What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTO THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE UNKNOWN AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,340. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10510502

STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT ENTERING THE INTERIOR OF CAR WHEN HEATER IS USED. BECOMES STRONGER IF WINDOW IS OPEN WHILE DRIVING . ODOR IS NOT PRESENT WHEN AT STANDSTILL. OPEN OPENING HOOD WITH ENGINE OFF ODOR CAN BE SENSED NEAR THE WATER PUMP AREA. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP A WEEK AGO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS 28 K ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504687

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SOUR ODOR BEING EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE, WATER AND MOLD UNDER THE ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A PLUG HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED IN THE LINE, CAUSING THE LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CARPET AND THE FIREWALL INSULATOR PAD HOWEVER, THE MOLD REMAINED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE PROLONGED LEAK AND THE EXTENSIVE MOLD THAT ACCUMULATED IN THE VEHICLE, IT WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CONTACT HAD DEVELOPED LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT HAD INHALED LARGE AMOUNTS OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND SUFFERED MAJOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE CONTACT AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,500.

NHTSA ODI 10499552

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING HARNESS HAD BEEN CHEWED AND FELT THAT THE ENGINE WAS NO LONGER PROTECTED SINCE THE ENGINE COVER WAS REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,535. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

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COOLANT SMELL IN CAB, HVAC INTAKE DUCT MOUNTED LESS THAN 6INCHES FROM COOLANT SURGE TANK VENT. IN COLD WEATHER IT SMELL SEEMS WORSE. LOVE THE CAR BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A 2012 CAR, WITHIN MINUTES OF STARTING TO BREATH THIS POISON I GET CRAMPS IN MY SINUSES & START TO GET A MILD HEADACHE. READING ONLINE SEEMS GMS CURRENT FIX TO QUIET THE ISSUE BY BUYING BACK CUSTOMERS CARS, THAT LEAVES THE REST OF US CRUZE OWNERS BREATHING FUMES. *TR

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ANTIFREEZE FUMES ORIGINATE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR

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VEHICLE VENTS ANTIFREEZE VAPORS AND FUEL VAPORS INTO DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ODORS CAN BECOME NOXIOUS. *TR

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A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10484973

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10479960

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:12V288000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) PERFORMED, HOWEVER THE DEALER CUT THE ENGINE SHIELD COVER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD REQUESTED TO DO SO IN ORDER FOR THE ENGINE OIL TO LEAK TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10472757

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? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10470274

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469194

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED HESITATION WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH. THE CONTACT WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE REPAIR PERFORMED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE AREA WHERE THE SHIELD WAS REMOVED WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED ADDITIONALLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,422.

NHTSA ODI 10466438

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

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THE RECALL FIX FOR THE CHEVROLET CRUZE WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR. THE FIX WAS TO CUT THE ENGINE, OR UNDER THE ENGINE AREA, SKID PLATE EXPOSING THIS AREA. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR, ENGINE, EXHAUST, OIL PAN AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE NOW EXPOSED. THE IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE DURING THE ACT OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, IT MAY BE EXPOSED TO ROAD CONDITIONS, FOREIGN OBJECTS, OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE AND OVERALL SAFE HANDLING OF THIS VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10464104

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE DINGS AND SAYS "ENGINE OVERHEATING A/C TURNED OFF," I WAS VERY SURPRISED BUT KEPT DRIVING AND LITERALLY ONE MINUTE LATER THE CAR DINGS AGAIN. THERE IS A DIFFERENT MESSAGE THAT SAYS "IDLE ENGINE OVERHEATING," AT THIS POINT I AM VERY WORRIED AND I PULL OVER AND CALL THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAS OCCURRED. I WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SO, I START THE CAR UP AND BEGIN THE DRIVE OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS ABOUT 15 MINUTES AWAY BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. NOT THREE MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE I GET THE SAME MESSAGE "IDLE ENGINE OVERHEATING," I'M VERY NERVOUS BUT KEEP GOING AND ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER I GET A NEW MESSAGE "SHUT ENGINE OFF ENGINE OVERHEATING." I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I SHOULD JUST CONTINUE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I GET ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE DEALERSHIP AND MY ENGINE STARTS SMOKING. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN SEVEN MONTHS AND I BASICALLY ONLY USE IT TO DRIVE TO WORK AND SCHOOL. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES, I GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 4,000-5,000 MILES, IN FACT I GOT AN OIL CHANGE LESS THAN A WEEK AGO. *TR

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THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DECEMBER 2010 AND SINCE THE PURCHASE ALL THE ISSUES THAT 2012 CHEVY CRUZE HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO REGARDING RECALLS WE HAVE SUFFERED THEM. THIS COMPLAINT IS FILED DUE TO THE FACT THAT, ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, GM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FLY WHEEL BOLTS. THESE BOLTS ARE INTERNAL AND ARE CURRENTLY LOOSE AND WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPS. *TR

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