2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems and complaints
Owners have filed 865 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The most-reported areas: Engine (268), Electrical System (196), Service Brakes (152).
Key takeaways
- 865 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 62 involve a crash, 18 a fire, 30 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 268 | 31% |
| Electrical System | 196 | 23% |
| Service Brakes | 152 | 18% |
| Power Train | 137 | 16% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 108 | 12% |
| Steering | 103 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 84 | 10% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 51 | 6% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 48 | 6% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 44 | 5% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 35 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 34 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-08-31
I was driving and the engine caught on fire. The flames came from the turbo gasket compartment not sure why or how it ignited. Thankfully the damage was not that extensive the car was towed to my residence and it is not drivable it won't start.
Engine - filed 2026-06-16
Was driving and my car literally wouldn't go forward. Prior to I had an oil change and I would smell burning oil
Electrical System,unknown Or Other,service Brakes - filed 2026-06-03
My breaks do not work in reverse. Pump valve seems to be bad
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More for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.