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.
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.
While driving my car would not accelerate. The car will not move when changing gears. I took the car to the dealership because the check engine light and stabilik service light came on. The mechanic diagnosed the car and replaced a connector. Now, the car gears don't work. Misdiagnosis.
This car has had issues since we purchased it brand new in 2012. Does not accelerate when merging on freeway or trying to pick up speed. It puts the driver at a very high risk of an accident. This car was purchased for my daughter to attend college and she feels very unsafe. We have had to have it towed and taken into shop several time for check engine light and loud shaking noise. This car has been nothing but a nightmare and seem to think based on reviews that these cars fall into the lemon category. We will be taking it to a very reliable mechanic this week and will wait to see what they find.
When driving( in any weather conditions) the car will loose engine power drop to around 5mph, is unable to accelerate and have to be pulled over. Re/ceive warnings stating "engine power reduced", "service stabilitrak" and "service traction control. The check engine light comes on along with several others. Pulling over and restarting the car usually corrects the problem but it is terrifying when traveling at a higher rate of speed, or any speed really! someone is going to get killed. Fortunately, this has only happened on local city streets ( so far!) but I can't imagine it happening on the highway. This has happened on numerous occasions. In doing research online there are a great number of owners experiencing the same exact problem. How is this not considered a safety issue warranting a massive recall? in reading many forums, GM is clearly aware of the problem but apparently has no definitive way to fix it as many owners have had various parts replaced( mostly related throttle or accelerator pedal) with the problem not being resolved.
I was driving down the interstate and my car started to lose power. The engine reduced power and service stabilitrak messages came up and the check engine light and traction control light came on. I got of the interstate and putted along, barely able to accelerate at stop lights, until I made it to my local Chevy dealership. They don't seem to know what is going on and I'll probably end up doing a trial and error with sensors and throttles. A few weeks ago a similar incident happened while I was driving down a residential road (25mph), but everything turned off (dash, A/C, radio, digital speedometer, etc) and my car powered off for a few seconds and then came back on again. This is seriously a scary problem to have.
The car has had all recall work done for both issues however the vehicle is spewing oil again and even after the brakes have been replaced the vehicle does not stop when in reverse or moving slowly forward. Chevy states that these issues are now my issue and and spends because recall work is only one year on the warranty. When backing out from a parking spot or driveway the vehicle does not stop when the brakes are pressed and oil leaks randomly. In 2015 as they made the reveal repair the vehicle caught fire, however they claimed to have repaired the issue.
- Fairburn, GA, USA
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I have a 2012 Chevy Cruze lt, it doesn't even have 75K and I've only had it for 2 years. Driving through North little rock on the interstate my temperature gage shot from cool to red, my car dinged and posted a message A/C off due to high engine temps. My A/C was not on, as I was pulling over another message dinged and my engine power was reduced. I let the car idle as the next message instructed me to do, the temp would not go down. I turned the car off and called for a ride. Thankfully a nlr police officer sat with me until my boyfriend came as I was broke down on a bad side of town. That being said, we had the car towed to our ase independent mechanic to have it diagnosed as we thought it was just the thermostat sticking. Nope! blown head gasket! all because of a faulty water inlet. It is a known problem all across the forums. My mechanic had replaced numerous inlets on these cars and Chevy had yet to do a recall. I contacted GM and filed a complaint. They are only replacing faulty water pumps, even though the water pump replacement parts include the water inlet. I was told I had to have it diagnosed by their dealership and after much back and forth finally got the diagnostic fee waived. I received a call today from the dealer informing me that I have a cracked head, warped gasket, and need to replace the engine. This is all due to a defect the manufacturer knows about. To too it off the power train warranty expired in March and my extended warranty expired 5K miles ago. Chevy wants me to pay out of pocket to replace all the damage that occurred from their defect. I am contacting the BBB, my attorney general, and any news outlet I can to get this issue brought to light. With a vehicle just over 5 years old and not even 100,000 miles on it to have to replace an engine is ludicrous.
Lack of power, coolant leaks, the cooling system has a number of plastic parts. The thermostat housing and a junction piece are made of plastic. After constant heat and cold they crack. I had to have both of these parts replaced at below 40000 miles at a cost of more than $800 dollars. These parts were made to fail. As for power with a turbo it lacks power. I have changed the spark plugs and the coil pack. Still laces power.
Over heating. 3 times in 3 years. I have had to have water pump replaced and thermometer. Mechanic has told me he doesn't understand this issue. Car doesn't cool down in idle. Directed me to dealership. 1 St time occurred I took it to closed shop. Dealership said it's not covered cause they didn't do the work. It wasn't like I could get it to them the car was shutting down. Next time I got it back to same mechanic as it was still warranty. This time they replaced same items no charge said take it to dealer they don't know what cause is. I know of other people that had a Chevy cruz with same issues and they traded it in. This has been a terrible car. These kind of problems occurred in the 80S not the 2000S
Eco 1.4L model. Engine suddenly began to run rough, most noticeable at idle. Short time later check engine light came on and stayed on. After turning car off cooling fan stayed on several minutes, which it had never done before. Dealer replaced valve cover, and intake manifold for $1100, out of warranty. Only 36,200 miles. Failure of a non-moving part at such low mileage is clearly a defect.
My car will not go into reverse and hesitated to give gas and now my car won't go into any gear, I currently see online other ppl with this car that have the same problem.
On August 19, 2017, I was on the road, drove passed South center mall when I felt that there was something wrong with my engine because it wasn't driving fast as usual. I pulled over to the side of the road, at inspirus credit union in tukwila to check the engine if it was okay when I smelled a faint scent of smoke. I drove back home to park it for fear of the engine exploding. Our family mechanic checked the engine and said that the fan is too loud as if something is causing it to be overworked. The engine fan has always been loud after my oil change on July 21, 2017. The engine light has not been turned off since the oil change and I know that there is something wrong with the vehicle. Also, I entered the VIN number online and it said that the recall on my car is incomplete. The dealer did not inform me about the recall nor mentioned anything about it when I bought it. They did not give me a written letter of the recall or even specified the recall being incomplete.
Chevrolet Cruze 2012 delayed steering when turning, then sluggish would not go past first gear. I was driving on city street noticed difficulty turning and slowness so stopped at nearest gas station. Got vehicle towed to dealer and diagnosed with transmission failure. This was sudden, always kept up with regular maintenance, oil changes & tune ups! this should not happen to a car barely 5 years old car and well maintained!
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze eco. While driving various speeds, a "turn air conditioner off, engine overheating" message appeared. The contact turned off the air conditioner; however, several minutes later, an "engine overheating" message displayed. The contact parked the vehicle, turned off the engine, and waited ten minutes. The contact was able to drive the vehicle without any warning messages appearing. However, later in the day, the engine overheating message displayed again. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (Firestone complete auto care 1031 mt zion rd, morrow, ga 30260 (770) 225-1530) where it was diagnosed with a thermostat housing and thermostat failure which needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired, but the contact was informed by the mechanic that the vehicle was designed to withstand the heat conditions in a state such as Georgia. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,695.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while stationary, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that smoke came from under the hood of the vehicle directly after the vehicle was purchased. Chevrolet of broadsheadville, Pennsylvania was made aware of the series of failures and diagnosed that the engine coolant thermostat was faulty. In addition, the transmission was replaced, under a manufacturers recall, but the failure recurred thereafter. The dealer stated that the contact would have to get used to the new transmission and the way the vehicle operated after the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty in regards to the mileage. The failure mileage was 78,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 09/06/17
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that vehicle was serviced per a manufacturer voluntary emission recall: 14801 (engine) to reprogram the engine control module. After the vehicle was repaired at john donoghue automotive (363 vinson blvd, whiteville, nc 28472 (910) 642-2400), the brake pedal became difficult to depress. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for diagnostic testing and was serviced per a manufacturer recall: 12213 (brakes) where the brake vacuum micro switch was replaced. However, the brake failure recurred several months later. The vehicle was then taken back to john donoghue automotive, but the failure could not be duplicated. Recently, driving 35 mph, the temperature gauge on the instrument panel increased while the air conditioner was turned on. When the air conditioner was turned off, the temperature gauge decreased. The contact also stated that the fan would remain on for several minutes after the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the failures and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing. Due to the diagnostic fees, the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted for the recent failure. The failure mileage was 57,395....updated 10/19/17
When trying to start my car it sounds like wants to turn over but it does't, everything reset on my dashboard, after waiting for a while it starts back
Tires light all the time, overheating all the time spend 100 of dollar on anti-freeze coolant ran in overflow tank spent over $769 0N people giving false report on what wrong with vehicle. I tried to file for bankrupty but wasn't successful due low income. Stop on city street.
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed coolant on the ground. The contact's wife also noted smoke emitting from the vehicle while the engine was running. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water outlet was leaking coolant out of the engine onto the transmission. The contact repaired the vehicle himself. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Harrison Township, MI, USA