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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
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 13
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,344 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 3 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #216

Aug 202020

Cruze

  • miles

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

Check engine light came on throwing 4 codes. Took it to the dealership can't determine the problem with vehicle. Dealership did contact us to inform us the water pump is leaking bad. Charge to fix $835. I have seen several recalls regarding waterpumps however my VIN does not show a recall.

- Meadowviee, VA, USA

problem #215

Jul 202020

Cruze

  • 131,000 miles
Problems with cracked antifreeze and water leaks.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #214

Jul 022020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 80,000 miles
Been having a problem with the turbo for some time. Had it fixed once and now its going bad again. When you go into passing gear it bogs down. Not good in heavy traffic. I love my car.and it hasnt given me any problems but that.

- St Bernice, IN, USA

problem #213

Mar 102020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

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

My engine is leaking oil and my transmission is slipping. After I filled up the gas tank one day the car jerked and the engine light never went off. I'm not sure why there isn't a recall on it when apparently these cars are notorious for these issues. Jack maxton told me some gear broke inside my transmission.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #212

Jan 012019

Cruze 4-cyl

  • miles
Let me list all that is wrong with my car: Stabillitrack traction control purge valve tire sensor transmission lights flicker when I come to a stop and use my turn signal intake manifold brake booster car stalls and sometimes doesn't even want to start. All of these things are part of the recall for my 2012 Chevy Cruze but for some reason it says my VIN # isn't part of the recall. How is that??

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #211

Feb 242020

Cruze 4-cyl

  • miles
This car has give me way more trouble than it is worth. It kept overheating even with antifreeze in it. The ac would blow hot and the car jerks terribly bad! engine light stays on. I was told it was the battery got that fixed. Still overheated. Then told there was a crack in the reservoir and got that fixed. It blew hot a week later and had smoke coming out couldn't even go across memphis bridge. Mechanic says it's the head gasket which is like a 2K labor tag!

- West Memphis, AR, USA

problem #210

Apr 292020

Cruze

  • 74,000 miles

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

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 temperature"

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #209

Mar 312020

Cruze

  • 129,800 miles
My daughter purchased this vehicle at alan webb Chevrolet less than 2 months ago the vehicle was used and had 129,000 miles on it. Less than 2 weeks after she got it, the vehicle overheated while driving and A/C came on and would not turn off. Come to find out there was no antifreeze, as the reservoir was bone dry. She put some antifreeze in it and it still overheated while driving a couple weeks later. She took it to a local mechanic who stated she needed to replace the head gasket. We then called the dealership to complain and they stated they had to replace some hoses when they first received the car, so they asked us to bring it in. They again replaced some hoses, stating there was a leak, which the other mechanic said there wasn't. they replaced a hose again and put a clamp on it. Now, only about 1 or 2 later, her car overheated yet again. What I believe is the surge tank hose, was broken and antifreeze was all over her engine. The plastic inside the hose was broken. Now it is once again at the dealership, who for some reason refuse to fix the root problem. We are concerned their failure to fix the issue will result in a cracked engine block and a non-operational vehicle, which she owes over $7,000 still as she just got it. Please help, this has been disappointing to watch my 18 yr old buy her first car and such a horrible experience.

- Vancouver, WA, USA

problem #208

Nov 222019

Cruze

  • 134,397 miles
My car started jerking, fan running constant, and over heating. I have brought it to the same dealership dave gill Chevrolet for service 5 times and every time they fix an issue comes back and the engine light comes on and I have to bring it back.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #207

Feb 022020

Cruze

  • 100,000 miles
Driving down the interstate doing 70-80mph and the car starts dinging-stabilitrack, traction control, and reduced power all come on and the car loses power without any warning and couldn't drive faster than 5 mph and had to get to the shoulder of the road without getting hit by other vehicles doing the same speed. This vehicle with this issue that came out of nowhere should not be driven on the road. I have had several issues with this vehicle and cel lights on but nothing that almost completely stops vehicle without warning and almost kills everyone in the car! I get they are trying to save the engine or whatever from further damage but I am pretty sure that I would like to live and not kill anyone else in the process of this so called safety precaution the vehicle takes on.

- Luverne, MN, USA

problem #206

Jan 202020

Cruze

  • 81,000 miles

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

The oil cooler seal leaks, and drops oil on the exhaust. This gives off smoke, and is a fire hazard. Also the fumes from the dripping oil is sucked into the cabin air intake, and contaminates the air in the cabin.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #205

Jan 092020

Cruze

  • miles
I purchased a car on December 19th 2019 I put $4,000 down on a 2012 Chevy Cruze from a from a used car lot here in daytona beach Florida I cannot get my oil change the screw that lets the oil out of the oil pan has been stripped and I was unable to get the oil changed because in order to do that they would have to break it and spot welding would need to be done also every time I shut my car off and go to turn it back on I have to get a jump my car battery loses its energy or whatever you want to call it so it loses power my battery the battery is 5 years old also my rotors are brand-new but my brake pads are bad and they would not when I say they I mean autoventure in holly hill Florida where I bought the car will not give me a carfax instead they gave me another thing that's like carfax and it says that my car is full is and there's nothing wrong with it when indeed the motor itself is from a junkyard and they did not deny that so this is within the first three weeks of me having the car and I'm already seeing this many problems. Also I have an oil leak I was told to purchase a a cover to where you put the oil in the car cuz the cover might be old and it still might not be as good so I went to Chevy dealership and purchase it for $28 only to find out that valve cover gasket also needs to be replaced so my car is leaking oil the oil change place where I've been taking my car's the last 6 years would not touch my car and give me an oil change due to the fact that the bolt at the bottom of the oil pan has been stripped so not only is my oil at 6% but now I can't get my oil changed because of

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

problem #204

Dec 272019

Cruze

  • 79,000 miles
Fuel damper is literally spraying a steady stream of gasoline inside engine bay. Apparently a very common problem because parts are on back order everywhere I call. My daughter drives this car, and to have her safety in jeopardy is unacceptable. This vehicle was recalled because of oil plate under engine which would pool oil and risk a fire, but gasoline spraying in engine bay has no attention to a recall

- Dallas, PA, USA

problem #203

Aug 172019

Cruze

  • 150,000 miles
The car does a lot of stalling when you're driving it. Also the engin light will come on and stay on maybe a day, then go off. Just on and off anytime. Automobile losses power when this happens..

- Alton, VA, USA

problem #202

Nov 282019

Cruze

  • 146,000 miles
I have a 2012 Chevy Cruze 1.4 turbo engine the issue is over heating.. this issue is reoccurring.. I was driving for approximately 10 to 20 minutes when the indicator on the dash reads that the car is to hot yo drive and will shut down left me stranded on the road side. I take it to Chevy dealer to learn there has been a thermostat problem I get the issue repaird it runs ok for a while then again same problem (over heated) one again. Take again to Chevy dealer they tell me it's the water pump. I have the water pump repaired. All is ok for a short while. Again the same issue I call Chevy dealer again to bring my car back for the 4th time. They schedule my appt. To look at my car one again and on my way to the dealer car over heats turns its self off and will not start back after cooling down. Finally I get the car to the deal to learn that it blew the head gasket and now because it' over headed so many times I now need an engine!!! there has been extend warranty on all of the cooling parts of the engine and this issue should also be covered however the dealer will not fix the caused problem from the faulty parts !!!!!!

- Georgetown, SC, USA

problem #201

Nov 052019

Cruze

  • 87,461 miles
Engine has loud injector and purge valves both producing a clicking noise. The noise can clearly be heard from inside/outside car with hood closed. This issue is triggering a knock sensor code. The car has always had burning oil smell as well which while under warranty the dealership magically could not produce. I believe they did not want to produce it as it has always clearly been there from day one off dealer's lot. I know for fact I am not the only one to experience these issues. I am adding the website as reference; https://www.cruzetalk.com/threads/lifter-issue-with-2012-eco.165122/ this noise is present when vehicle is idle, running and in motion. My vehicle has 88,000 miles total which is very little for engine issues! the dealership I took it to for diagnosis said his daughter's Cruze had the same identical issue and was covered under powertrain warranty. Unfortunately, as I stated, the dealer could never find any issues while covered under warranty. I am concerned I will be left stranded somewhere with this vehicle and/or it catches on fire due to some sort of oil/engine issue.

- Rochester Hills, MI, USA

problem #200

Nov 122019

Cruze 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Chevrolet cruz. Consumer writes in regards to defective coolant system. The consumer stated after having both the hoses and clips replaced, the mechanic stated engine seal must have been leaking. The consumer requested to be reimbursed for the repairs.

- Worthington, OH, USA

problem #199

May 312019

Cruze

  • 95,000 miles
It has been numerous times where I have been driving, whether it be on the highway or a city street, and my car gears have switched all the way down to the lowest gear and it causes my vehicle to jerk and slow all the way down. This is very dangerous especially when there is other vehicles behind me.

- Merrillville, IN, USA

problem #198

Aug 152019

Cruze

  • 97,000 miles
I noticed that my vehicle seemed to be having issues when I pressed on the brake, so I took it in. I found out that it was a completely unrelated issue, and had to do with a crack running through the manifold. This was causing oil and coolant to leak onto the alternator. If I had not caught this early enough, they said I would have not been able to get it fixed. They repaired the leak, but a couple weeks later I noticed my car losing significant amounts of coolant/oil. This is causing oil and coolant to affect the turbo setting of my manual car, and has cost me up to $2,000 in repairs. This has been the underlying problem as to why I had to get my flywheel replaced 2 years ago, which was another $1,500. This is also what caused the transmission failure 3 years ago, another thousand dollars. I noted that the vehicle began leaking fluid after being stationary or moving while/after running for 10 minutes or longer.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #197

Sep 092019

Cruze

  • miles
Sometimes when I slow to a stop or just driving car shuts off without warning. No lights or anything come on in the dash showing it's off. Starts right back up but very dangerous could cause an accident.

- Wetumpka, AL, USA

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