Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012CAREFULSerious complaints 2.4× usual, mostly engine and brakes Extended coverage
718 serious complaints of 865, the most about engine (268) and brakes (142); per car on the road, 2.4× this model's usual year. 7 recalls. NHTSA investigation PE12010: engine compartment fire. NHTSA investigation RQ13002: air bag non-deployment.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. While at a stop, the vehicle lost power and the check engine light illuminated. The contact placed the vehicle in park and restarted the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the cam cover was leaking and needed to be replaced.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Aug 2016
“The contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. While reversing at 2 mph, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard and the vehicle failed to slow down.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the brakes, Aug 2017
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage The accelerator pedal can break at the stalk just below the housing due to the driver entering or exiting the vehicle with their foot resting on the accelerator pedal. 38170 - Special Coverage. (GCUS-9-2629, Aug 2016)
- Extended coverage Some vehicles may have increased friction in the steering system. 14232 - special coverage. (G-205009, Nov 2014)
- Extended coverage Some vehicles with the 1.4l engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump. 14371a - special coverage (revised warranty information). (G-208432, Jan 2015)
- Extended coverage Some 2011-2014 model year chevrolet cruze vehicles and some 2012-2014 chevrolet sonic vehicles with the 1.4l engine may have an engine coolant leak from the water pump. 14371b - special coverage (labor code revised). (G-209375, Jan 2015)
- Extended coverage Some 2012-2014 model year (my) buick verano, 2011-2014 my chevrolet cruze and volt, 2010-2014 my chevrolet equinox and gmc terrain, and 2013-2014 my chevrolet malibu vehicles, equipped with electronic power steering (nj0/nj1), may have increased friction in the steering system. 14232a - special… (14232, Jun 2015)
- Extended coverage But if a driver parks a vehicle with these features on a slope and exits the vehicle without (I) firmly engaging the park brake in accordance with the owners manual instructions and (ii) engaging the transmission in gear, the vehicle could roll away and cause a crash. "14748 - special coverage. (14748, Jun 2015)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
865 owner complaints · 7 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 26–32 mpg · NHTSA: 5 of 5 stars · 2012 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl turbo; 1.8L 4-cyl · Drive: FWD
2012 Cruze trims
| 1LS | 1LT | 2LS | 2LT | ECO | LTZ |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Chevrolet reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Chevrolet aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel | FWD | 31–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 22 | Power train (7) | Yes |
| 2018 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available | FWD | 31–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 109 | Engine (27) | Yes |
| 2017 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.6L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available | FWD | 31–37 mpg | 4–5 of 5 | 2 | 201 | Engine (73) | Yes |
| 2016 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–34 mpg | 4–5 of 5 | 4 | 250 | Engine (102) | Yes |
| 2015 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 252 | Engine (99) | No |
| 2014 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl 2.0L 4-cyl turbo diesel manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 10 | 702 | Engine (217) | No |
| 2013 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 587 | Engine (212) | No |
| 2012 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 865 | Engine (268) | No |
| 2011 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 1.8L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 26–32 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 732 | Engine (257) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: Cruze 2016–2022 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Chevrolet Cruze 5 HB FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 22 |
| 2019 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 22 |
| 2018 | Chevrolet Cruze 5 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 109 |
| 2018 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 109 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet Cruze 5 DR FWD Later Release | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 13 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD Later Release | 5 | Optional | Optional | 0 | 13 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet Cruze 5 DR FWD Early Release | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 201 |
| 2017 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD Early Release | 4 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 201 |
| 2016 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 4 | Optional | No | 4 | 250 |
| 2016 | Chevrolet Cruze Limited 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 240 |
| 2015 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 252 |
| 2014 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 10 | 702 |
| 2013 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 587 |
| 2012 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 7 | 865 |
| 2011 | Chevrolet Cruze 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 7 | 732 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cruze | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–37 |
| 2019 | Cruze Hatchback | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–35 |
| 2019 | Cruze Premier | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 32 |
| 2019 | Cruze Premier Hatchback | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 31 |
| 2018 | Cruze | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–37 |
| 2018 | Cruze Hatchback | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
31–35 |
| 2018 | Cruze Premier | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 33 |
| 2018 | Cruze Premier Hatchback | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 31 |
| 2017 | Cruze | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–37 |
| 2017 | Cruze Hatchback | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
31–32 |
| 2017 | Cruze Premier | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 33 |
| 2017 | Cruze Premier Hatchback | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 31 |
| 2016 | Cruze | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
32–34 |
| 2016 | Cruze Limited | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
26–30 |
| 2016 | Cruze Limited Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–33 |
| 2016 | Cruze Premier | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 34 |
| 2015 | Cruze | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
26–32 |
| 2015 | Cruze Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–32 |
| 2014 | Cruze | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Diesel, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
26–32 |
| 2014 | Cruze Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–32 |
| 2013 | Cruze | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
26–30 |
| 2013 | Cruze Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–32 |
| 2012 | Cruze | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
26–30 |
| 2012 | Cruze Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–32 |
| 2011 | Cruze | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
26–29 |
| 2011 | Cruze Eco | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
30–32 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.