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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:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,475 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 accessories - exterior problems

accessories - exterior problem

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #35

Nov 032021

Cruze

  • miles

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

The problem I have is a very, very common problem and a huge safety issue to my life or anyone with the same car within around 2011 to 2015. The cheap plastic levers for the mode actuator for my defrost and vents do not work. They have broken and this I barely have any heat coming out of the front vents and absolutely none coming from the defrost. This is a huge issue and highly affects my driving in the cold and snowy, or even rainy, weather. I-??m so upset there has not been a recall thus far. No one wants to spend 1000 dollars for a five dollar part when it-??s not their fault that the levers are faulty! This is Chevrolets and thus, GMCs problem. My safety is highly threatened when I can-??t defrost the ice nor the fog over my windshield meaning I cannot see!! I scrape it and as soon as I drive it gets worse I had to pull over today because I couldn-??t see at all! It-??s scary and not okay! Please admit to the mistake and fix the problem. Please!

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #34

Dec 112020

Cruze

  • 96,000 miles
The HVAC blender door mechanism ( heat mode door lever) broke which disables the defrost mode in the car. This happened during a winter storm and I could not see through the windshield and only partial vision of the road. Very very dangerous situation and going forward. Very expensive fix, so I am debating weather to spend the money to fix myself.

- Bayside, WI, USA

problem #33

Dec 312018

Cruze

  • miles
Vehicle fails to turn on windshield defroster causing limited to no visibility.

- Wheeling, IL, USA

problem #32

Oct 212019

Cruze

  • 65 miles

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

On my way home, my vehicle was in motion on the highway during heavy rain. I was so terrified didnt notice that something was wrong till I pulled over. The left windshield wiper had stopped working. I had to wait till the rain had stopped to go home.

- Winston-Salem, NC, USA

problem #31

Nov 172018

Cruze

  • 52,000 miles
Backing out of a parking spot in a non-regulated privately owned parking area vision is impaired and anyone moving in any direction toward you cannot be seen or noticed until impact.

- Macungie, PA, USA

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problem #30

Jan 312019

Cruze

  • 165,000 miles
Passenger wiper blade quit working while driving down the road during a blizzard.

- Chadwick, IL, USA

problem #29

Jan 302019

Cruze

  • 142,000 miles

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

The defrost quit working while we had -50 degree temperatures this winter. My car could not keep the windshield clear to see. It was in motion when it began getting more and more foggy. Now hear a gear went out in the vent system

- Sauk Rapids, MN, USA

problem #28

Feb 032019

Cruze

  • 11,000 miles
Driving on the highway and the wiper stopped working on the center

- Mechanicsburg, PA, USA

problem #27

Dec 172018

Cruze

  • 160,000 miles
My passenger side windshield wiper stopped working.I was trying to make it a few days until I could afford to fix my passenger wiper and my driver side stopped working on my way to work on the highway while I was in motion. When this happened I had to hang my head out the window to see where I was driving until I could get to a safe location to pull over.

- Carthage, MO, USA

problem #26

Nov 012018

Cruze

  • 132,650 miles
Let me start by saying this issue was the not the first issue that's cause me to tow my car first was my engine failure due to coolant lines ripping while driving. And this issues is about defrost and heating in the general I was driving on the highway with me heat on the windshield but it didn't heat the front windshield instead is was heating my face the windows were already a little foggy but I expected it to be clear while driving but instead while going 65mph on the highway my windows completely become fogged completely white I couldn't see anything lucky for me I was on the right lane so I pulled over and was safe however if it happened even 5 seconds later I would of most likely hit or been hit as the highs had some renavations and the new turn had no pull over and had a long and tight turn. Anyways if your also having this issues and know a fix please inform me.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #25

Oct 302018

Cruze

  • 108,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving in a rain storm, the driver's side windshield wiper stopped working. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 108,000.

- East Troy, WI, USA

problem #24

Nov 052017

Cruze

  • 51,000 miles
When you turn the dial to use the wipers. It does not work. You can push it, to spray the wiper fluid, but the wipers dont move. My vechile only has 51000 miles on it.

- Manor, TX, USA

problem #23

Jan 242018

Cruze

  • 88,000 miles
HVAC door actuator does not operate correctly. Car will not blow air on to the windshield to defrost the window. Results in poor to no visibility while driving due to interior fog on the windows and spray from other traffic freezing to the windshield.

- Chetek, WI, USA

problem #22

Dec 082017

Cruze

  • 72,000 miles
All HVAC functions working except defroster (windshield) not functioning. Snow and ice won't thaw

- Fowlerville, MI, USA

problem #21

Jan 082018

Cruze

  • 102,460 miles
My windshield wipers had stopped working completely no movement at all, they were making a noise whenever you toggled the wiper control inside the car. So I mad an appointment for Jan 5th, 2018 so that it could be looked at and fixed. They told me that it was my windshield wipers transmission that needed to be replaced. In which I knew I had been researching before hand needed to be sure. Auto shop told me that it would be $149 for the part that I would be responsible for, and they would take care of the labor and, then she said no it would be $74 for part and I told them to go ahead. They said they needed to order the part and it may not be there that day. So I then made an appointment with them Monday January 8,2018 when they were supposed to have the part dropped my car off on that Sunday January 7,2018 and they called me Monday@9:30 telling me my car was ready so I picked it up after work.. skip forward to Friday January 12,2018 I get ready to leave for work and go outside I clear my car off and my windshield wipers aren't working.. I spray de-icer on them put my defrost on remove ice and all and they are not working... it has only been 3 days that I've had my windshield wipers transmission repaired and I'm still having this same issue.... I need answers.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #20

Jan 102018

Cruze

  • 120,000 miles
I was driving in a rainstorm and all of a sudden my windsheild wipers stopped working this is extremely dangerous and I have read other complaints about this happening to people!!!

- Davison, MI, USA

problem #19

Aug 142017

Cruze

  • 62,000 miles
Wipers started stopping when on. If you turn them off and then on they work for a very short time then stop again. When the wipers are in the off position they stop right in front of the drivers view. Took to dealer, dealer stated the body control module was going out and would affect more and more of the car and could pose a safety hazard.

- St Clair, MO, USA

problem #18

Apr 282017

Cruze

  • 98,000 miles
Windshield wiper transmission (linkage) failed during operation of vehicle during a rain storm, causing the driver's side wiper to stop working and visability to be compromised at high speed.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #17

Jan 122017

Cruze

  • 126,989 miles
I believe the GM recall 25302 on Chevrolet equinox vehicles should be expanded to include the Cruze model. I own each of these models and have not had an issue yet on the equinox, but the Cruze had to have wiper ball joint replacement that is explained in this existing recall. Please consider expanding this recall to include all modules of Chevrolet that utilize this same wiper ball joint because this design fault exists on the Cruze model as well. My Cruze was fixed at a garage that is not Chevrolet dealer affiliated, so I'm not sure how the NHTSA tracks these types of issues. The issue with the Cruze was that the passenger side wiper blade was no longer moving, the ball joint was broken and no longer functioning and had to be replaced.

- Lykens, PA, USA

problem #16

Jan 062017

Cruze

  • miles
The morning of 1/5/17 I noticed my passenger windshield wiper would not move, but the drivers side still worked. No change on the afternoon drive home. On the morning of 1/6/17, the passenger side wiper still didn't move, but the drivers side wiper moved up and then would not return to the down position. I manually moved it down, and now neither wiper moves. Very dangerous at any time to not be able to clear my windshield, but with the dirt and grime of the winter in the midwest along with the constant flecks of snow from the cars around me, I was struggling to make it to work safely. I'll have the issue addressed with my mechanic this evening/weekend.

- Jonesboro, IN, USA

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