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2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2012 models.

Chevrolet Cruze
Pictured: 2017 Chevrolet Cruze LT in Arctic Blue Metallic, Front Left. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Midsize Cars
Body styles
4dr Sedan Ls/Lt/Ltz/Eco
Engines
1.4L 4-cyl turbo, 1.8L 4-cyl
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
32 combined · 28 city / 40 hwy
Length
181.5 in
Curb weight
3,102 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
7 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 32 MPG combined — 34% better than the average 2012 midsize car (23.9 MPG).

Watch out for

  • Many owner complaints581 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 137 for similar models — most often about the engine.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 31 similar 2012 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is a midsize car offered with 2 engines (1.4L 4-cyl turbo and 1.8L 4-cyl) and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 182 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,102 lb.

EPA rates its most efficient version at 32 MPG combined (28 city / 40 highway), 34% better than the 2012 midsize car average of 23.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,100 a year in fuel.

NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.

It has 7 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 581 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.

What changed for 2012

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2011 Cruze — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2011; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2011 Cruze →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr Sedan Ls/Lt/Ltz/Eco181.5 in70.9 in58.3 in105.5 in60.2 / 61 in3,102 lb61/39

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Cruze Eco1.4L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive28 / 40 / 32+34%$2,100278
Cruze Eco1.4L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive26 / 38 / 30+26%$2,250296
Cruze1.4L 4-cyl turboAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive26 / 36 / 30+26%$2,250296
Cruze1.4L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive26 / 37 / 30+26%$2,250296
Cruze1.8L 4-cylManual 6-spdFront-Wheel Drive25 / 35 / 29+21%$2,300306
Cruze1.8L 4-cylAutomatic (S6)Front-Wheel Drive22 / 34 / 26+9%$2,600342
Save $1,500Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
23.9 MPG2012 Midsize Cars average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2012 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.

Similar 2012 midsize cars

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2012 Chevrolet Cruze (this car)32 MPGNot rated7
2012 Toyota Corolla29 MPGNot rated5
2012 Honda Civic44 MPGNot rated4
2012 Honda Accord27 MPGNot rated8
2012 Toyota Camry40 MPGNot rated2
2012 Nissan GT-R19 MPGNot rated0
2012 Toyota Prius50 MPGNot rated7

Recalls (7)

Electrical System › Ignition · Jul 5, 2016

NHTSA campaign 16V502000 · 8,367 vehicles

Problem
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."
Risk
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Air Bags · Jun 6, 2014

NHTSA campaign 14V300000 · 31,520 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The recall began on July 25, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact GM at 1-800-222-1020. Buick owners may contact GM at 1-800-521-7300. Note: This is an expansion of recalls 12V-522 and 13V-023.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist · Aug 15, 2013

NHTSA campaign 13V360000 · 292,879 vehicles

Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Fix
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly, free of charge. The recall began on October 7, 2013. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020. GM's recall number is 12213.
Air Bags · Jan 24, 2013

NHTSA campaign 13V023000 · 4,167 vehicles

Problem
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012 Chevrolet Camaro, Cruze and Sonic, and model year 2012 Buick Verano vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk
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.
Fix
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel air bag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on February 13, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Air Bags · Oct 31, 2012

NHTSA campaign 12V522000 · 2,949 vehicles

Problem
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2012 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Cruze, and Chevrolet Sonic vehicles. The driver side frontal air bag has a shorting bar which may intermittently contact the air bag terminals.
Risk
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.
Fix
General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil, free of charge. The safety recall began on January 11, 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 22, 2012

NHTSA campaign 12V288000 · 413,148 vehicles

Problem
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 31, 2012. 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.
Risk
EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE ENGINE SHIELD TO PREVENT FLUID FROM CONTACTING THE SHIELD. ALSO, ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, DEALERS WILL APPLY A PROTECTIVE TAPE TO THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WIRE HARNESS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNER. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting · Jun 22, 2012

NHTSA campaign 12V289000 · 53,239 vehicles

Problem
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH MAY 14, 2012. ATTACHMENT WELDS FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAP SECONDARY BRACKETS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED.
Risk
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.
Fix
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR MISSING WELDS. IF THE VEHICLE IS MISSING WELDS, DEALERS WILL SECURE THE BRACKET ATTACHMENTS WITH FASTENERS. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2012 Chevrolet Cruze is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

581Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
40Involved a crash
12Involved a fire
22Injuries reported
70,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Engine209
Electrical System113
Power Train99
Service Brakes87
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)78
Unknown Or Other78
Steering45
Fuel/Propulsion System43
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
23/03: 323/05: 723/07: 123/08: 523/09: 423/10: 123/11: 223/12: 124/01: 124/02: 224/03: 324/08: 124/09: 224/10: 324/11: 125/03: 225/04: 225/09: 125/10: 126/01: 126/03: 126/04: 226/06: 226/08: 123/0323/0823/1124/0224/0925/0325/1026/04max 7

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2012 Chevrolet Cruze buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Engine — 209 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
  3. Electrical System — 113 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
  4. Power Train — 99 owner reports. Test-drive through all gears, including reverse; note slipping, harsh or delayed shifts.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 70,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Cruze years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2019 Cruze37183.9 in★★★★★223
2018 Cruze37183.9 in★★★★★3109
2017 Cruze37183.9 inNot rated2201
2016 Cruze34183.9 inNot rated4250
2015 Cruze32181.1 inNot rated4252
2014 Cruze32181.5 inNot rated10643
2013 Cruze32181.5 inNot rated5450
2011 Cruze32181.5 inNot rated7424

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Chevrolet. How we calculate this →