Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 865 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #16V502000 Key May Be Removed When Not In Park/FMVSS 114 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V300000 Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V360000 Possible Loss of Braking Assist NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V023000 Driver Side Frontal Air bag may not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V522000 Driver Side Frontal Airbag may not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V289000 FUEL TANK WELD SPOTS/FUEL LEAK/POSSIBLE FIRE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V288000 OIL SPILLING OR DRIPPING/ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 268 complaints
- Electrical System 196 complaints
- Service Brakes 142 complaints
- Power Train 137 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 108 complaints
- Steering 103 complaints
Of the 865 complaints on file, 62 report a crash and 18 a fire; across all 865 complaints, owners report 30 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has a significant number of owner complaints and several recalls, primarily involving the engine, electrical system, and brakes. The most common issues include engine problems and electrical failures, which indicate potential reliability concerns. However, without detailed mileage and repair cost data, predicting exact failure rates and costs is speculative. The evidence suggests that potential buyers may encounter notable upkeep challenges.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | common |
| Electrical System | 60,000–90,000 miles | $200–$1,000 | very common |
| Service Brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and balance
- Coolant system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Battery service
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires
- Check engine light
- Braking system noise
- Electrical system faults
- Unresponsive steering
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.