2012 Chevrolet Cruze Engine Problems
Owners have filed 268 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 67,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “valve cover” (7% of reports).
- 268engine complaints
- 67,000median miles at failure
- 10mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Valve cover: mentioned in 20 of 268 complaints (7%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 20 of 268 complaints (7%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 14 of 268 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at $1,100, and half of them between $860 and $1,500.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2021), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 205 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 268 complaints, 10 mention a crash, 14 a fire, 4 an injury.
Chevrolet Cruze engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cruze | 5 | 22% | — |
| 2018 Cruze | 27 | 25% | 13,000 |
| 2017 Cruze | 73 | 36% | 32,500 |
| 2016 Cruze | 102 | 41% | 66,248 |
| 2015 Cruze | 99 | 39% | 63,500 |
| 2014 Cruze | 217 | 31% | 65,000 |
| 2013 Cruze | 212 | 36% | 84,733 |
| 2012 Cruze | 268 | 31% | 67,000 |
| 2011 Cruze | 257 | 35% | 67,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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.
Was driving and my car literally wouldn't go forward. Prior to I had an oil change and I would smell burning oil
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Chevrolet Cruzes have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 268 owner complaints about engine for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze (31% of the 865 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 67,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $860 and $1,500), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most frequent phrase is “valve cover”, in 20 of 268 complaints, followed by “water pump” (20).
Other 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems
See all 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems or engine problems across all Cruze years.