What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

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

NHTSA ODI 10488027

MY NEW 2012 CHEVY CRUZE ECO WAS PURCHASED ON 05/15/2012 AND HAS APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES AND THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH IS ALREADY INOPERATIVE. THE BILLY NAVARRE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY STATING THAT A GM FIELD SERVICE REP HAS INSPECTED THE CAR AND HAS DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILURE WAS DUE TO OPERATOR ABUSE/MISUSE. IN ADDITION, THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND SUBJECT TO FAIR WEAR AND TEAR ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED THE GM EXTENDED WARRANTY AS WELL. IS IT NORMAL FOR A CLUTCH TO FAIL AT 8000 MILES? CERTAINLY NOT! THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED AND HAS BEEN OPERATED WITHIN NORMAL OPERATING LIMITS BUT RESULTING IN THE CLUTCH DISC BEING FUSED TO THE FLYWHEEL - AS REPORTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO ME. THE SPECULATION IS THAT THE OPERATOR, MY DAUGHTER, 'RIDES' THE CLUTCH AND HAS CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND FUSING THE CLUTCH TO THE FLYWHEEL. MY DAUGHTER HAS NEVER 'RIDDEN' THE CLUTCH NOR ABUSED THE VEHICLE AS SPECULATED BUT HAS DRIVEN THE CAR IN A SAFE AND PROPER MANNER USING NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES IAW THE OPERATOR'S MANUAL. A BURNING SMELL WAS REPORTED BY MY DAUGHTER TO ME AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS (10/06/12) THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. MY DAUGHTER IS THE ONLY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WITHIN A WEEK THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTED TO ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY ONLY REQUEST HAS BEEN AND REMAINS THAT THE CAR BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT NO COST TO ME AS THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT INDUCED PROBLEM AND NOT DUE TO OPERATOR ABUSE OR MISUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10480937

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

CAR RESPONDS ERRATICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY TO PUSH ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ON ABOVE DATE IN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP SLOWLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PUSHED WITH DELAYED RESPONSE, THEN FOLLOWED BY EXTREME MOTION BACKWARD HITTING FENCE, DAMAGING FENDER. AT OTHER TIMES CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE OUT OF WAY OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC CAUSING NEAR COLLISIONS WITH LITTLE OR NO RESPONSE TO PEDAL MOVEMENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THIS SIX MONTH OLD CAR. MY FRIEND HAS SAME MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM. AS PER CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS TWICE CONTACTED ON THIS: A) HE TOOK A NEW CRUZE HOME TO DRIVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS AND HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, B) SAME PROBLEMS ARE BEING REPORTED TO OTHER CHEVY DEALERS IN HOT CLIMATE AREAS OF COUNTRY. CHEVY SERVICE MANAGER SAYS PROBLEM IS KNOW TO GENERAL MOTORS, BUT NO FIX IS AVAILABLE - ALL TESTS ON SEVERAL OTHER NEW CRUZE MODELS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE WITH SAME PROBLEM SHOW THAT ALL SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONICS ARE WORKING NORMALLY. HE'S NOT SURE WHAT GENERAL MOTORS WILL DO ABOUT IT. THIS IS APPARENTLY A MAKE/MODEL SPECIFIC PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED AS NO PRO-ACTIVE WARNING INFO HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY US FROM GENERAL MOTORS OR THE CHEVY DEALER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NO ONE IS TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THE LACK OF OFFICIAL WARNING FROM GENERAL MOTORS IS MORALLY OUTRAGEOUS!! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10474255

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

PURCHASED 4/25/2012. AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE, NOTICED LACK OF POWER, EASILY STALLS, SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND IN THE TRUNK LID, CONSOLE PIECE GAPED OUT, PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LAMP INSIDE TRUNK BENT, ENGINE SHUTTERS (AFTER 500 MILES IT STARTED) WHEN TURNED ON AND OFF. THE LACK OF POWER AND ENGINE STALLING ARE THE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS. WHEN IN A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR WILL STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS OPERATED CORRECTLY. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, ONTO ROUTE 30, AT A BLIND INTERSECTION, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, ONCE I LET THE CLUTCH OUT AND WAS IN 1ST GEAR, THE CAR JUST DID NOT MOVE, I HAD THE GAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AND I WAS ONLY MOVING INCHES FORWARD. I WAS SCARED, I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME, A TRACTOR TRAILER COULD HAVE COME UP ON ME 50+ MPH HIT ME OR SWERVED TO MISS ME AND HIT SOMEONE ELSE. THE CAR FINALLY MOVED AFTER ABOUT 45 SEC. I THEN GOT UP TO SPEED IN 6TH GEAR. THE CAR THEN AGAIN LOST POWER, I HAD TO DOWN SHIFT FROM 6TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR TO GET SPEED BUILT BACK UP. I GOT HOME, ABOUT 2 MILES, WAS UPSET AND SCARED, CALLED APPLE CHEVROLET, THE CAR SAT UNTIL I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 35 MINS FROM MY HOME THE NEXT MORNING. I TOLD THEM THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY DAY SO THE CHANCES OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN ARE SLIM. THIS WOULD BE THE 3RD VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPT FOR THE LACK OF POWER COMPLAINT. I DROVE WITH THE TECH ANYWAY KNOWING THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE DUPLICATED. I TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT I WANTED A TURBO BOOST GAUGE PUT ON IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE BOOSTING ALL THE TIME. WHEN I WAS CALLED THAT MY CAR WAS DONE AND NOTHING WAS DUPLICATED, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BOOSTING IN RANGE. WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP THE NEXT DAY, THERE WAS NOTHING ON MY BILL THAT STATED THAT THE TURBO WAS EVEN CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT PUT EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE ON EACH CAR ON EVERY BILL. ETC...

NHTSA ODI 10469782

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE CHANGING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 760 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATED 8/23/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI 10465783

BACK IN JANUARY 2012, I BOUGHT A CHEVY CRUZE 2012 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AFTER TWO MONTH USING THIS VEHICLE, I FOUND OUT IT HAS A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING UP/DOWN HILL. DRIVING UPHILL, ONCE I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL THIS CAR ROLLS BACK AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. DRIVING DOWNHILL, ONCE I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO REAR AND RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL THIS CAR GOES DOWN AND THE ENGINE CUT OFF. I WENT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER, THEY TESTED MY CAR AND ANOTHER 2012 CRUZE FROM THEIR INVENTORY AND BOTH CARS DID THE SAME AS I DESCRIBE ABOVE. HOWEVER, THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND AT THIS TIME. THEN, I CONTACTED GM, GM CONTACTED ITS DEALER, AND THREE DAYS LATER GM CALLED ME BACK TELLING ME THE SAME 'NO PROBLEMS FOUND'. SO, I REQUESTED A LETTER WHERE GM TELLS ME THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AND THEY WILL COVER ANY FUTURE ISSUES WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUT GM TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT PROVIDE ME ANY DOCUMENT. AS A CUSTOMER, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE IN MY OPINION THOSE ISSUES ARE DESIGN DEFECTS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10456727

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN WHICH THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. UPDATED 07/06/12 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10456130

I JUST BOUGHT A 2012 CHEVY CRUZE. AT TAKE OFF AND TURNING AROUND CURVES AT LOW SPEED THE STEERING AND THE WHEELS SHAKE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO IT. VERY UPSETTING THAT IT IS BRAND NEW AND ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT WISH IT WAS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10437369

MY 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO WITH THE 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS OCCASIONALLY REFUSED TO GO INTO 4TH GEAR, AND GRINDS OCCASIONALLY WHEN GOING INTO 2ND GEAR. I GET THE GRIND AT ABOUT 1200 RPM AND UP. MOST OF MY SHIFTING IS DONE AT OR BELOW 2500 RPM FOR FUEL ECONOMY REASONS. THE CLUTCH PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, THE ENGINE REV-MATCHED, AND IT WILL STILL BALK/GRIND IN THOSE GEARS.THIS IS MY SECOND MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR AFTER PUTTING 70,000 MILES ON MY FIRST ONE, SO I KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GRINDING THE GEARS. THE CAR PRESENTLY HAS 4700 MILES ON IT, AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES. I'M WORRIED THAT I MIGHT NEED TO DO A QUICK SHIFT TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND BE UNABLE TO DO SO THANKS TO THE BALKINESS OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10433103