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NHTSA model-year recall report

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Recalls

7 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

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7

NHTSA campaigns

5

Affected systems

0

Urgent advisories

Jul 5, 2016

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is above the Chevrolet Cruze average of 4.9 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Air Bags, appearing in 3 campaigns.

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  3. 3

    Repair

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Source campaign records

All 2012 Chevrolet Cruze recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA campaign 16V502000

Electrical System › Ignition

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Jul 5, 2016

What is recalled

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."

Safety consequence

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 14V300000

Air Bags

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Jun 6, 2014

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 13V360000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Aug 15, 2013

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 13V023000

Air Bags

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Jan 24, 2013

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 12V522000

Air Bags

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Oct 31, 2012

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 12V289000

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Reported Jun 22, 2012

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 12V288000

Engine And Engine Cooling

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Reported Jun 22, 2012

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other Chevrolet Cruze model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20192 campaigns20183 campaigns20172 campaigns20164 campaigns20154 campaigns201410 campaigns20135 campaigns20127 campaigns20117 campaigns
View all model years

Other 2012 Chevrolet recall reports

2012 Chevrolet Sonic7 campaigns2012 Chevrolet Camaro5 campaigns2012 Chevrolet Traverse5 campaigns2012 Chevrolet Silverado 35004 campaigns2012 Chevrolet Avalanche3 campaigns2012 Chevrolet Equinox3 campaigns

2012 Chevrolet Cruze recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?

This verified dataset contains 7 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology