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What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (864)Crash / fire / injury (85)Engine (267)Electrical system (196)Brakes (150)Transmission & drivetrain (137)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (108)Steering (103)Fuel system (52)Speed control (51)Engine & cooling (44)Visibility & wipers (43)

Newest first · 864 complaints · page 28 of 35

Jun 18, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V360000 (SERVICE, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,340.

NHTSA ODI 10599132

Jun 18, 2014Electrical system

AFTER YOU SHUT THE CAR OFF AND GET OUT OF THE CAR, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR IS STILL RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604324

Jun 18, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

IN APRIL I HAD BEEN DRIVING AND NOTICED THAT MY RADIO WAS FLICKERING. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF MY RADIO FLICKERING ON AND OFF, THE "SERVICE STABILITRACK" LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING SHUT OFF AND I HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. AFTER PULLING OVER, I SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART IT. THIS TIME IT STARTED WITH A NEW SERVICE LIGHT ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD IT FOR THREE DAYS HOPING THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD PRESENT ITSELF TO THEM. I SHOWED THEM A VIDEO OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THE RADIO AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME. THEY DID HOWEVER NOTICE THAT A PREVIOUSLY RECALL DONE ON MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN FIXED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. A FEW DAYS AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, THE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO POINT IN BRINGING IT IN UNLESS THE PROBLEM WAS CONSTANT. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I WENT TO START MY CAR AND NOTHING. NO LIGHTS, NO ENGINE TURN OVER NOTHING. MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WOULD NOT TURN. MY FIANCE HAD TO GET OUT TAP THE BATTERY AND THE WHOLE THING STARTED UP. TWO DAYS AGO, THE SAME RADIO, SERVICE LIGHTS AND ENGINE SHUT OFF HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS 2 TIMES NOW THAT I HAVE HAD COMPLETE FAILURE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I AM LITERALLY TERRIFIED FOR MY LIFE!!!!!!!....UPDATED 07/31/14 *BF UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT *TR

NHTSA ODI 10604387

Jun 17, 2014Brakes

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND AS I PUSHED ON MY BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN AND MANEUVER OUT OF THE GARAGE I REALIZED THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND THE CAR KEPT GOING IN REVERSE WITH NO WAY OF STOPPING IT! THERE WAS NO GIVE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT ALL, IT WAS AS IF IT WAS LOCKED UP. I ROLLED BACKWARD SEVERAL FEET WHILE STILL PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AND EVENTUALLY THE PEDAL WENT DOWN AND THE CAR STOPPED. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, BUT I THOUGHT, AT THE TIME, I MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING SILLY LIKE HIT THE FLOORBOARD WITH MY FOOT . I NOW REALIZE THIS COULD BE A REAL HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. I DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE BRAKES SOME MONTHS AGO AND I TOOK MY CAR INTO TO HAVE IT DONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE CHEVROLET FIXED MY RECALL. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10598814

Jun 16, 2014Airbags

I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WILL GET A WARNING LIGHT SAYING TO 'SERVICE AIRBAG'. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS BAD AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY ALSO SAID THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS REPLACEMENT AND IT WOULD COST OVER $1,000 FOR A NEW SEAT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED PROPERLY. IF A PERSON IS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A PASSENGER AND THE AIRBAG ISN'T READING THAT A PERSON IS IN THE SEAT SERIOUS FATALITIES MAY OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10598460

Jun 13, 2014SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE TURNED THE RADIO DASHBOARD ON/OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN DECEMBER 2013 THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON THE RADIO ONLY ONCE THEN DIDN'T DO IT AGAIN. IN FEBRUARY 2014 IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN THIS TIME THE STEREO WOULD TURN ON/OF, THE DASH BOARD ON/OFF AND MY LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK AND LOCK THEMSELVES THE BLINKER STOPPED MAKING THE CLICKING SOUND AND THE OPEN DOOR SOUND FAILED AS WELL. THIS PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR OCCASIONALLY UNTIL APRIL 2014 THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DO ALL THE ISSUES ABOVE EXCEPT THIS TIME IT WOULD INCLUDE ANTI THEFT,SERVICE STABILTRACK,AND POWER WARNINGS EVERY TIME AND THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OFF/ON THE ENGINE AND REQUIRED ME TO PUT IT ON PARK AND TURN IT OFF/ON. IN MAY 12 OF 2014 I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.THEY RESOLVED SEVERAL ISSUES TO WHAT THEY BELIEVED RESOLVED THE ISSUE OF THE VEHICLE TURNING ON OFF. THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. MY VEHICLE NOW IS WORSE IT TURNS OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. IT TURNS THE RADIO ON/OFF AND GIVES ME THE SAME ERRORS CODES. ITS LIFE THREATENING AS I ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT JUMPING ONTO THE FREE WAY JUNE 1014, MY VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN ON ON THE FREE WAY ENTRANCE AND A VEHICLE FROM BEHIND WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME. MY VEHICLE IS UN SAFE FOR ,ME AND MY FAMILY KEEPS TURNING ON/OFF AND I HAVE TAKEN IT TO CHEVROLET DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. LIFE THREATENING ISSUES!! *JS

NHTSA ODI 10598148

Jun 8, 2014SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

CAR SHUTS DOWN AND IT CAN NOT BE RESTARTED,(NO DOME LIGHT, NO ON START) NO POWER ANYWHERE..CAN'T GET KEYS OUT OF IGNITION,GOING DOWN THE ROAD, STEERING SERVICE LIGHT COME ON AND OFF, RADIO DISPLAY SHUTS DOWN AND RESTARTS, GAUGES TURN ON AND OFF..DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED BATTERY, GENERATOR AND IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN.!....UPDATED 07/31/14 *BF IT WAS DETERMINED THE GROUND WIRE ON THE BATTERY WAS BROKE. WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL, SHUTTING DOWN ALL THE GAUGES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS, SINCE IT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 09/23/14

NHTSA ODI 10596912

Jun 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I RECEIVED MY CHEVY CRUZE LS IN AUGUST OF 2012 AFTER HAVING IT FOR A WEEK I STARTED TO NOTICE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I DROVE IT UP NORTH AND AFTER BEING ON THE FREEWAY GOING A CONSTANT SPEED OF 75 MPH, WHEN FORCED TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC THE CAR COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO AND JUST HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THE RPMS WOULD SHOOT UP VERY HIGH AND THE CAR WOULD STRUGGLE TO ACCELERATE (ALMOST AS IF IT WERE STUCK IN NEUTRAL) AND EVENTUALLY IT WOULD JERK FORWARD VERY HARD AND THEN ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GET ON THE FREEWAY NOW AND HAVE TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC OR SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT (AND CONTINUES WELL AFTER BEING OFF THE FREEWAY). I AM LUCKY I HAVEN'T BEEN REAR ENDED AND SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW AND ITS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, IT NOW DOES THE SAME THING WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 30 MPH, IT WILL BE GOING ALONG JUST FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVS AS IF IT WERE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN CATCHES ITSELF AND JERKS REALLY HARD AND IS FINE AGAIN. ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN IT SEEMS TO DOWNSHIFT TOO QUICKLY ALMOST COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP ON ITS OWN, WHICH IS WHY I AM AFRAID OF BEING REAR ENDED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO 5 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND AM TOLD EVERY TIME THAT EITHER THEY DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT OR THEY CAN SEE THERE'S A PROBLEM BUT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR, I'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE RADIO AND MY USB CORD NOT CONNECTING TO MY PHONE AND EVEN WHEN IT DOES CONNECT THE SONGS COME THROUGH WITH LOTS OF STATIC. I HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT CORDS, DIFFERENT PHONES AND MULTIPLE IPODS AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING. I FEEL TOTALLY HELPLESS AND AM SICK OF FEELING UNSAFE IN MY CAR. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS BOUGHT GM CARS, THIS IS MY SECOND CHEVY AND MY LAST!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596290

Jun 5, 2014AirbagsLatches & locksBrakesEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULLY APPLIED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT NO DIAGNOSES WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V36000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS FAILURE PERSISTED INTERMITTENTLY OVER A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 8/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK EXTERIOR MANUAL LATCH WOULD NOT OPEN THE TRUNK AND THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG IS ON RECALL. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND LURCH. UPDATED 08/28/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10596304

Jun 4, 2014Engine

FAILURE OF WATER PUMP. ON THE MORNING AFTER NORMAL WORK COMMUTE OF 60 MILES, FOUND SPILLED COOLANT UNDER VEHICLE. GM SERVICE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 25K MILES AND THE WATER PUMP FAILED-UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596245

Jun 4, 2014Electrical system

VEHICLE NO LONGER ACKNOWLEDGED PRESENCE OF THE KEY FOB IN VEHICLE AND WARNED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. KEY FOB WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME AND HAD BEEN DETECTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY AND ALLOW IGNITION OF VEHICLE BY PRESSING START BUTTON WHILE FOB WAS IN MY POCKET. ONCE WE STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL 9 OR 10 TRIES OF PUSHING THE IGNITION. AFTER THE INITIAL OCCURRENCE WHILE DRIVING, IT THEN SPORADICALLY HAD ISSUES WITH STARTING. EACH TIME IT IT WOULD SHOW A WARNING MESSAGE THAT THE KEY FOB WAS NOT DETECTED, EVEN THOUGH IT JUST AUTO UNLOCKED THE DOORS AFTER SENSING THE KEY FOB. DEALER REPLACED KEY FOBS, AND PROBLEM RETURNED. TWO DAYS LATER NEARLY STRANDING MY WIFE WHILE TRAVELLING OUT OF TOWN SINCE THE CAR WOULD NOT INITIALLY START. DEALER THEN REPLACED THE MODULE/COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE KEYLESS FUNCTIONALITY. PROBLEM REOCCURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. DEALER WILL NOW REPLACE THE KEY FOBS AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN FOR A SEPARATE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596238

Jun 2, 2014Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED WHILE REVERSING. THERE WAS NO POWER ASSIST WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS SINCE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V360000( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES BEFORE THEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,815.

NHTSA ODI 10595459

May 30, 2014Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED AS THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. DR

NHTSA ODI 10595140

May 30, 2014EngineCrash

TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A GAS STATION, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER TO COMPLETE TURN,SO I TRIED TO STOP SHORT, AND ONCOMING CAR HIT ME....WHEN IN REPAIR SHOP, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE TURBOCHARGER WAS BROKEN......AND SAW THE TURBO PART BROKEN THE SAME WAY! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595206

May 26, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS KEEP FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE AC TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10594097

May 24, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A VACUUM PUMP, THE ENGINE SHIELD RECALL, THE BRAKES STICK, THERE IS A HORRIBLE SMELL OF HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID CONSTANTLY, THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, A PUMP ABOVE THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPLACED, THE CAR SURGES AND CAUSES THE RPM GAUGE TO BOUNCE, THE AXLES HAVE HAD LEAKS FIXED, THE EXTERIOR TRUNK BUTTON DOESN'T WORK, DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT SOUNDS LIKE A PLASTIC BOTTLE IS STUCK INSIDE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR, SOME TIMES AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IT WON'T TURN, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM POPS AND CRACKS, THE AXLE SQUEALS, SHIFTS AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES OR NOT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, THE BACK UP SENSOR WILL BEEP WHEN NOTHING IS THERE SOME TIMES, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANY PRESSURE BEHIND THE BRAKES SOME TIMES, AND SMOKE ROW OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHTS SOME TIMES. I THINK THAT IS EVERY THING BUT IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT NIGHTMARE. I AM GUESSING ON MILES AND DATES, BUT IT WAS NOT VERY LONG AFTER I GOT IT BRAND NEW THAT IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. WHEN I STARTED HAVING SHIFTING AND LEAKS IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, I HAD TO POINT OUT THE LEAK MYSELF AND THEN HE SAID HE WOULD GET THE PARTS ORDERED AND THEY WOULD BE IN WITHIN 3 DAYS. 2 WEEKS LATER I CALLED GM, THEN IT WAS WITHIN A WEEK I WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAD THE PARTS, AFTER GM SAID SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS. THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A HASSLE I AM NOW VEHICLE SHOPPING AND WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593845

May 21, 2014Electrical systemEngine

RADIO FLASHED ON AND OFF AND ALL BRAKE LIGHTS ON DASH WOULD LIGHT UP. SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL NOTICE WOULD APPEAR. THEN IT WOULD GO AWAY AND REAPPEAR. DID THIS FOR AN ENTIRE HOUR AND A HALF RIDE ON HIGHWAY. RADIO ON RADIO OFF DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON AND OFF. BLINKER NO LONGER CLICKED WHEN USED... DISCONCERTING TO DRIVE A CAR WITH SUCH PROBLEMS. A WEEK EARLIER I HAD CAR ISSUES COVERED UNDER POWER TRAN WARRANTY... AND NOW THIS...ALL AFTER A MASSIVE RECALL ANNOUNCED. THINK GM NEEDS TO RE LOOK AT ALL OF THEIR CARS... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593141

May 21, 2014Engine & cooling

2012 CHEVY CRUZE PURCHASED IN AUGUST 2012. HAS COOLANT SMELL WHEN HEAT IS ON (ANY SETTING). TEMPERATURE WOULD DROP AND START BLOWING OUT COLD AIR WHEN HEAT WAS TURNED ON. CHECKED COOLANT LEVEL AND WAS A LITTLE LOW. FILLED IT UP AND THE SMELL WAS EVEN STRONGER. ENGINE FAN CONSTANTLY RUNS. WORKING ON GETTING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT UNABLE TO GET A LOANER CAR SO I CAN GO TO WORK. CANNOT TAKE TIME OFF OF WORK TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, SO I AM IN A "CATCH 22". READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593213

May 19, 2014SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

PURCHASED THE CAR ON 28 APRIL 2014 FROM KNOX FORD IN RADCLIFF, KY. NOTICED A FAINT BURNING SMELL. WAS ADVISED THAT I RODE THE CLUTCH DURING THE TEST DRIVE. HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS GOOD TO GO. THE CAR WAS DELIVERED ON 30 APRIL. IT WAS FINALLY DRIVEN ON 5 MONDAY 2014 DOWN TO FORT CAMPBELL, KY. AT THAT POINT THE CAR REEKED OF BURNING CERAMIC AND THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP COMPLETELY. AFTER RESTING IT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RESTATING THE CAR, IT REENGAGED. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO GO TO LOCAL CHEVY DEALER FOR ASSESSMENT. CHEVY DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS READING THAT IT WAS OUT OF CENTER AND DISENGAGING. WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT A PART OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN REPLACED A FEW THOUSAND MILES PREVIOUSLY AND SEEMED TO BE RUBBING INCORRECTLY. KNOX FORD ADVISED ME TO RETURN THE CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP (120 MILES AWAY) AND THEY WOULD WORK ON THE CAR. UPON LEAVING THE OTHER DEALERSHIP, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN AND DIDN'T REENGAGE. DROVE THE CAR 120 MILES WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND RETURNED TO KNOX FORD TO HAVE THEM TAKE TO TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE CAR ALIGNED. THE CHEVY DEALER COULDN'T FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH. RECLAIMED THE CAR ON 16 MAY 2014 AND DROVE THE CAR BACK DOWN TO FORT CAMPBELL TODAY 19 MAY 2014. ONCE AGAIN, THE BURNING SMELL HAS RETURNED. NOT AS STRONG BUT IT'S STILL THERE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592412

May 18, 2014Brakes

MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF SERVICE ISSUES AND DOWN TIME IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT. SHE NOW HAS A BRAKING ISSUE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN OCTOBER OF 2013 (12213). SHE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 15-20 MPH AND THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN DEPRESSED. SHE THEN HAD TO PUSH AGAIN, THIS TIME HARDER AND BARELY MISSED A CAR IN FRONT OF HER, THUS FREAKING HER OUT COMPLETELY. NOW SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN AS SHE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WITHOUT ANY SECONDARY NOTICE SAYING THAT THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, THEY HAD THEM IN HOUSE... REALLY? DOES THIS TAKE A FATALITY FOR G.M TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND BE ON TOP OF THEIR BUSINESS? UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592239

May 16, 2014SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DECEMBER 2013 -- THE RADIO AND DASH BOARD LIGHTS (SERVICE STABILITRAK) HAVE BEEN FLASHING ON AND OFF THEN THIS EVENING WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, THE "SERVICE POWER STEERING" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THAT CONTINUED FOR APPROX. 2 MINUTES THEN STARTED WORKING CORRECTLY. WHEN I GOT HOME AND PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT AND TURNED MY CAR OFF EVERYTHING TURNED OFF, INCLUDING MY INTERIOR LIGHTS AND I COULDN'T REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION. I LET IT SIT FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID TURN ON SO I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AND I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. FEBRUARY 2014 -- THE SAME THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THE POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP MAY 2014 -- POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP; BATTERY COMPLETELY DIES RANDOMLY; NEW DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THE BATTERY CABLES NEED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, OTHER CRUZE OWNERS WHO HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND HAD THEIR BATTERY CABLE REPLACED REPORT THAT THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588856

May 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD REVERSE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE THERMOSTAT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,100.

NHTSA ODI 10588922

May 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE INTO THE SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO THE SECOND GEAR FROM THE FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 10588933

May 16, 2014Fuel systemEngine

DURING ACCELERATION I SMELL GAS, OIL BURNING, EXHAUST FUELS IN MY CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHO KEEPS STATING IT RUNNING LIKE IT SHOULD. NOW I BELIEVE MY WARRANTY IS OVER AND MY NEW CAR FUNCTIONS LIKE ITS 20 YEARS OLD. I CAN'T GET THEM TO BELIEVE ME AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY EVEN BOTHER TEST DRIVING IT. I MENTIONED THE SMELL WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THEM TO REPLACE MY TURBO CHARGER THAT MALFUNCTIONED. EVER AFTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10588935

May 7, 2014SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

RADIO STARTS TURNING ON AND OFF,STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS FLASH,POWER STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN.THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP.ITS GOOD FOR A WEEK OR SO AND DOES THE SAMETHING AGAIN. THEY CLAIM THIS IS THE ONLY CRUZE THEY EVER HEARD OF DOING THIS.I DON'T THINK SO NOT ACCORDING TO YOUR WEB SITE SOMEBODY KNOWS THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. WHY DO DEALER SHIPS THINK LYING IS THE WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM, I MEAN IT JUST COME OUT AND SAY YA YOUR DAUGHTERS CAR IS NOT THE ONLY 2012 CRUZE WITH THIS PROBLEM! MY PATIENCE ARE GETTING A LITTLE THIN. CAR WAS BOUGHT WITH 20000 MILES ON IT BY MY OLDEST DAUGHTER WHO IS 20 YRS OLD AND PUTTING HERSELF TROUGH COLLEGE TO BECOME A NURSE. SHE WAS SO HAPPY WHEN SHE BOUGHT THE CAR NOW SHE THINKS SHE BOUGHT A LEMON! CAR FROM KISSEL CHEVROLET CALUMET MI CANT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, ITS TO LATE WHEN SOMEBODY GETS HURT OR WORSE!!!! CONCERNED FATHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10587098

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited verdict →