What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROXIMATELY DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRACTION STABILITY, REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,653.

NHTSA ODI 10678273

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

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V360000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. DJR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 10672801

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ROUGHLY 70MPH WHEN CAR SHUDDERED, AND LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY. AFTER THIS THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES DIRECTLY BEHIND ME, SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE DASHBOARD READ THREE ERRORS: "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED", "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL", "SERVICE STABILITRACK". AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, WAITING, AND TURNING BACK ON THE VEHICLE WORKED CORRECTLY, BUT THE ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER ANOTHER 15 MINUTES ON THE ROAD. I DROVE IN THE RIGHT LANE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME TO ENSURE OUR SAFETY, AND THIS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN TOTAL. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION DURING A BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL WEEKEND. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT THE WRONG TIME, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. QUICK RESEARCH ONLINE HAS SHOWN THIS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL, AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS EXACT DEFECT. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY AT 5:30 A.M. THROUGH LIGHT SNOW AND RESULTING SALTY ROAD-SPRAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTINUED TO WORK. I PULLED OFF THE NYS THRUWAY TO TRY TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE WIPER MOVING AGAIN BY LOWERING IT FROM A 90-DEGREE UPRIGHT POSITION IN WHICH IT WAS STUCK, TO THE RESTING POSITION. I TRIED THE WIPERS AGAIN AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WENT UP ABOUT SIX INCHES AND STOPPED. TRIPLE A CAME AND FLATBEDDED MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE WIPER TRANSMISSION HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS 2 YEARS OLD, AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS ALWAYS CLEARED OF HEAVY SNOW/ICE BEFORE USING THE WIPERS--WIPERS WEREN'T USED TO REMOVE SNOW. OTHER CRUZE OWNERS HAVE POSTED SAME ISSUE WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE COMPANY. I PAID $235.94 IN PARTS AND LABOR, AND AN ADDITIONAL $53 IN TOWING EXPENSES BEYOND MY TRIPLE A COVERAGE. *TR

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I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WAS ABOUT TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE DASH READ ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND SHUT OFF. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT SHUT DOWN SAYING THE SAME THING ON THE DASH. I'M AFRAID BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD HAVE RAN INTO ME FROM THE REAR AND I HAVE A 7YR OLD DAUGHTER. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE HANDLED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS NOT SAFE AT ALL. *TR

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TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE, HAD TO DO "HEAVY ENGINE REPAIR" PER TECHNICIAN, REPLACED WATER PUMP AND SEAL AS IT WAS FOUND LEAKING. REFILLED WITH COOLANT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667596

8/6/13-THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DIAGNOSIS WAS FAULTY TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH, THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED IT. HVAC BLOWER MOTOR IS NOISY AND RATTLES CAN BE HEARD INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. ALSO HAD INTERMITTENT DELAY WHEN TURNING HVAC ON. TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR. COULD NOT FIND REASON FOR DELAY. 1/22/14 - HVAC BURNING SMELL WHEN RUNNING HEAT. TECHNICIAN REPLACED HVAC CASE WITH NEW DESIGN GREASE ON IT. FILLED COOLANT. 7/24/14- SAME THING HAPPENED TO TRUNK RELEASE WAS REPLACED AGAIN. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE SENSOR DID NOT WORK, IT WAS REPLACED. THE VENT IN CAR FOR BLOW TAB BROKE OFF, IT WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10667590

WAS DRIVING WHEN THE WIPER TRANSMISSION FAILED. WAS ABLE TO RIG IT SO I COULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE. STOPPED AT DEALERSHIP THEY SAID 7 WEEKS FOR THE PART. WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN FROM A DISMANTLER. THE CHEVY CRUZE FORUM SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECREASED IN SPEED AND STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 02/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/7/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI 10664357

WE WERE DRIVING ON RT 206 IN JERSEY AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVY STATING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE STEERING HAD INCREASED FRICTION AND CAN CAUSE THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10664031

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY "STICK" IN CENTER POSITION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY TO DRIVE STRAIGHT ON A ROAD THAT IS NOT PERFECTLY FLAT. MY CAR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE INTERMITTENTLY THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT, AND OCCURS IN VARYING DEGREES. I RECEIVED THE LETTER THAT CHEVROLET WAS DOING A SPECIAL COVERAGE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE PROBLEM, YET MY DEALERSHIP CANNOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT FIX IT. I FEEL THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. A PART DEFECT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM LIKE THIS SHOULD BE FIXED WITH A RECALL, FIXING EVERY VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT'S ONLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION, THEY WILL SIMPLY NEVER REPRODUCE THE ISSUE AND IT WILL NEVER BE FIXED. THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME COMFORTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10663711

AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A GRINDING SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN THE FLOORBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 15 MINUTE AND HAS A CHANCE TO COOL DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10663281

2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD POWER OFF, AND IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OR KEYS COULD NOT BE REMOVED. *SS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION OR REMOVE THE KEY. NOTHING IN THE VEHICLE WORKED, WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. AFTER 20 MINUTES, SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING 100 FEET, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO SELL THE VEHICLE. *JB *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE RADIO SHUT OFF WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION, THE STABILITY TRACK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

NHTSA ODI 10661667

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE EXITING A FREEWAY AT 30 MPH, A LOUD CLUNK NOISE EMITTED AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER SAFELY PARKING, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE AIR BAG, SERVICE POWER STEERING AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS DOOR LOCKS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND WINDOWS FAILED TO WORK AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING TO THE POWER BOX HAD TO BE REWIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,715.

NHTSA ODI 10660535

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT DOWN TO FIRST GEAR AND REMAINED IN THIRD GEAR WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING POSITION. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL IN FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED A COMPUTER MODULE WHICH CORRECTED THE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM BUT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS PERSISTED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AUGUST 2014 WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

NHTSA ODI 10659701

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DARKENED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY REACHED 53 MPH. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 10659258

THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVY OWNERS. I HAVE DONE COUNTLESS HOURS OF RESEARCH AND SEEN HUNDREDS OF FORUMS AND ARTICLES RELATED EXACTLY TO THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. NOW IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A RECALL. I OWN A 1.4L TURBO AUTOMATIC 2LT CHEVY CRUZE 2012. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER IS GETTING MUCH WORSE. REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, A "!" SHOWS UP ON THE SCREEN AND THE CARS SPEED IS REDUCED TO 4 OR 5 MPH WITH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MYSELF AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE FROM WHAT THE INTERNET SAYS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SOME PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES AND DRIVE WITH CHILDREN SUCH AS MYSELF ON HIGHWAY SYSTEMS. I EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO AN INTERSECTION AND GOT AN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SPEED REDUCTION. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED MY DAUGHTER AND I IF THE VEHICLES IN THE INTERSECTION WERE UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME. PLEASE DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET THIS VEHICLE PART OR ISSUE RECALLED AND OR RECOGNIZED IMMEDIATELY! *TR

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BAD ANTIFREEZE SMELL ENTERING CAR WITH HEAT ON AND ENGINE AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE, BUT NO ANTIFREEZE LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10659130

I BOUGHT MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE IN SEPTEMBER 2014. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, WHEN DRIVING ANY WHERE, WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO DRIVE, THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT REARS UP TO LOUD. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, THEN PRESS GENTLY AND DRIVE SLOW, INORDER FOR THE CAR TO NOT MAKE THAT SOUND. MY CAR IS NOT A STRAIGHT DRIVE, IT IS AUTOMATIC, THEREFORE IT SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THAT SOUND AS IF IT'S IN THE WRONG GEAR. IS THIS GOING TO BE A VERY BAD PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD? *TR

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ON A STRAIGHT AWAY THE VEHICLE WILL DRIFT AND WHEN YOU MAKE A CORRECTION THE STEERING WHEEL CATCHES OR STICKS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY 2014 IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IT HAS FAILED AGAIN ON 11-10-14 FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND PART AT 51,000 MILES AND IS CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT MY COST OF $1,348.00. ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE UNCONTROLLABLE AND COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS CRASH. IT MAY ALSO MIMIC AN OVER CORRECTION DUE TO THE SUDDEN JERK OF THE FRONT WHEELS. IF THIS WOULD OR HAS OCCURRED TO OTHER OWNERS, NO ONE WOULD SUSPECT THE POWER STEERING GEAR BECAUSE IT WOULD BE DAMAGED IN THE CRASH. *TR

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