What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

WHILE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CRAWLING INTO POSITION THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR VIBRATED AND LUNGED FORWARD CRASHING INTO A BRICK WALL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO VIBRATE THEN ACCELERATE FORWARD HITTING BRICK WALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE TURBO CHARGE ENGAGED BECAUSE OF THE VACUUM BOOST FAILED CAUSING THE TURBO TO ENGAGE. FILED COMPLAINT WITH GM NO LUCK SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE REPAIRING THE CAR THEN TRADING IN. I HAVE CONTACTED LOCAL MEDIA CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY HELP. WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL CHEVY OWNERS FOR OVER 20YEARS NEVER AGAIN. I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE WARNED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. IF SOMEONE WAS WALKING ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE CAR THEY WOULD HAVE DIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10544144

ON OR ABOUT JUNE 13, 2013, I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN MY SPACE AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX I LIVE IN. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR WENT UP AND OVER THE GRASS AND INTO THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE THAT HOLDS UP THE AWNING AT OUR CLUBHOUSE. THE MILEAGE LISTED IS APPROXIMATE, AS I CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE PAPERWORK FROM HOWE COLLISION AT HAND. I HAVE A $500.00 DEDUCTIBLE WITH MY INSURER, AAA MICHIGAN. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HOWE COLLISION IN PLYMOUTH. I PICKED UP MY CAR ON JUNE 24, 2013. THE CAR HAS A 1.8L ECOTEC WITH DOHC 4-CYLINDER ENGINE. IT ALSO HAS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS STABILITRAK-STABILITY CONTROL, WITH TRACTION CONTROL. THE BRAKES ARE 4-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK, FRONT DISKS, REAR DRUMS. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN LORDSTOWN, OHIO. I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE JACKSON CITIZEN REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTION THAT HAD BEEN LINKED TO 27 ACCIDENTS. GM ANNOUNCED THE FRIDAY BEFORE THAT IT WAS AWARE OF THE 27 CRASHES, BUT STATED THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CARS INVOLVED ARE 2011-2012 1.4L ENGINES THAT WERE BUILT IN LORDSTOWN. GM SAID FOR OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, (MINE IS A LEASE), FOR REPAIR OF THE BROKEN PART. MY DEALER, [XXX] IN PLYMOUTH SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY NIECE, WHOSE EMAIL I AM USING, CALLED AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY HAD NO OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM GM AND THAT NOT ALL 2011 AND 2012 CRUZE'S WERE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO TOLD HER THAT I WOULD GET A NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL, WHICH TO DATE, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN. IF YOU NEED ANY OTHER INFORMATION YOU CAN CALL ME AT THE NUMBER LISTED OR EMAIL MY NIECE, [XXX], AT THE EMAIL LISTED BELOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543530

THIS STARTED THIS WEEK, THE ELECTRICAL PARTS (RADIO, SPEAKERS, TURNING SIGNAL CLICKER, AC ETC) WILL CONSTANTLY FLICKER OFF THEN COME BACK ON AFTER ABOUT TEN SECONDS, EVERY TIME I HAVE THE CAR RUNNING. THE STABILITY WARNING WILL SOMETIMES GO ON BUT WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT. THE SPECIFIC INCIDENT OCCURRED THE THE 27TH OF AUGUST WHEN I WENT TO TAKE A LEFT TURN, ON TO A HIGHWAY. WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HIT A PASSING CAR AND GET REAR ENDED. IT SPECIFICALLY LOCKED UP AT ABOUT TEN MILES AN HOUR WHILE PICKING UP SPEED. AFTER I RETURNED TO MY PARKING LOT IT LOCKED UP AGAIN AND CAUSED ME TO HIT A BARRIER, SLIGHTLY DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER. SINCE THEN MY POWER STEERING WILL SOMETIMES LOCK UP MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10537751

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID, CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,800.

NHTSA ODI 10536041

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AS THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 10535785

DRIVING BACK HOME CAR STARTED TO JERK AND ALL LIGHTS ON DASH BEGAN TO FLICKER. PULLED OVER AND WITHIN A MINUTE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN BEHIND DASH. STATE TROOPER PULLED BEHIND ME AND ASSISTED SEE WHAT WAS THE TROUBLE. LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND SAW ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AT THE REAR OF ENGINE. TROOPER BEGAN TO HELP REMOVE PERSONAL ITEMS BUT CAR WAS IN FLAMES VERY QUICKLY FROM AROUND REAR OF ENGINE. CONTACTED THE CHEVY DEALER IN VIRGINIA BEACH FROM WHICH THE CRUZE WAS PURCHASE. NEVER GOT A RETURN CALL. CONTACTED THEIR FINANCE MANAGER ONCE A WEEK. NO REPLY. CONTACTED MAIN MANAGER LEFT MESSAGE. AGAIN NO REPLY. THE ONLY CALL I GOT FROM CHEVY WAS THEIR GM FINANCIAL WHERE THE LOAN IS.. THEY WANTED THE PAYOFF QUICK AND VERY LITTLE ASSISTANCE IN HELPING TO GET INFO ON WHAT TO DO NEXT.. WOULD HAVE LEFT IT ALONE BUT SON IS IN NAVY AND NEEDS A CAR. THE ONLY HELP WE GOT WAS FROM THE TROOPERS THAT REFER US TO THIS SITE. ALSO SAW THAT THE CRUSE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FIRES AND DASH FIRES. WANT SOMETHING DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT FROM THIS. MY SON RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM AND PULLED OVER. SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY.

NHTSA ODI 10531489

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A BURNING ANTI-FREEZE SMELL THROUGH THE VENTS AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A JERKING MOTION AND A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED UPDATES TO THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED THE CANISTER INSIDE THE DASHBOARD TO ALLEVIATE THE BURNING SMELL. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10512536

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. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING OF A PROBLEM. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXSTINGUSIH THE FIRE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 10458032

I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION ON MAY 5, 2012 IN WHICH I COLLIDED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF MY CAR. MY CAR IS BRAND NEW, LESS THAN A MONTH OLD HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE COLLISION WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AFTER THE COLLISION. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WHICH IS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE AND AM NOW AFRAID TO KEEP IT NOT KNOWING WHY THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT DIDN'T WORK. ALSO, I HAD ACTIVATED MY "ON STAR" SERVICE BUT THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO INSPECT MY CAR BEFORE THE REPAIRS ARE STARTED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10458039