2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,353
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 267 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- 104 reported crashes · 36 injuries · 25 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#221
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+1,045
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2010-2014
+1,061
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
20%
Engine: 267 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
- ENGINE 267
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 196
- SERVICE BRAKES 142
- POWER TRAIN 135
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 108
7 recalls on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
- NHTSA 16V502000 · 2016 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing th
- NHTSA 14V300000 · 2014 · AIR BAGS If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's front
- NHTSA 12V522000 · 2013 · AIR BAGS If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's front
- NHTSA 13V023000 · 2013 · AIR BAGS If the bar and terminals are contacting each other at the time of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's front
- NHTSA 13V360000 · 2013 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST A loss of braking assistance will require extra pedal force and/or distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, increasing t
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Cruze units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
NHTSA has 1,353 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (267 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Chevrolet Cruze units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (267), electrical system (196), service brakes (142), power train (135). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.