What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

I WAS DRIVING, AND THE RADIO DASH BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF. THEN THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, THE WORDS "SERVICE POWER STEERING" CAME ON, THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO PULSE, AND THEN "SERVICE TRACTION" CAME ON, THEN THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10701479

DROVE MY CAR ABOUT 70 MILES ON THE INTERSTATE ONCE I GOT INTO TOWN AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER, WHEN I ACCELERATED THE CAR WAS HESITANT. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY STATE ROUTE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IT WAS VERY HESITANT MAKING THE TURN TO A POINT I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO STALL, IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER TODAY GETTING THE COOLANT RECALL COMPLETED AND IT WILL BE COMPUTER CHECKED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT. FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC, THE CAR IS LOOSING VACUUM PRESSURE AND THE VALVES OR VALVE COVER IS LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10694750

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY DRIVER SIDE WIPER BLADE JUST STOPPED WORKING. ONE OF MY CO WORKERS LOOKED AT IT AND THE ENTIRE BLADE CAME OFF. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE PROBLEM TO FIND OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE IS JUST THE SAME WAY. THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM HAS TO BE REPLACED. FOR NOW THE PARTS ARE WELDED TOGETHER TO MAKE IT WORK. *TR

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THE WIPER BLADE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER 3 WEEKS AGO. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER WILL ONLY GO ABOUT 1/4 OF THE WAY UP. THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER GOT STUCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER AND BROKE COMPLETELY OFF. THIS IS A HORRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10693277

REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES TO THIS VEHICLE TEMPORARILY, THEN AUTOMATICALLY RESETS. THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE YOU NEED THE ENGINE POWER IN MAKING TURNS, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA. THE ENGINE THROTTLE FAILED AND I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THAT, AND FOR A FAILED WHEEL BEARING AND FOR A TURBO EXPLOSION ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT IS A LOT FOR A CAR THAT IS 3 YEARS OLD, AND PURCHASED BRAND NEW. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR AIR BAGS, BRAKES, AND THE OIL PAN. I CONSIDER IT LEMON AND WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS. I WON'T BUY AMERICAN AGAIN UNTIL I SEE SOME MAJOR PROGRESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10692417

WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. BROUGHT CAR TO A STOP, ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOTHING, ENGINE WOULD ONLY IDLE. SHUT ENGINE OFF FOR 20 SECONDS, RESTARTED, AND PEDAL WORKED, CAR WOULD ACCELERATE. RETURNED HOME, SCANNED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FOR CODES, FOUND P2135 FOR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CLEANED THROTTLE BODY. HAD CAR BACK FOR 2 DAYS AND PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. FOUND SAME CODE, RETURNED CAR TO DEALER. CHEVY DEALER WAS RELUCTANT TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY, DIDN'T EVEN MENTION THE MALFUNCTION AND WANTED TO INSTEAD REPLACE A COOLANT SENSOR. I WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM TO REPLACE THROTTLE BODY, AND THE REPAIR ORDER STATES THAT THEY UPDATED THE ECM SOFTWARE LEVEL. I BELIEVE THERE IS A TSB WHICH SHOULD BE A RECALL. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, MERGING, ETC. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH, VEHICLE STALLED, TRACTION STABILITY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, AND STEERING LOCKED. THE RADIO SHUT OFF AND THE RADIO SCREEN/ ENV CONTROL PANEL FLICKERED ON AND OFF CONTINUOUSLY. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR SINCE I WAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME. CHECKED THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS AND ALL SEEMED TO BE TIGHT. DROVE CAR TO WORK TODAY BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE. I LITERALLY JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR A WEEK AGO AND IT PASSED MD STATE INSPECTION. I AM WONDERING NOW IF THE INSPECTION INCLUDED A OBD CHECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691768

I WAS MOVING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE A CHIMING NOISE CAME ON AND THE STABILITRAK APPEARED AND WILL NOT COME OFF I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTION THAT I WAS READ IN MY MANUAL BUT NOW THIS KEEPS HAPPENING I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SINCE THERE HAS BEEN MORE THE ONE COMPLAINT ON THE SAME ISSUE.. THIS SHOULD BE A CHEVY PROBLEM ABD THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691609

REPORTED OIL PRESSURE DROP ALERT ON MY CAR, STRONG RUBBER BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. OIL WAS SPRAYING OUT ON ENGINE, REPORTED THE ISSUE TO CHEVY, HOWEVER THEY STATE NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL MID APRIL. WAS SENT HOME DRIVING CAR IN THIS CONDITION AND WAS NOT OFFERED HELP NOR WAS MY CAR SERVICED OR FIXED DURING THE APPOINTMENT I MADE AT THE SUNRISE CHEVROLET LOCATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10691277

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO INTERMITTENTLY OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND GENERATOR STARTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 10691172

2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION. CONSUMER HAS DIFFERENT VEHICLE COMPLAINTS LISTED IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED, IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING. AN ALERT DISPLAYED TRACTION CONTROL ERROR AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS DISABLED AND APPARENTLY LOCKED DOWN. THE SHIFT LEVER MOVED FREELY FROM PARK, REVERSE AND THE DRIVE POSITION. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE WAS APPARENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. THREE HOURS LATER, THE ALERT DISAPPEARED AND THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IT WAS DESIGNED. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAP SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PASS INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 4/30/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT IDLE PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 06/23/15*JB

NHTSA ODI 10690567

I AM WRITING IN REFERENCE TO MY 2012 CHEVY CRUISE ECO. I PURCHASED IT NEW WITH ONLY 5 MILES ON IT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM RELIGIOUS WITH MAINTENANCE SCHEDULING. ON FEB. 19TH WAS THE FIRST TIME WE NOTICED IT. MY WIFE WAS LEAVING THE DRIVEWAY AND THE TOP SPEED THAT COULD BE ACHIEVED WAS 10 MPH AND THE SERVICE STABILITRACK LIGHT CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. THE WORST WAS THE MORNING OF FEB. 23 2015 WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55 MPH WHEN THE SYSTEM REDUCED POWER TO 10 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY BUT TEN MINUTES PRIOR I WAS ON AN INTERSTATE. THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I'VE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL NOTICE. I HOPE I DON'T REGRET BUYING A CHEVROLET. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10690194

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BACKING UP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEART CONTUSION, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN THUMB AND A CONCUSSION, THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INTERNAL STOMACH BLEEDING WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,500.

NHTSA ODI 10690344

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE JUNE 2014, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE DECREASE. ONCE AT A STOP OR STOP LIGHT, IT TAKES THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 10 TO 40 SECONDS TO FULLY PICK UP SPEED UPON PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATION. TODAY (02/14/2015) THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MOVE FROM A STOP SIGN. THIS WAS SCARY. I IMAGINED THIS WOUND HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE IF I WAS IN THE MIDST OF FAST MOVING VEHICLES. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A TREND IN THE CHEVY CRUZE ACCELERATION AND RANDOM ENGINE SHUT DOWN; SADLY I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/CRUZE/2012/ENGINE/ENGINE.SHTML THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, AND I URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE THESE COMPLAINTS AND NOTIFY GM TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION UPON COMPLETION OF THE FED INVESTIGATION. IT IS SAD THAT WE CANNOT EVEN RELY ON HOME MADE PRODUCTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683500

VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNING OIL WHEN CAR COMES TO A STOP. OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE TOP REAR OF ENGINE AND DOWN BACK OF ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED PCV VALVE AND MANIFOLD COVER AT 44,678 MILES DUE TO RECURRING ANTIFREEZE LEAK AND LEAN FUEL / LOW VACUUM CONDITION. GOING BACK TO DEALER AGAIN I GUESS BEFORE IT BURSTS INTO FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683113

STRONG SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE WHILE DRIVING, STRONG SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE UNDER THE HOOD, ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON SERPENTINE BELT AND SPRAYED AROUND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683111

2012 CHEVY CRUZE 6-SPEED ECO. AFTER DRIVING APPROX 15 MILE IN CITY TRAFFIC, CAME TO A STOP AND PARKED. APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE CAR STARTED BEEPING. I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NOTICED SPEEDOMETER WAS PEGGING AT AROUND 90MPH AND THE DISPLAY FLASHED THAT THE HAND BRAKE WAS ON. AT THE SAME TIME THE RADIO VOLUME RAISED. AFTER I RELEASED THE PARKING BRAKE, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE GAUGE RETURNED TO NORMAL BUT THE RADIO VOLUME STAYED HIGH. I TURNED THE CAR OFF. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681882

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I WAS SIGNALING TO SWITCH LANES FOR MY EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY. BEGAN TO MERGE AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. LUCKILY IT'S WASN'T FOR LONG AND THE FREEWAY WAS NOT BUSY. HOWEVER THE FACT THAT MY NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE HAS A GLITCH IS SADDENING. WHAT'S EVEN WORSE THEIRS NO MAINTENANCE LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SOMETHING TO MAKE THE DEALERSHIP BELIEVE THEIR IS A PROBLEM. ONLY A FLASHING LIGHT THAT SAYS CHECK STABILITRACK, TRACTION CONTROL, POWERING STEERING AND AT THE SAME TIME MY ABS SERVICE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH. REALLY HOPE CHEVY PUTS OUT A RECALL.. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10681965

THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT (MARCH 2014 & FEBRUARY 3, 2015 RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE POWER/CONTROL WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, BOTH INCIDENTS WERE TERRIFYING. I PURCHASED MY CERTIFIED USED CHEVY CRUZE IN FEBRUARY 2014. IN MARCH/APRIL 2014 IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTUP (TRAVELING UNDER 10 MPH / APPROX. 60,000 MILES) THE CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUE; THE DISPLAYS ON THE DASH WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY FOLLOWED BY WARNING LIGHTS (POWER STEERING, BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL ETC.) AND A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES ETC. I FILED A COMPLAINT IN 2014 (NHTSA - NO. 10574169 #14311:SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE LOOSE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICING. ULTIMATELY, THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINALS WERE REPLACED AND THE SERVICE WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015, I EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR INCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER STARTING MY CAR (TRAVELING 5MPH / APPROX. 84,000 MILES) THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND AGAIN THE CAR BEGAN EXPERIENCING SIMILAR POWER LOSS TO MY CAR WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE CAUSE WAS AGAIN IDENTIFIED AS A NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL, A BAD INTAKE/GASKET LEAKING AND A SMALL ENGINE OIL SEEP. THESE ARE SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES IDENTIFIED WITH THE INITIAL INCIDENT IN 2014 WHEN THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THIS IS A TERRIFYING SCENARIO AND TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES OCCUR IN SUCH A SHORT TIME PERIOD AFTER THE PARTS WERE REPLACED IS NOT COMFORTING AND LEAVES ME WITH FEAR THAT THIS COULD OCCUR AGAIN, I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CHANCES WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I HOPE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND RESOLVED TO AVOID THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN TO MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION AND TO HOPEFULLY AVOID THIS FROM TURNING INTO A SERIOUS AND/OR DEADLY SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10681183

THE CAR COMPUTER SYSTEM IS GLITCHING. TURNING ON AND OFF. SAYS TO SERVICE STABILITY TRAK. I HAVE NOT MESSED THIS CAR UP OR BEEN IN ANY WRECKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680446

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AN THE CAR WAS JERKY. I THE CAR FINALLY MOVED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR AND IT FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT IN THE REAR. THE CAR JERKED, SPUTTERED AND THEN STOPPED MOVING. THIS WAS A FEW DAYS AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND TELLING THEM THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THEY FIXED MY BROKEN TRANNY BUT IT STILL DOES NOT DRIVE SAFELY. IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE, THE GEARS GET STUCK MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY IS A NIGHTMARE. ALMOST TWO YEARS TO THE DAY MY CAR IS ONCE AGAIN AT THE DEALER FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM. I WAS DRIVING UP A SMALL INCLINE, PUSHED THE GAS THE CAR STRUGGLED TO GO. THERE WAS A LOUD HARSH JERK THE CAR FINALLY MOVED. IT SPUTTERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10680295

I TURNED MY CAR ON ONE MORNING AFTER I JUST HAD IT IN THE SHOP TO GET THE RECALLS FIXED ON IT. IM SEEING SERVICE STABILITRAK AND SERVICE TRACTION AND ABS LIGHTS. I CAN NO LONGER TURN ON OR OFF MY TRACTION CONTROL. MY BRAKES ARE NOW GRABBING REALLY BAD AND IM GETTING A REALLY WEIRD FEEL WHEN I HAVE MY FOOT IN THE GAS AND TURN MY WHEEL. MY CAR IS NOT THE SAME AFTER THE RECALLS WERE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10679407

CONDENSATION/FOG AND/OR FROST ON INTERIOR WINDOWS, WILL NOT CLEAR. RECIRCULATION AIR CONTROL NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ACTUATOR DOES NOT PROPERLY CONTROL THE FLAPS IN THE HVAC SYSTEM, ALLOWING MOIST AIR TO RECIRCULATE EVEN WHEN THE FRESH AIR MODE IS SELECTED. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE MOISTURE INSIDE THE CAR, FOGGING THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS AND REDUCING VISIBILITY. IN WINTER CLIMATES THIS RESULTS IN FROST ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS. IN EITHER CASE, CLEARING THE WINDOWS IS NOT POSSIBLE AND MAKES DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND/OR NOT POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10678809

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, OIL AND COOLANT FUMES EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL AND COOLANT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

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