2012 Chevrolet Cruze Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 16% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 57,340 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (6% of reports).
- 137power train complaints
- 57,340median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $5,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 8 of 137 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze at $5,250, and half of them between $5,050 and $5,700.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2020), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 112 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 137 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury.
Chevrolet Cruze power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Cruze | 8 | 35% | 63,029 |
| 2018 Cruze | 23 | 21% | 51,864 |
| 2017 Cruze | 39 | 19% | 32,695 |
| 2016 Cruze | 31 | 12% | 48,000 |
| 2015 Cruze | 37 | 15% | 59,213 |
| 2014 Cruze | 97 | 14% | 44,750 |
| 2013 Cruze | 113 | 19% | 39,603 |
| 2012 Cruze | 137 | 16% | 57,340 |
| 2011 Cruze | 193 | 26% | 57,718 |
| 2010 Cruze | 1 | 50% | 30,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
Had a 3-5-R wave plate failure. Symptoms started at around 87,000 miles. Bouncing/jerking when put into reverse. 5th gear slams hard into gear when upshifting and downshifting, making it feel like I have been rear ended. Now 3rd gear is starting to shift hard like 5th. Soon I'll have no gears. Car…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Chevrolet Cruzes have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 137 owner complaints about power train for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze (16% 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 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 57,340 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
Owners report a typical cost of $5,250 (half paid between $5,050 and $5,700), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 8 of 137 complaints.
Other 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems
See all 2012 Chevrolet Cruze problems or power train problems across all Cruze years.