2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems and recalls

Owners have filed 865 complaints on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, and NHTSA has issued 7 recalls. The most cited component is the Engine (268 complaints).

865
Complaints
7
Recalls
62
Crash reports
18
Fire reports
30
Injuries
68.1
Severity index

Severity index 68.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 68.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 56 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 57% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 268 complaints (31.0%)268 31%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 196 complaints (22.7%)196 23%Service BrakesService Brakes: 152 complaints (17.6%)152 18%Power TrainPower Train: 137 complaints (15.8%)137 16%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 108 complaints (12.5%)108 12%SteeringSteering: 103 complaints (11.9%)103 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 84 complaints (9.7%)84 10%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 51 complaints (5.9%)51 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE26831.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM19622.7%
SERVICE BRAKES15217.6%
POWER TRAIN13715.8%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)10812.5%
STEERING10311.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER849.7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL515.9%

Complaints filed per year

0851702011: 42012: 442013: 752014: 1612015: 982016: 872017: 922018: 852019: 782020: 402021: 312022: 182023: 262024: 132025: 62026: 7 (partial year)11121314161151617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20114
201244
201375
2014161
201598
201687
201792
201885
201978
202040
202131
202218
202326
202413
20256
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (45 against 89).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V50200005/07/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral 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, 2013-20
14V30000006/06/2014AIR BAGSGeneral 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, a
12V28900022/06/2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTINGGENERAL 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.
12V28800022/06/2012ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGGENERAL 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
12V52200031/10/2012AIR BAGSGeneral 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.
13V02300024/01/2013AIR BAGSGeneral 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.
13V36000015/08/2013SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSISTGeneral 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

Other Chevrolet Cruze model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-02. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.