2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,353
- 139 in the last 5 years
- 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 ratesComplaint 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
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.