What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

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 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

NHTSA ODI 10692672

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. 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

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

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

NHTSA ODI 10672553

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

NHTSA ODI 10667904

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

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.

NHTSA ODI 10666970

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

NHTSA ODI 10659410

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

NHTSA ODI 10655213

BOUGHT VEHICLE FROM CARMAX FIRST WEEK OF MARCH 2014, 3 WEEKS LATER WAS FIRST TIME I DROVE IN SNOW AND THE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK AT ALL. CALLED CARMAX AND THOUGH THE WARRANTY WAS WAS OVER THEY AGREED TO REPAIT BECAUSE OF A BRAKE RECALL. THEN A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THERE WAS A LEAK AND FORD HAD TO REPLACE A COOLANT PUMP. THE CAR NEVER RAN THE SAME. THE CAR PUTTERS AND HAS HORRIBLE ACCELERATION AND I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND CARMAX DEALERSHIP AND COORP FOR HELP AT THE SAME TIME ALL THE CRUZES WERE TAKEN OFF THE LOTS AND WERE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO BE SOLD BECAUSE OF ALL THE RECALLS AND THEY WERE DEEMED UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ALL I ASKED CARMAX FOR WAS TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK AND LET ME PICK OUT A DIFFERENT CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOM WITH A TEENAGE DAUGHTER AN I AM AFRAID TO LET HER DRIVE THIS CAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHEVY CRUZES. I HAVE LEFT SEVERAL VOICEMAILS WITH GM MY CASE # IS C7269752 WITH FIRST RESPONDER..WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ANYWAY? THE GM AT CARMAX IN TINLEY PARK ARGUED WITH ME FOR 15 MINUTES ABOUT WHO IF I SPOKE TO HIM ONCE OR TWICE INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE REAL ISSUE, THE SOLD ME, A SINGLE MOTHER A CAR WITH BAD BRAKES! I ALMOST WENT INTO DOWN INTO A 6 LANE EXPRESSWAY WHEN THE BRAKES DIDNT WORK! I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ITS BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS NOW AND NO ONE HAS FOLLOWED UP AT ALL. THE SNOW WILL SOON BEGIN AND I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE. PLEASE CAN SOME ONE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652941

12/13/12 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VEHICLE HESITATES ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP. THEY REPLACED THE FAILED TURBO CHARGER ASSEMBLY. REPLACED VALVES INSIDE HEAD. 03/21/2013 - ERROR MESSAGE "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP" . REPLACED A/C COMPRESSOR. 12/13/13- WATER PUMP LEAKING REPLACED WATER PUMP AND COOLANT. 08/29/2014 - "ENGINE OVERHEATED - IDLE ENGINE" ERROR MESSAGE "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP" DEALER FIXED RECALL LOW COOLANT LEVEL. 10/15/14- CAR HAVING POWER ISSUES NEEDS TO BE JUMP-STARTED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR THEY MADE ME PAY $89.95 TO REPLACE BATTERY. 11/03/14 - "ENGINE OVEHEATED-IDLE ENGINE" "A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH ENGINE TEMP" "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL" "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" . THE CAR WAS SHAKING AND LOSING POWER HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652290

ANTI FREEZE SMELL IN CAR AND HEAD RESTS POP UP BY THEMSELVES.DEALER USED GM FIX TO STOP THE ODOR.IT HELPED BUT DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE ADJUSTED THE HEADRESTS BUT IT DIDN'T HELP AT ALL.THEY STILL POP UP BY THEMSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10651404

SINCE PURCHASE AS USED, SLOW START SPEED WITH THE ENGINE ALMOST CUTTING OUT. RADIO FLICKERING ON AND OFF. ENGINE CUTTING OUT WHEN IDLING. ENGINE LIGHT FOR MASS AIR FLOW (MAF) SENSOR REPLACEMENT. REPLACED MAF SENSOR AND PROBLEM REMAINS. ENGINE FAN STAYING ON LONG AFTER ENGINE HAS SHUT OFF AND COOLED. SERVICE LIGHTS COMING OF FOR STABILITRACK AND OTHER RANDOM ISSUES. FRONT CIGARETTE LIGHTER WON'T CHARGE DEVICES. TIRE AIR PRESSURE SENSORS BACKWARDS ON DISPLAY, I.E. DISPLAY RIGHT FRONT TIRE IS ACTUALLY LEFT FRONT TIRE PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10644236

THERMOSTAT HOUSING LEAK (GASKET) DISCOVERED DURING MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE, 9/26/2014. SET UP TO BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AT MIDWAY CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN POCOMOKE CITY, MD ON THUR., 10/2/2014. CAR WAS PURCHASED LABOR DAY OF 2013, HAS A LITTLE OVER 9,000 MILES WITH BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY STILL ENFORCED. REPORTED TO NHTSA ON 9/29/2014 AT APPROX. 10:30 AM. CONFIRMATION# 10639748. REPAIRED ON MORNING OF 10/2/2014 AT MIDWAY CHEVROLET IN POCOMOKE CITY, MD. CHEVY TECH. CONFIRMED A COOLANT LEAK AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING WITH AN ALUMINUM ONE. THE INITIAL HOUSING WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10640751

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE GASKET FOR THE MOTOR WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000...UPDATED 11/04/14 *BF UPDATED 04/28/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI 10639748

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT ABOUT 29,000 MILES, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HAD GONE BAD, SO THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND THE HOLDING MOUNT. THEN SATURDAY ON THE WAY TO WORK THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I STOPPED FOR GAS THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR ALSO WENT BAD. THE CAR ALSO HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638682

THE CAR TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WONT ALLOW ME TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WONT TURN OFF OR ON. DEALER CANT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WHEN TAKEN IN TO SEE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632967

PREVIOUSLY TO THE VISIT MY CAR WAS RUNNING SLOW AND KEPT MARKING ENGINE SPEED REDUCED THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE CAR SIGN REMOVED AND STARTED RUNNING NORMALLY AGAIN. ABOUT A MONTH OR SO PASSED AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN THEN I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY FIXED IT BUT AFTER THAT THE BLUETOOTH DIDN'T WORK AND THE NAVIGATIONAL COMPASS STOPPED WORKING. EVER SINCE THEN THE BLUETOOTH AND NAVIGATIONAL COMPASS HAS NOT WORKED AND I JUST RUN THE RISK OF THE ENGINE REDUCE SIGN TO POP UP AGAIN CAUSE IT COMES UP SPONTANEOUSLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10629424

LOUD WHINING/ELECTRONIC NOISE COME FROM ENGINE AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND AC HAS RUN. HAPPENS MOST WARM/HOT DAYS THE AC HAS RUN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10619125

CAR RADIO KEPT CUTTING ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE ALL OF THE CAR LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CUT THE CAR OFF AND PULLED OUT THE KEY. I PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE IGNITION AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO DIDN'T EVEN COME ON. I COULDN'T PUT THE KEY BACK IN THE OFF SWITCH NOR COULD I PULL THE KEY OUT. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE OR SO MY RADIO CAME ON AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO START MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10618408