NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
TL* 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 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE LTZ. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS AUTOMATIC DIMMING LIGHT AND IT DOESN'T FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD. WHEN SOMEONE IS DRIVING BEHIND HIM WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON IT CAUSED A GLARE IN THE MIRROR WHICH OBSCURED HIS VISION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MIRROR WITH ONE THAT HAD TINT IN IT. AFTER HAVING THE REAR VIEW MIRROR REPLACED, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/07/12
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. *TR
CRUZE HAS A COOLANT SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE CRUZE VEHICLES. GM HAS YET TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 TO 80 MPH, HE WOULD HEAR WIND ENTERING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND WAS PRESENT ON ALL THE NEW VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 12 MPH DURING A RAIN STORM WHEN THE WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED BUT WOULD ONLY OPERATE EXTREMELY SLOW. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADWAY BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY WIPERS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE WIPER SPEED WAS SLOWER THAN NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/14/11 *BF UPDATED 11/21/11
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. *TR
HAVE COOLANT ODOR INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER TESTED 3 TIMES, BUT CLAIMS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SMELL IS VERY BAD IN COLDER MONTHS. WINDOW FOGS. HAVE TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN SOMEWHAT IN WINTER CONDITIONS. CHEVY NOW HAS A BULLETIN. BEEN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH GM REGIONAL - THEY ARE IGNORING ME. MANY OTHER CRUZE OWNERS HAVE SAME COMPLAINT/PROBLEM. *JS
I DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT RESOLUTION TO GM'S RECALL ON THE CHEVY CRUZE CONCERNING THE ENGINE SPLASH PAN IS ADEQUATE AS IT ONLY ADDRESSES SAFETY AND NOT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. AS THIS PART DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE FUEL MILEAGE AS ADVERTISED AS WELL AS THE DEGRADATION OF UNDERWOOD PARTS DUE TO WATER ENCROACHMENT, I DON'T BELIEVE BUTCHERING THE EXISTING PAN IS FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. AT THE LEAST, THE REDESIGNED PAN ON THE 2013 AND ANY OR ALL UPDATES MADE TO THE 2013 MODEL REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE ARE WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT SOLUTION IN THAT I NO LONGER HAVE WHAT I PAID FOR DUE TO SAID RECALL AND ITS POOR SOLUTION. *TR
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED A MOMENTARY TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS SOMETIMES. I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE ON AN INCLINE , BRAKED AND THE PEDAL WAS FIRM, NO BRAKES AT ALL, PUMPED THE BRAKE , PEDAL SLOWLY GOES TO THE FLOOR, ANOTHER PUMP AND BRAKING IS OK.THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS IN A PARKING LOT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPEN AND CORRECTS ITSELF VERY QUICKLY, AT LEAST FOR NOW. DEALER HAS BEE NO HELP.I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND I AM NOT ALONE , NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME CONDITION. *TR
I went to take 5 for an oil change , the tech broke my oil cap filter , coolant hose & damage my engine oil cooler . Towed it to progressive Chevrolet . Fleet response is the insurance company for take 5 & they are not taking care of my rental extension while determining if they are at fault with progressive already stated that they were at fault and now they dragging their feet ! Leaving me without a car and I’m in school and so is my son .