CarBrief

NHTSA has 865 owner complaints for the 2012 Cruze[1], the most of any Cruze model year listed, and seven recalls are on file[2]. Check recall paperwork and the brake history before you buy one.

865owner complaints[1]
7recalls[2]
26–32MPG combined (EPA)[3]
5★NHTSA overall rating[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 865 owner complaints for the 2012 Cruze[1]. Of these, 62 mention a crash, 18 a fire and 30 an injury, and none reports a death[1]. Optional: add[1] after the sentence.

Here are the biggest component groups:

Component group Complaints Crashes Fires
Engine[5] 308 10 15
Electrical system[6] 196 10 3
Brakes[7] 150 26 1
Power train[8] 137 5 3
Electronic stability control[9] 108 5 0
Steering[10] 103 7 1

The engine group is the largest and has the most fire mentions[5]. Brakes has the most crash mentions[7].

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for the four largest groups. These are only a sample, so treat them as examples and not as a count of all owners.

Recalls

NHTSA lists seven recalls for this car, newest first. Repairs in each are described as free of charge.

Our data does not show whether a given car has had each repair done. Ask for proof, or have a dealer check the VIN.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and gearbox. All are front-wheel drive and use regular gas. Annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Version City / Hwy / Combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Cruze Eco, 1.4L turbo, manual 6-speed[3] 28 / 40 / 32 $2,100
Cruze Eco, 1.4L turbo, automatic 6-speed[18] 26 / 38 / 30 $2,250
Cruze, 1.4L turbo, manual 6-speed[19] 26 / 37 / 30 $2,250
Cruze, 1.4L turbo, automatic (S6)[20] 26 / 36 / 30 $2,250
Cruze, 1.8L, manual 6-speed[21] 25 / 35 / 29 $2,300
Cruze, 1.8L, automatic (S6)[22] 22 / 34 / 26 $2,600

The Eco with the manual gearbox is the thriftiest at 32 combined MPG[3]. The 1.8L automatic is the thirstiest at 26[22].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the 4-door front-wheel-drive Cruze 5 stars overall, 5 stars in the frontal test and 5 stars in the side test[4]. The rollover rating is 4 stars, with a rollover risk of 10.9%[4].

Engine and size

The EPA test car list shows two engines. The 1.4L 4-cylinder is rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version[23]. The 1.8L 4-cylinder is also rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version[24].

Size comes from Canadian-market specifications[25] for the four-door sedan, so U.S. cars can differ slightly.

Measure Value
Length[25] 181 in
Width[25] 71 in
Height[25] 58 in
Wheelbase[25] 106 in
Curb weight[25] 3,102 lb

How 2012 compares with other years

2011: 732 complaints, 7 recalls20112012: 865 complaints, 7 recalls86520122013: 587 complaints, 5 recalls20132014: 702 complaints, 10 recalls20142015: 252 complaints, 4 recalls20152016: 250 complaints, 4 recalls20162017: 201 complaints, 2 recalls20172018: 109 complaints, 3 recalls20182019: 23 complaints, 2 recalls2019
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Cruze model year. The 2012 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20117327
20128657
20135875
201470210
20152524
20162504
20172012
20181093
2019232

NHTSA data covers nine Cruze model years. The 2012 model has the most complaints of all of them: 865, against 732 for 2011, 587 for 2013 and 702 for 2014[2]. Complaints fall in the later years, down to 23 for 2019[2].

Recalls are a different picture. The 2012 car has 7, tied with 2011[2]. The 2014 model has the most, with 10[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so use them only to compare Cruze years with each other.

Should you buy a used 2012 Cruze?

The 2012 Cruze has the largest complaint count of any Cruze year listed[2], and seven recalls, three of them for the same air bag part[12][14][15]. Its 5-star overall crash rating is a plus[4], and fuel economy runs from 26 to 32 combined MPG depending on version[22][3], up to 32 combined MPG for the Eco manual[3]. Before buying, confirm that every recall repair has been done, especially the brake vacuum pump, engine shield and air bag coil[13][17][12]. Owners in the samples we read also describe brake and shifting trouble, so ask about service records and take a careful test drive[7][8].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevy Cruze?
By NHTSA complaint count, the engine group leads with 308 of 865 complaints, followed by electrical (196), brakes (150) and power train (137)[1][5][6][7][8].
Does the 2012 Chevy Cruze have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists seven, covering the engine shield and oil, fuel tank straps, brake assist, the driver air bag coil and the park lock lever[11][12][13][14][15][16][17].
How many miles per gallon does the 2012 Cruze get?
EPA combined ratings run from 26 MPG (1.8L automatic) to 32 MPG (Eco, manual)[22][3].
Is the 2012 Chevy Cruze safe?
NHTSA rates the 4-door front-wheel-drive car 5 stars overall and 4 stars for rollover[4].
Is 2012 a good year for the Cruze?
It has the most complaints of the nine Cruze model years listed, 865 versus 732 for 2011[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 865 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze (62 mention a crash, 18 a fire, 30 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Cruze model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for Cruze Eco, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 40 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 308 complaints name the engine component group (10 crashes, 15 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 196 complaints name the electrical system component group (10 crashes, 3 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 150 complaints name the brakes component group (26 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 137 complaints name the power train component group (5 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,340). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 108 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 61,883). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 103 complaints name the steering component group (7 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. Recall 16V502, filed July 5, 2016: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
  12. Recall 14V300, filed June 6, 2014: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 13V360, filed August 15, 2013: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 13V023, filed January 24, 2013: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 12V522, filed October 31, 2012: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 12V289, filed June 22, 2012: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 12V288, filed June 22, 2012: Engine And Engine Cooling. NHTSA recall database
  18. EPA rating for Cruze Eco, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 38 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for Cruze, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 37 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for Cruze, 1.4L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 36 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for Cruze, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. EPA rating for Cruze, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 34 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  23. EPA Test Car List, 2012 Chevrolet Cruze with 1.4L 4-cylinder: rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  24. EPA Test Car List, 2012 Chevrolet Cruze with 1.8L 4-cylinder: rated 138 to 140 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
  25. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CRUZE 4DR SEDAN LS/LT/LTZ/ECO: length 181 in, width 71 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 106 in, curb weight 3,102 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.