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2012 Chevrolet Cruze Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 7 NHTSA recalls and 864 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is a known problem year for the Chevrolet Cruze

The 2012 model year has significantly more owner complaints than average for this model. Consider a different year if possible.

F
20/100

Avoid This Year — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

7
NHTSA Recalls
7 recalls on record
864
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
62
Crashes + Injuries
17 fire reports

Own or buying a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze (7)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V502000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #14V300000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V289000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V288000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #12V522000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V023000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #13V360000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Based on 864 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Electrical System
134
Engine
128
Power Train
126
Service Brakes
115
Steering
103
Unknown Or Other
60
Engine And Engine Cooling
39
Visibility/wiper
31
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Chevrolet Cruze — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 2 complaints 2011 731 complaints 2012 864 complaints 2013 585 complaints 2014 698 complaints 2015 251 complaints 2016 247 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2012 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2010 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has 7 recalls and 864 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has 7 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze are: Electrical System, Engine, Power Train, Service Brakes. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze safe to buy?
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 7 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Chevrolet Cruze should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Chevrolet Cruze are: 2010. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2012.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.