2012 Chevrolet Cruze: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze: 7 recalls, 865 owner complaints and up to 30 mpg combined.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #12V289000 · 2012 · 53,239 vehicles
What's wrong: Attachment welds for the fuel tank strap secondary brackets May have been omitted.
Why it matters: The fuel tank could come loose in a crash, possibly allowing fuel to leak from the tank. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle for missing welds. If the vehicle is missing welds, dealers will secure the bracket attachments with fasteners. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on July 9, 2012.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #12V288000 · 2012 · 413,148 vehicles
What's wrong: Spilled or dripping oil (such as after an oil change) May collect in the engine shield (bellypan) near hot engine or exhaust system surfaces. As a result, the oil and the engine shield May ignite and burn.
Why it matters: Either condition could result in an engine compartment fire, possibly causing injury or death.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will modify the engine shield to prevent fluid from contacting the shield. Also, on vehicles with a manual transmission, dealers will apply a protective tape to the electronic power steering wire harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge to the owner. The…
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V522000 · 2012 · 2,949 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which May intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal airbag, that airbag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The fix: General motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013.
Airbags Vehicle recall #13V023000 · 2013 · 4,167 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which May intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #13V360000 · 2013 · 292,879 vehicles
What's wrong: 4l dohc gasoline turbo engines and 6t40 front wheel drive automatic transmissions and equipped with an electric vacuum pump to provide supplemental vacuum for brake assist, when needed. In the affected vehicles, the pump May not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist.
Why it matters: A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: General motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013.
Airbags Vehicle recall #14V300000 · 2014 · 31,520 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which May intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Why it matters: If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, that air bag will not deploy, increasing the driver's risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet
Electrical, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V502000 · 2016 · 8,367 vehicles
What's wrong: Also, certain 2013 Buick encore, 2011 Buick regal, 2013-2014 Buick verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC terrain vehicles May have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection…
Why it matters: If the key is removed without the transmission in park, the vehicle May rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 18 mention a fire, 30 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (268): the most common themes are leaks (71), warning light on (63), stalls / loses power (46).
- Electrical (196): the most common themes are electrical failure (64), stalls / loses power (58).
- Brakes (142): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (35), noise or vibration (15).
- Transmission & drivetrain (137): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (57), stalls / loses power (27), warning light on (23).
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has 865 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 10 Cruze model years for complaints (2.3× the average Cruze year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (161 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 54,351 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (732 complaints, 7 recalls), 2013 (587 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 30 | Regular |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 37 | 30 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 35 | 29 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 34 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems?
Owners have filed 865 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (268), electrical (196), brakes (142).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze get?
EPA ratings run up to 30 mpg combined (1.4 L, Automatic (S6)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.