Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze a bad year?
864 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 307, 4× a quiet Cruze year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 4× the complaints of a quiet Cruze year, spread over 33k–97k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2012 Cruze owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 66,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 306 (35%) | 33k–97k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 196 (23%) | 36k–74k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 149 (17%) | 20k–80k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 137 (16%) | 37k–90k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 108 (13%) | 40k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 51 (6%) | 38k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 43 (5%) | 46k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 52 (6%) | 24k–98k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 34 (4%) | 41k–88k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (2%) | 18k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 103 (12%) | 24k–59k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 21 (2%) | 18k–54k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 7 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 66,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 864 complaints: 62 mention a crash · 18 mention a fire · 21 report an injury · 37 say the car was towed.
7 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Aug 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Driving on rural road temperature gauge went all the way to hot. Stopped car looked under hood there was no liquid in the antifreeze tank went to a house and got water to fill it up.
I noticed that my vehicle seemed to be having issues when I pressed on the brake, so I took it in. I found out that it was a completely unrelated issue, and had to do with a crack running through the manifold.
I have a very strong coolant smell inside the car when heat is on and a strong coolant smell outside of the car.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 66,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze: 7
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. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals. 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.
In the affected vehicles, the pump may not activate, resulting in an intermittent reduction or loss of brake assist. 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 driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals. 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 driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals. 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.
Attachment welds for the fuel tank strap secondary brackets may have been omitted. 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.
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. Either condition could result in an engine compartment fire, possibly causing injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 526
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil Filter Replacement
Possible oil consumption and//or leaks
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Air Bag Non-deployment
Chapman Chevrolet / Cruze Engine Recall
Engine compartment fire
Neighbouring years
2011 Cruze: 732 complaints, consider selling · 2013 Cruze: 585 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Chevrolet Cruze year
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Questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze a bad year?
864 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 307, 4× a quiet Cruze year. At 66,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 4× the complaints of a quiet Cruze year, spread over 33k–97k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (306), electrical system (196), brakes (149), transmission and drivetrain (137), stability control (108). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 33k–97k miles.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 16V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 14V-300), Brakes (NHTSA 13V-360), Air bags (NHTSA 13V-023) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.