the vehicle has slowed sufficiently. Chevy also has another trick to slow the vehicle. When you start out and are still in first gear and you back off the throttle, the computer applies partial pressure to shift the transmission into another gear at the same time. This will act as another substantial braking action. Whenever you are in town and back off the throttle, even the slightest amount, the computer can take over and rapidly slow the vehicle. One second you are doing 35 mph and the next second you are down to 15 mph. You sit there helpless and hope that you do not get rear-ended by the driver behind you. Since you never touched the brake pedal, the brake lights do not come on. This web site asks drivers to list separate complaints separately. To do that would literally require hundreds of complains. The 2011 Cruze had an additional problem whenever you slowed to make a turn. At 25 to 30 mph the vehicle would instantly slow to literally 5 mph. You would crawl around the corner and step on the gas to get the car to go. Finally, as you completed the turn, the car would take off at full throttle. You would then have to hit the brake. The computer decided that this is unsafe. It took control from the driver and would not return control to the driver until you came to a full, complete, dead stop. And one time even this was not enough. I had to shift the car to park, wait and then shift back to drive. Finally, the computer returned control to the driver. When I called Chevrolet to tell them about all of the problems, I was told " There is nothing wrong with the vehicle. It is doing exactly what it is programmed to do." Upon request, I can provide you with this person's employee number. I have also had additional problems with this vehicle. But the problems listed are the most dangerous ones.

- Jeff W., Joliet, IL, US

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