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Research · Midsize Cars

2012 Chevrolet CruzeRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 865 owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Most complaints involve engine (268) and electrical system (196). The EPA rates it 26–32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
26–32mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
7campaigns
Latest Jul 2016
Owner complaints
865
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$1,950est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. 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 and Rollaway Prevention."

Electrical systemReported Jul 5, 2016NHTSA 16V502000

Air bags

Free remedy

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011 to July, 16, 2012, Chevrolet Cruze vehicles manufactured December 7, 2011 to July 25, 2012, Chevrolet Sonic vehicles manufactured December 5, 2011 to August 2, 2012, and Chevrolet Camaro vehicles manufactured December 1, 2011 to June 11, 2012. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.

Air bagsReported Jun 6, 2014NHTSA 14V300000

Service brakes

Free remedy

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles equipped with 1.4L 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Aug 15, 2013NHTSA 13V360000
See all 7 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

865 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2011 – Aug 2026
  1. Engine268
  2. Electrical system196
  3. Service brakes142
  4. Power train137
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)108
  6. Steering103
  7. Vehicle speed control51
  8. Fuel/propulsion system48
  9. Engine and engine cooling44

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Cruze model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2011733
2012865
2013587
2014704
2015254
2016250
2017203
2018109
201923
Crashes reported
62
Fires reported
18
Injuries reported
30
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

268 reports10 crashes14 fires
“I was driving and the engine caught on fire. The flames came from the turbo gasket compartment not sure why or how it ignited. Thankfully the damage was not that extensive the car was towed to my residence and it is not drivable it won't start.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026EngineFire reportedODI 11760905

Electrical system

196 reports10 crashes3 fires
“The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH and accelerating over a speed bump, the key slid out of the ignition switch. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, and it was determined that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V502000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 74,522.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2026Power train, Electrical systemODI 11733293

Service brakes

142 reports25 crashes1 fire
“Have called about this starting 2020. Had 137000. Also previous owner since 99000mi. Drive train & Turbo. Brake assist. Oil leaks, shutting off while driving. Now as of Saturday April 25 2026 Car shut off while driving and has been towed to dealership. Car deemed lemon by GM. In 2020 car to have been replaced I have all service contact numbers as well as my receipts. Car is a death trap. Do better Chevrolet & GM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2026Power train, Service brakes, EngineODI 11734134
All 2012 Cruze problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
1.4L 4-cyl turbo · 1.8L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 6-spd · Automatic (S6) · Automatic 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cruze Eco
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
284032$1,950278
Cruze
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263630$2,100296
Cruze
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263730$2,100296
Cruze Eco
Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263830$2,100296
Cruze
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253529$2,150306
Cruze
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
223426$2,400342
  • Cruze Eco
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    28 city · 40 hwy · $1,950/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 36 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 37 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze Eco
    Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo
    26 city · 38 hwy · $2,100/yr
    30
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    25 city · 35 hwy · $2,150/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Cruze
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    22 city · 34 hwy · $2,400/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.9%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 6507
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2012 Cruze questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?

7 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems?

Owners filed 865 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (268), electrical system (196), service brakes (142). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze get?

The EPA rates the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at 26–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026