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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:
53,553 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 4 of 13)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #195

Jan 012017

Cruze

  • 74,000 miles

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

Takata recall I hear a dripping sound under the hood, followed by a sound like the dripping is hitting something hot. Electronics such as the radio, signals, and the entire computer screen is out. The car is at the autonation service center on security blvd. In baltimore and they are looking to profit from these defects. It's sad...

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #194

Aug 152019

Cruze

  • 69,000 miles
Our Chevy Cruze had started shifting strange while driving, losing power and it would start to idle rough, and just shut off, a day later the engine light came on and we ran a code scanner on it to find out what was wrong. 7 error codes came up and it all led to a failed PCV valve. Two days later it was in the shop and we are now faced with a major repair cost.

- Kenosha, WI, USA

problem #193

Jun 032019

Cruze

  • miles
While driving my 2012 Chevy Cruze, my radio will shut off randomly for about 10 seconds, and when it does, I lose complete control of the steering. It is like the car shuts off but when the radio turns back on, then the car will restore power. Very dangerous and scary!!! and yet, there is still no recall for my specific VIN. Also, for two mornings in a row, I have noticed a smell and some smoke coming from the engine. It will only do it for about 5 minutes and the car will not overheat. I swear it is one thing after another with this car.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #192

Jun 112019

Cruze

  • 115,000 miles

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

Engine recall! the engine often makes sound that is different than normal. Over 100,000 miles, the problem starts! when not in motion, although the engine is on, the vehicle engine stops even in waiting at the traffic light stop.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #191

May 102019

Cruze

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 10 mph, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle consumed oil. The vehicle was taken to chuck hutton Chevrolet (located at 2471 mt moriah rd, memphis, tn 38115, (901) 318-3703) where it was diagnosed that the turbo head failed internally and was pushing exhaust fuel into the engine crankcase. The dealer stated that the turbo head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #190

Jun 072019

Cruze

  • 80,000 miles
Oil was dripping, went to go get it fixed and my mechanic supposedly fixed it. Drove for about a mile and car started smoking and my belt was on fire and crumbled off my car. I purchased this vehicle almost one month ago and only been able to drive for a week total because of this oil issue. I am paying money to fix and they still can't tell me what's wrong so I looked it up for recalls and saw this had and recall just like I explained but not associated with my VIN. Please help. My car is now undriveable. I was driving when the car started smoking and I pulled over and noticed the belt on the ground burning. Not driving after that.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #189

Apr 022019

Cruze

  • 112,000 miles

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

The vehicle will be dripping engine coolants. Hoses will malfunction, causing multiple replacement.

- Rockymount, NC, USA

problem #188

Jun 032019

Cruze

  • 70,000 miles
The check engine light came on while I was driving stopped at advance soon as it came and then cut the car off and then it would not crank back. Had to have car towed to garage. Foudn out that it was the ECM computer messed up and only have 70,000 miles on the car. Garage called Chevy and they stopped covering the computer 3 years ago due to so many calls about the computer messing up. This should have been a recall then and they will not cover the repairs to my car.

- Pilot Mtn, NC, USA

problem #187

Mar 012019

Cruze

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle unintentionally decelerated. When the failure occurred, the vehicle took time to accelerate and the check engine indicator illuminated. Also, while the vehicle was at a stop light, it violently vibrated and stalled, but was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to feldman Chevrolet of lansing (2801 E Michigan ave, lansing, mi 48912, (517) 507-4948) where the contact was informed that the turbo in the engine needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the part was previously repaired. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- East Lansing, MI, USA

problem #186

Feb 222019

Cruze

  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle started to jerk violently. The contact stated that the failure only occurred when the engine was warm. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air intake failed and affected the valve cover and all the components. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

- Dilsburg, PA, USA

problem #185

Dec 282018

Cruze

  • 68,000 miles

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

Significant coolant leak causing engine to overheat

- Oneonta, NY, USA

problem #184

Apr 052019

Cruze

  • 101,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving 30 mph, the engine overheated and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. Smoke appeared from the front end of the vehicle. The contact parked the vehicle on the side of the street and waited until all the smoke cleared before continuing to drive home. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The notified summit Chevrolet Buick GMC (located at 318 grant ave, auburn, NY 13021, (315) 258-2000) and the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was 101,000.

- Aubrey, NY, USA

problem #183

Apr 022019

Cruze

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving on the highway, the contact was alerted by another motorist that there were flames underneath her vehicle. Shortly after, the contact noticed smoke coming from the vents and the speed was decelerating. The vehicle was pulled off the road and the fire department extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 133,000.

- Eatonton, GA, USA

problem #182

Jan 252019

Cruze

  • miles
Catalytic converter, engine light on and sulpher smell

- Abingdon, MD, USA

problem #181

Dec 112018

Cruze

  • 140,000 miles
The valve cover is [xxx]! I've replaced three in a year an a half! this is causing massive oil leaks and needs to be fixed! the whole [xxx] thingb I'm getting really pissed about this parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #180

Mar 252019

Cruze

  • 75,000 miles
Engine overheated, got that fixed. Not even 3 weeks later, check engine light comes on again'car shakes when stopped and still sounds like the engine is running when the car is off.

- Waukesha, WI, USA

problem #179

Feb 082019

Cruze

  • 96,600 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. While driving, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and shuddered, and the transmission shifting was affected. The contact provided the dealer (turner Chevrolet, 1251 paxton St, harrisburg, pa 17104, (866) 629-7151) with engine codes: P015B (O2 sensor delayed response for oxygen sensor) and PO171 (bank 1 system 2 lean). The dealer was supposed to call the contact back to explain the codes. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 96,600.

- Dillsburg, PA, USA

problem #178

Jan 292019

Cruze

  • miles
Purchased my 2012 Chevy Cruze March of 2016. July 2016 the car will continue to run after the key was out ignition I took it to naperville Chevy they changed thermostat. October 2016 the car would run on highway or street all of a sudden service traction light comes on the car only go to 20mph suddenly then it will turn off. Took it to Chevy again they said trans module they fixed it March 2017 it happened again they didn't know the problem because no engine light on it happened every 4 months October 2018 trans line leaking with the same sign no faster than 20mph jerking they fixed lines January 2019 car jerking again car goes 20 mph but the car will stop at stop sign and will I accelerate to go the car won't move at all I have to turn it off to drive again

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #177

Jan 202019

Cruze

  • 113,350 miles
Turbo charger valve failed causing multiple other issues. Car shuts off randomly. Stability track keeps coming on even after the wire to the battery was replaced.

- Bunkerhill, WV, USA

problem #176

Feb 012019

Cruze

  • 103,000 miles
My brakes keep going "hard" and not functioning properly. About a year ago I had my master cylander, brake booster, microswitch in the brake vacuum line, maf sensor and air intake hose replaced because the mechanic said those were the issues, I went 2 weeks without my vehicle, including breaking down for multiple days out of state. Now here I am with the same issues. Before I had them replaced I was told that the microswitch in the brake system was already recalled and replaced. But since then it has failed again. I was told by Chevy that they only do the recall once, but if they are replacing it with a faulty part shouldn't that be recalled again? I have two toddlers in my vehicle regularly and losing the power brakes could end very bad. The power brakes fail almost every day, usually the first time I hit the brakes after starting to vehicle. Witch make me think that its going to completely fail again soon.

- Granada Hills, CA, USA

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