What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

Check engine light, traction control light, tire pressure light came on. Message on dash reported reduced engine power, service stabilitrak, and car slowed to 16 no more than 20mph and would not go any higher.

NHTSA ODI 11566301

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle lost motive power after 45 minutes. The RPM increased, and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The driver was able to pull over. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that after driving for 45 minutes, the vehicle lost power and went into LIMP Mode. The transmission had seized in fifth gear. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the speed control sensor had failed. The contact was informed that the speed valve and transmission control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11541594

The car began to shake uncontrollably on the freeway at 55/MPH . The car then marked "Engine Power is Reduced", causing the car to no longer accelerate more than 5-7/MPH. This is a very dangerous situation because it can cause a terrible accident on the road since it's a random inconvenience. I have heard that many of these types of cars "Chevy Cruze" seem to experience the same type of problem. With that being said it's safe to say that as an owner this situation is far out of my control and it's definitely a collective problem with the type of car and make that it is. I ask for this to be immediately looked into.

NHTSA ODI 11482259

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD COME ON ENGINE WOULD START TO JERK AND THEN LOST POWER

NHTSA ODI 11407139

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING 70-80MPH AND THE CAR STARTS DINGING-STABILITRACK, TRACTION CONTROL, AND REDUCED POWER ALL COME ON AND THE CAR LOSES POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND COULDN'T DRIVE FASTER THAN 5 MPH AND HAD TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT BY OTHER VEHICLES DOING THE SAME SPEED. THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND CEL LIGHTS ON BUT NOTHING THAT ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPS VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING AND ALMOST KILLS EVERYONE IN THE CAR! I GET THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE ENGINE OR WHATEVER FROM FURTHER DAMAGE BUT I AM PRETTY SURE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND NOT KILL ANYONE ELSE IN THE PROCESS OF THIS SO CALLED SAFETY PRECAUTION THE VEHICLE TAKES ON.

NHTSA ODI 11308303

I WAS DRIVING AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SERVICE STABILI TRACK, CHECK ENGINE WARNINGS CAME ON. MY CAR WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO 5MPH. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY, WAS ONLY GOING 20 MPH AND ALMOST HOME. VERY DANGEROUS. I PUT AN END CODE READER ON IT AND IT'S A P2135 CODE, THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. I HAVE BEEN READING CHEVY CRUZE FORUMS AS WELL AS IN CHEVY FORUMS IN THE PAST WEEK, A MINIMUM OF 1000 PEOPLE THAT I CAN SEE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. MANY HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. ITS OCCURED IN MAINLY CHEVY CRUZE BUT ALSO IMPALAS, GMC VEHICLES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY, THERE IS NO SPECIAL COVERAGE ALTHOUGH ITS OCCURED IN THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES IF NOT 10S OF THOUSANDS! IT'S DANGEROUS! THERE IS A SPECIAL COVERAGE FOR PEDAL ACCELERATOR FRACTURE BUT THEY SAY MINE IS FINE AND NOT RELATED TO THROTTLE BODY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH CHEVY AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR HAVE SPECIAL COVERAGE. HERE IS A READOUT FROM THE MECHANIC.

NHTSA ODI 11302553

I WAS DRIVING IN SUBDIVISION AT 20MPH AND VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. IT HAD A MESSAGE SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED, SERVICE STABILITY TRACK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 5MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! LUCKILY I WAS NOT GOING 70 ON THE FREEWAY. I'VE BEEN READING ON CHEVY FORUMS AND GM FORUMS OF THIS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. MANY GOT IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF REDUCED ACCELERATION TO 3 OR 5 MPH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IT HAS A P2135 CODE AND IS DIE TO A BAD THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. THE CHEVY MANUFACTURER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT ALTHOUGH IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE TO CHEVY AND GMC CARS FROM MANY YEARS OF VEHICLES, FROM WHAT I'VE READ 2009 TO CURRENT YEAR. MINE IS A 2012 CHEVY CRUZE LT. THERE IS A SPECIAL COVERAGE OF PEDAL ACCELERATOR FRACTURE BUT THE DEALER SAID IT'S NOT RELATED TO MY ISSUE, I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THIS. HERE IS A NOTE OF WHAT THE DEALER LOOKED AT AND DIAGNOSED.

NHTSA ODI 11302576

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE CAR IS DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. (ALSO HAPPENED ONCE AFTER CAR HAD BEEN PARKED) IT ONLY LASTS ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE CAR CAN ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL EVENTUALLY TURN OFF. ALSO, CAR FEELS ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING OFTEN.

NHTSA ODI 11291752

WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE (2012 CHEVY CRUZE) ON THE HIGHWAY (I-75 NORTH BETWEEN AUBURN HILLS AND CLARKSTON), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS, RPM'S FLUCTUATE AND THE AUTOMOBILE LOSES ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER LIGHT (P, R, D) BLINKS RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE DID THIS MULTIPLE TIMES AS POWER AND ACCELERATION WAS LOST. UPON RECEIVING A DIAGNOSTIC READING, THE CODE INDICATED A TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM OR OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED SENSOR. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT DUE TO THE UNSAFE DECELERATION OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FATAL ACCIDENT IS GREAT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS MODEL SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE DUE TO SEVERAL ON-LINE INQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ODI 11270714

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHUCK HUTTON CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2471 MT MORIAH RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38115, (901) 318-3703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO HEAD FAILED INTERNALLY AND WAS PUSHING EXHAUST FUEL INTO THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TURBO HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI 11228940

MY BRAKES KEEP GOING "HARD" AND NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I HAD MY MASTER CYLANDER, BRAKE BOOSTER, MICROSWITCH IN THE BRAKE VACUUM LINE, MAF SENSOR AND AIR INTAKE HOSE REPLACED BECAUSE THE MECHANIC SAID THOSE WERE THE ISSUES, I WENT 2 WEEKS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE, INCLUDING BREAKING DOWN FOR MULTIPLE DAYS OUT OF STATE. NOW HERE I AM WITH THE SAME ISSUES. BEFORE I HAD THEM REPLACED I WAS TOLD THAT THE MICROSWITCH IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ALREADY RECALLED AND REPLACED. BUT SINCE THEN IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY CHEVY THAT THEY ONLY DO THE RECALL ONCE, BUT IF THEY ARE REPLACING IT WITH A FAULTY PART SHOULDN'T THAT BE RECALLED AGAIN? I HAVE TWO TODDLERS IN MY VEHICLE REGULARLY AND LOSING THE POWER BRAKES COULD END VERY BAD. THE POWER BRAKES FAIL ALMOST EVERY DAY, USUALLY THE FIRST TIME I HIT THE BRAKES AFTER STARTING TO VEHICLE. WITCH MAKE ME THINK THAT ITS GOING TO COMPLETELY FAIL AGAIN SOON.

NHTSA ODI 11173805

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IMPROPERLY BETWEEN THE THIRD AND FIFTH GEARS. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTER IT WAS ENGAGED IN THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN NECESSARY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. AUTONATION CHEVROLET LAUREL (500 WASHINGTON BLVD, LAUREL, MARYLAND 20707, (240) 294-5149) REQUESTED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,560.

NHTSA ODI 11140587

CAR DOES NOT RUN RIGHT. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR DOES NOT BUDGE AND STALLS OUT. FOUND OUT IF THE AC IS OFF IT IS LESS LIKELY TO STALL OUT AFTER STOPPING. WAS TOLD IT IS A POSSIBLE CLOGGED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL WANINGS POP UP. TOOK IT TO AUTO ZONE AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BAD GAS. SOMETHING IS OFF AND IT'S NOT A EASY DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA ODI 11112364

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, EXTREME PRESSURE HAD TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND WAS TAKEN TO RILEY CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (2033 CHRISTY DR., JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE SPECIFICS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRAKE MICRO VACUUM SWITCH FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11098943

"TRANSMISSION DEFECT" A YEAR AGO I BROUGHT MY 2012 CHEVY, CRUZE TO BE INSPECTED FOR STALLING PROBLEMS (HESITATES) WHEN INCREASE IN SPEED AND JERKS ESPECIALLY DRIVING UP A HILL. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO INDICATE WHY IT WAS HESITATING WHEN DRIVING. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CODE INDICATING ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANS. TODAY, I'M WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS I WAS DRIVING. GENERAL MOTORS IS ONLY WILLING TO PAY A THIRD OF THE COST TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WANT RESTITUTION.I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING I WARNED THEM ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I STILL HAD A WARRANTY AT THE TIME. IF A MECHANIC DOESN'T SEE A CODE READING, IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY CHARGING THE CUSTOMER AFTER THE COMPLAINT WAS REPORTED. I HAVE RECEIPTS SHOWING PROOF OF DOCUMENTATION INDICATING WHAT I WAS BRINGING IT A YEAR AGO. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CUSTOMER'S COMPLAINT, REGARDLESS CODES NOT READING.

NHTSA ODI 11054921

THIS CAR HAS HAD ISSUES SINCE WE PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2012. DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN MERGING ON FREEWAY OR TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. IT PUTS THE DRIVER AT A VERY HIGH RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR MY DAUGHTER TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND SHE FEELS VERY UNSAFE. WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AND TAKEN INTO SHOP SEVERAL TIME FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOUD SHAKING NOISE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NIGHTMARE AND SEEM TO THINK BASED ON REVIEWS THAT THESE CARS FALL INTO THE LEMON CATEGORY. WE WILL BE TAKING IT TO A VERY RELIABLE MECHANIC THIS WEEK AND WILL WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY FIND.

NHTSA ODI 11050987

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE ENGINE REDUCED POWER AND SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGES CAME UP AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT OF THE INTERSTATE AND PUTTED ALONG, BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE AT STOP LIGHTS, UNTIL I MADE IT TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP. THEY DON'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND I'LL PROBABLY END UP DOING A TRIAL AND ERROR WITH SENSORS AND THROTTLES. A FEW WEEKS AGO A SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL ROAD (25MPH), BUT EVERYTHING TURNED OFF (DASH, A/C, RADIO, DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER, ETC) AND MY CAR POWERED OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN CAME BACK ON AGAIN. THIS IS SERIOUSLY A SCARY PROBLEM TO HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11044360

CHEVROLET CRUZE 2012 DELAYED STEERING WHEN TURNING, THEN SLUGGISH WOULD NOT GO PAST FIRST GEAR. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREET NOTICED DIFFICULTY TURNING AND SLOWNESS SO STOPPED AT NEAREST GAS STATION. GOT VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS WAS SUDDEN, ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE, OIL CHANGES & TUNE UPS! THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR BARELY 5 YEARS OLD CAR AND WELL MAINTAINED!

NHTSA ODI 11014801

CAR WHEN IN PARK WITH PARKING BREAK AND IDILING IN NEUTRAL. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SPIKE AT MAX SPEED AND DOORS WILL LOCK AND ALL DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD BETWEEN 25 TO 45 MPH THE RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF OFF AND THEN BACK ON FOR NO REASON. ALSO WHILE TURNING AT SLOW SPEED, CAR WILL RESET ITSELF. AS IN IT WILL LOSE ALL POWER TO THE POWER STEERING, AC, RADIO, EVERYTHING AND YOU WILL HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR. NOT SAFE AT ALL WHEN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11002345

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,474.

NHTSA ODI 10910549

IVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 YEARS NOW. AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN NOTICING THE ENGINE WOULD BE GOING AT A STEADY SPEED AND IF YOU BEGAN TO ACCELERATE THE ENGINE WOULD REV OR STALL AND THE RPMS SHOOT UP. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP IT FROM PRODUCING THE ACTIONS IS TO SLOWLY ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE IS SLUGGISH AND DOES THIS WHILE IN CRUISE CONTROL.. AFTER GETTING THE COMPLETE READ, IT WAS SAID THE 02 SENSORS WERE OUT. THE ENGINE IS NOW TO THE POINT IT WILL RANDOMLY BE GOING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL START FLASHING AND ALL SPEED IS REDUCED. THEY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CAR STALLS OUT SO OFTEN I REFUSE TO TAKE IT IN TO CITIES OR ONTO THE INTERSTATE. I WILL BE GOING BACK TO A TRUCK AFTER THIS IS PAID OFF! WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK!

NHTSA ODI 10907294

I WAS STARTING TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THE ENGINE LOSS POWER LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 5 MILES AN HOUR. JUST ABOUT 90 DAYS AGO IT WAS AT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP FOR SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND ALL SENSORS WERE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 10859890

61,000 MILES AND CAR IS SHOWING REPEATED P2135 CODES FOR THROTTLE/PEDAL SENOR ISSUE AND PLACES THE CAR IN LIMITED POWER MODE. EVENT HAS HAPPENED DURING WARM-UP, AT STOP SIGNS AND LIGHTS, LOCAL STREET SPEEDS, AND DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL/SPEEDS. I HAVE CLEARED THE ISSUE USING OBD II TOOL AND PHONE APP.

NHTSA ODI 10836390

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STABILITRAK AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE, LOST POWER, AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM AND THE BCM WERE NOT CONNECTING. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10824202

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE AND THE TOOLSHED FROM THEIR RESIDENCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY REPORTED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,300.

NHTSA ODI 10765139