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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:
5 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,940 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Owner Comments (Page 7 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #10

Oct 062012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 8,000 miles

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

My new 2012 Chevy Cruze eco was purchased on 05/15/2012 and has approximately 8000 miles and the manual transmission clutch is already inoperative. The billy navarre Chevrolet dealership will not repair the vehicle under warranty stating that a GM field service rep has inspected the car and has determined that the clutch failure was due to operator abuse/misuse. In addition, the dealership states that the clutch is not covered under the factory warranty and subject to fair wear and tear although I purchased the GM extended warranty as well. Is it normal for a clutch to fail at 8000 miles? certainly not! the car has never been abused and has been operated within normal operating limits but resulting in the clutch disc being fused to the flywheel - as reported by the service department to me. The speculation is that the operator, my daughter, 'rides' the clutch and has caused the clutch to wear out prematurely and fusing the clutch to the flywheel. My daughter has never 'ridden' the clutch nor abused the vehicle as speculated but has driven the car in a safe and proper manner using normal operating procedures iaw the operator's manual. A burning smell was reported by my daughter to me and within a few days (10/06/12) the car would not go into gear and after several attempts would not shift at all. My daughter is the only operator of the vehicle. The car was towed to the dealership and within a week the service department reported to me that the transmission needed to be replaced but would not be covered under warranty. My only request has been and remains that the car be repaired or replaced under warranty at no cost to me as the problem is a defect induced problem and not due to operator abuse or misuse.

- Sulphur, LA, USA

problem #9

Oct 092012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 200 miles
I purchased a 2012 Chevy Cruze 2lt w/rs package on 9/19/12. I didn't notice right away but after I drove for a few days I notice the engine would have this loud vibration when I barely accelerate, like staying at a steady speed. If I accelerate from a stopped position it doesn't do it or I just don't hear it because I hear the turbo. After driving it a few weeks the vibration sound has gotten worse, so I took it to the dealership to be checked. They test drove it and told me this is the way the echotech w/turbo motors sound and nothing was wrong with it. I wasn't satisfied so I asked I could test drive another car just like mine on their lot. They graciously let me and it sounded the same. My sons girlfriend has the exact same car and hers sounds nothing like mine. She bought hers at a different dealership which means it was probably came from a different manufacturer. Something isn't right and this should be fixed. This does not sound like a new car. It's very embarrassing. My 1995 Chevy cavalier is not as loud as my new car. Another thing is when I slow down to pull in my driveway (on a hill) I just let off the gas and the car will jerk really hard. This doesn't happen all the time but this will be an issue I'm sure when the warranty is up. I'm very disappointed with my first new car purchase. I waited 42 years for this.

- Bedford, IN, USA

problem #8

Sep 052012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 11,264 miles
Car responds erratically and unpredictably to push on accelerator pedal. On above date in attempting to back up slowly accelerator pedal was pushed with delayed response, then followed by extreme motion backward hitting fence, damaging fender. At other times car fails to accelerate out of way of on-coming traffic causing near collisions with little or no response to pedal movement. This has happened several times with this six month old car. My friend has same model with same problem. As per Chevy service manager who was twice contacted on this: A) he took a new Cruze home to drive for several days to investigate this complaint from other customers and he had the same problem, B) same problems are being reported to other Chevy dealers in hot climate areas of country. Chevy service manager says problem is know to General Motors, but no fix is available - all tests on several other new Cruze models brought in for service with same problem show that all systems and electronics are working normally. He's not sure what General Motors will do about it. This is apparently a make/model specific problem that is not being addressed as no pro-active warning info has been received by us from General Motors or the Chevy dealer. This is dangerous and no one is taking any responsibility. Please investigate before someone is seriously injured or killed. The lack of official warning from General Motors is morally outrageous!!

- Miami, AZ, USA

problem #7

Aug 112012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 10,259 miles

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

Chevrolet's recall fix on the 2011-2012 Chevy Cruze involve cutting off large portions of the underneath heat shield, this piece is also a debris shield. But now with the heat shield completely gone, there now is no protection from debris entering under the hood and causing more damage, also with this fix GM is compromising the biggest selling point of this car which is the gas mileage, this shield is also used to reduce drag underneath the car and in turn increasing gas mileage, but now drag will increase underhood which will decrease fuel mileage. In very wet climates this shield helped prevent water from spraying up under the hood as well, and by removing this shield our cars are now more prone rust, corrosion and abnormal wear to vital parts. GM has done a horrible job at fixing this problem, no logic or obvious care were taken into consideration when addressing this issue. If this kind of similar problem happened on a Cadillac or a corvette would have they fixed the problem the same way"? probably not, so what makes my Chevy Cruze any less important"

- Denver, NC, USA

problem #6

Jun 272012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,551 miles
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT1 rs package, automatic transmission on June 27 I was in murray, ky driving home from murray state university. I was in heavy traffic. After the light changed I gave the accelerator a light tap to move the car forward. It started slowly but after a few seconds, it seems that the car stalled. The transmission downshifted and when I gave the accelerator a tap, nothing. At this time, I was certain I would be in an accident. Again, I gave the accelerator a tap (mind you, I didn't mash the petal to the floor board, I gave it enough of a tap to switch the gear). The car did nothing, and again my concern was that I would be rear ended soon. Another tip (again, I did not mash the pedal to the floor), and finally the turbo charger kicked in and the car switched gears. But when the car shifted gears, it was an explosion of force that jerked and lurched the car forward including my self. I was glad to get moving since traffic was heavy. Since this incident, it has happened 5 times that the car has been sluggish to respond, and it have continued to shift gears with random jerks and often explosive force that jerks both car and passenger. I have had this to 2 dealerships, and they say they cannot reproduce it, and they both tell me that this is a normal thing, and that this transmission will make erratic gear changes. I am concerned for my safety with I drive this car, and hope I am not stranded in traffic when the transmission fails to shift properly.

- Greenville, KY, USA

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problem #5

Apr 052012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 760 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact was traveling 30 mph when the vehicle jerked while changing from first to second gear. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 760 and the current mileage was 1,300. Updated 8/23/12

- Evansville, IN, USA

problem #4

Apr 022012

Cruze 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Back in January 2012, I bought a Chevy Cruze 2012 with automatic transmission. After two month using this vehicle, I found out it has a problem while driving up/down hill. Driving uphill, once I put the transmission into drive and release the brake pedal this car rolls back and the engine cut off. Driving downhill, once I put the transmission into rear and release the brake pedal this car goes down and the engine cut off. I went to a Chevrolet dealer, they tested my car and another 2012 Cruze from their inventory and both cars did the same as I describe above. However, they told me the car is performing as designed and no problems found at this time. Then, I contacted GM, GM contacted its dealer, and three days later GM called me back telling me the same 'no problems found'. so, I requested a letter where GM tells me that anything was wrong and they will cover any future issues with the automatic transmission but GM told me that they cannot provide me any document. As a customer, I would like to request an investigation because in my opinion those issues are design defects. Thank you in advance for your help.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #3

Dec 122011

Cruze 4-cyl

  • 100 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to accelerate from a stop. The contact also stated that the vehicle experienced numerous transmission failures in which the vehicle hesitated to change gears while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the vehicle was performing to specifications. The manufacturer was also made aware of the failure and stated that the vehicle was performing as intended. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100. Updated 07/06/12

- Rootstown, OH, USA

problem #2

Nov 042011

Cruze

  • miles
I just bought a 2012 Chevy Cruze. At take off and turning around curves at low speed the steering and the wheels shake. I took it to the dealership. And couldn't find anything wrong with it but it continues to do it. Very upsetting that it is brand new and already having problems. I really like my car but wish it was fixed.

- Milton, WV, USA

problem #1

Sep 072011

Cruze 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 1,672 miles
My 2012 Chevrolet Cruze eco with the 6-speed manual transmission has occasionally refused to go into 4th gear, and grinds occasionally when going into 2nd gear. I get the grind at about 1200 RPM and up. Most of my shifting is done at or below 2500 RPM for fuel economy reasons. The clutch pedal can be pushed to the floor, the engine rev-matched, and it will still balk/grind in those gears.this is my second manual transmission car after putting 70,000 miles on my first one, so I know how to drive a manual transmission without grinding the gears. The car presently has 4700 miles on it, and the problem started at approximately 1000 miles. I'm worried that I might need to do a quick shift to accelerate quickly in an emergency situation and be unable to do so thanks to the balkiness of the transmission.

- Hornell, NY, USA

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