10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 10 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 44,336 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
I bought a 2012 Cruze in March. It ran great when I test drove it and for the first couple of months. Then at the 3rd month we started to have problems. It has about 29000 miles on it right now. All of a sudden, the time/temp/date display (along with the radio) started blacking out. Then a few times the "service power steering" warning light flashed on and off and we actually lost our power steering momentarily. Very scary. Then the "service stabilitrak" warning light flashed on and off as well. At the same time the time/temp/date blacks out again too. Our car is GM certified and still under the factory warranty, so we took it in to our local Chevy dealer. (we did not buy it from them, but it is closer than the place we bought it) they have tried at least 3 times to fix it since this started. But when they drive it, nothing happens. It only does it when we are driving!. now the Chevy dealer can't find anything wrong on the computer, they can't duplicate the problem when they drive it. They replaced the brake module. No luck. After about 3 weeks, they returned the car to us last night and said we should get rid of it. I am completely shocked. I don't know what to do. The service person even told us to take it back where we bought it and demand they give us a different car! I picked up the car last night and this morning drove it about 1 mile and the time/temp display went out again, even longer than before. Can't hear the blinker blink and, the "service stabilitrak" light went on again. Please help! force GM to recall these. I am afraid to drive it. Part of the frustration is that the dealership service personnel said they called GM and the engineers, and other dealerships and they said none of them had ever had this happen. I don't believe them.
- Oconomowoc, WI, USA
On this particular occurrence the lights on the radio display began to flicker and then all electrical power to the dashboard, airbags, and the electrically assisted power steering went out. It remained off for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. As a result I had no control over the vehicle. The electrical came back on and the dash display depicted the warning message check stabilititrak, or words to that effect. I took it to the dealership and they said that nothing showed up on the scope and there was nothing they could do. This has also happened to my grand daughter on 07/09/2014 out in Colorado as she is using the vehicle for school and work. Again the dealer states there is nothing showing up on the scope and they have not been able to duplicate the issue even though she had her friend record the event with their cell phone. During this event the vehicle could not be restarted after the vehicle was turned off in a parking lot. After an hour wait the vehicle was started.
- Hudson, WI, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at 40 mph, the service stabilitrak warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact had to tug on the battery cable in order to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the mechanic could not duplicate the problem but decided to remove some clips on the battery cable as a temporary remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
- Macon, GA, USA
2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Consumer requests reimbursement for vehicle defect repairs. According to the invoice, the vehicle lost power and shut off while driving. The dealer replaced the battery and fuse block on the battery.
- Atlanta, GA, USA
-the following symptoms occur intermittently (approximately one time per month) -while operating the vehicle, the issue typically begins with the center radio display and sound flickering on and off. -next, various electrical systems in the car begin to malfunction. This includes traction control, power steering, headlights, turn signals cruise control, window functions, and brake lights. -the vehicle does not only report the system malfunction, but will actually experience failure (etc, power steering is actually disabled in the car). Power steering was once lost at the bottom of a switchback in the mountains. I nearly lost control of the vehicle. -after this issue occurs, if the vehicle is turned off it will not restart for 30-60 minutes (unless the battery is disconnected and reconnected). -during this period it will not restart, none of the electrical functions of the car will work (doors will not lock, windows will not move, lights will not turn on, etc). -also, during this period I have noticed a sound within the dashboard. This sounds like a small electric motor running for approximately 60 seconds.
- Peoria, IL, USA
Several times now (usually after it rains but persisting long after) I have been having electrical problems with my 2012 Chevy Cruze. At random, the radio loses power and may come back on automatically or flicker continuously. It occasionally happens when I press the brake, use the turn signal, or roll down the window. About every 3rd time on average that I have noticed this I also see a message come across the display that says "service stabilitrak" or other random messages or dash lights. Once the "power steering" notification came on and I could feel the car lose power steering for only a moment. One other thing that has happened was that my horn sounded all on it's own when the radio flickered. I called my dealership and they had me bring my car in for testing after this first happened. They were unable to find anything wrong with my car, and after they performed these tests my car did not malfunction again for quite a while. It is scary driving down the road when this happens because I don't know if I am losing power to the headlights/tail lights when this is happening, and since it happens at random I can't just ask someone if it is happening. Glad to see other people are having this problem, because the people at the car dealership looked at me like I was insane :/ please help GM, please find what is causing these short circuits and issue a recall!
- Perry, NY, USA
I am filing a complaint on a 2012 Chevrolet cruz ls, that I purchased at cowboy motors. I purchased this vehicle on June 07, 2013, it had 46211 miles and it now has 49789 miles. Recently, my wife noticed the radio would cut off and a month ago she told me about an issue dealing with the steering. She said it would get hard to control and sometimes almost impossible. Also, the dash indicator light came on symbolizing that we needed to check the steering. I begin to drive the car to see what was happening, nothing happened, until about 10 days ago it happen to me. I have called the dealership and asked if there has been any problems listed with the steering, I was told no but I should bring it in since I had a extended warranty and it would cost a $50 deductible if the warranty covered it. I got on the internet and found out that there is a list of people with the same problem as ours. I am fearful for my wife and grandchildren. I feel that this is a defect in the automobile and something should be done by the dealer or manufacture, to address the problem and from what I read, no one seems to know what the problem is exactly. This is a safety factor issue and my concern is what can I do to get my car fix without it costing me.
- Beaumont, TX, USA
Since 11/13 to present, I've been experiencing instances with the stability trak issues with the radio turning on/off for a few mins; the dashboard lights would blink and go dim; it happened often when I'd use the defogger and try to let the window up/down and it would also dim my headlights (I noticed that in the evenings) or even just using the turn signal. Recently I was hitting the highway & the power steering went out, the doors unlocked & the messages were on my dash. There's also a dark ring around my steering wheel for the airbag that I believed tried to open. I had to turn the steering wheel with a lot of force to pull to the side of the road to avoid getting hit from behind. I turned the car off & waited a few minutes & turned it back on. It came back on with no issues. The next day the power steering went out again but this time I was in the driveway after arriving home. Both times that this has happened, I was using my ac. I went to the dealership & was told that the codes may not come up since it had only happened 2 times. I took it to advance auto and they put it on their computer and no codes showed up. I was told by the place that I purchased my car from to wait for the recall. I've been checking every day since then to see if there is a recall for my car because I don't want to pay for repairs that should already be on the recall list! I'm too afraid to drive the car a long distance for fear of getting hit or even killed by other vehicles if & when my car does it again.
- Kittrell, NC, USA
I was driving home from work, about 15 miles on the freeway at the speed limit which is 75 mph. The car with no warning completely shut itself off. As a result, I lost the ability to steer or brake. I would estimate it stayed off for approximately 5 seconds before kicking back on, without my having to restart. I treated this as an anomaly. Last week on my way to work, which is in the dark at 3am, it shut itself of 3 times within 10 miles of a 70 mile drive. Each time giving me a service indicator light of some sort ( service stabilitrak, service anti theft...) I had no steering, no breaks and no lights. Again this is in the dark!! I noticed that there are 43 other complaints of this very serious safety issue with no resolution from this site, the dealerships or the manufacturer. Is it going to take a death or horrifyingly bad accident to get this addressed"?"
- Philipsburg, MT, USA
This incident has happened on numerous occasions and was taken to the dealership three different times to address the issue... the problem is still occurring and nothing is resolved. Radio would turn on/off and dashboard lights kept flickering, service traction control and service stability trak would pop up along wit fh the engine light and traction control light and the vehicle turned on/off. Engine would sound really loud at times, even after the car was turned off (maybe it was the engine fan but I'm not sure)... this car is nothing but problems after problems and they are not getting resolved because they keep recurring.
- Walled Lake, MI, USA
In April I had been driving and noticed that my radio was flickering. After about ten minutes of my radio flickering on and off, the "service stabilitrack" light came on. Once the service light came on, power steering shut off and I had to pull the vehicle over. After pulling over, I shut off the vehicle and then tried to restart it. This time it started with a new service light on. I took the car into the dealership and they had it for three days hoping that the problem would present itself to them. I showed them a video of what happens to the radio and they were unable to help me. They did however notice that a previously recall done on my car had not been fixed before I purchased it. A few days after getting the car back, the lights started to flicker again. I contacted the dealership and they let me know that there was no point in bringing it in unless the problem was constant. About a month later, I went to start my car and nothing. No lights, no engine turn over nothing. My key was stuck in the ignition and would not turn. My fiance had to get out tap the battery and the whole thing started up. Two days ago, the same radio, service lights and engine shut off happened again. This is 2 times now that I have had complete failure in the middle of the road. I am literally terrified for my life!!!!!!!....updated 07/31/14 updated 08/23/2017
- Snohomish, WA, USA
After you shut the car off and get out of the car, it sounds like the motor is still running.
- Omaha, NE, USA
My 2012 Chevy Cruze turned the radio dashboard on/off and the check engine light came on in December 2013 the engine light remained on the radio only once then didn't do it again. In February 2014 it started doing it again this time the stereo would turn on/of, the dash board on/off and my locks would unlock and lock themselves the blinker stopped making the clicking sound and the open door sound failed as well. This problem would occur occasionally until April 2014 the vehicle started to do all the issues above except this time it would include anti theft, service stabiltrack, and power warnings every time and the vehicle would turn off/on the engine and required me to put it on park and turn it off/on. In May 12 of 2014 I took the vehicle into the Chevrolet dealer to resolve this issue.they resolved several issues to what they believed resolved the issue of the vehicle turning on off. That didn't resolve the issue. My vehicle now is worse it turns off/on while driving accelerating or decelerating. It turns the radio on/off and gives me the same errors codes. Its life threatening as I almost got into a accident jumping onto the free way June 1014, my vehicle turned off and would not turn on on the free way entrance and a vehicle from behind was about to hit me. My vehicle is un safe for, me and my family keeps turning on/off and I have taken it to Chevrolet dealer 3 times and they do not know what is wrong. Life threatening issues!!
- San Jacinto, CA, USA
Car shuts down and it can not be restarted, (no dome light, no on start) no power anywhere..can't get keys out of ignition, going down the road, steering service light come on and off, radio display shuts down and restarts, gauges turn on and off..dealership has replaced battery, generator and it is still doing the same thing. Currently at dealership again.!....updated 07/31/14 it was determined the ground wire on the battery was broke. Which caused the vehicle to stall, shutting down all the gauges. There have been no problems, since it was replaced. Updated 09/23/14
- Hillsdale, MI, USA
Vehicle no longer acknowledged presence of the key fob in vehicle and warned that the vehicle should not be shut off. Key fob was in the vehicle at the time and had been detected to unlock the door automatically and allow ignition of vehicle by pressing start button while fob was in my pocket. Once we stopped the vehicle, it would not restart until 9 or 10 tries of pushing the ignition. After the initial occurrence while driving, it then sporadically had issues with starting. Each time it it would show a warning message that the key fob was not detected, even though it just auto unlocked the doors after sensing the key fob. Dealer replaced key fobs, and problem returned. Two days later nearly stranding my wife while travelling out of town since the car would not initially start. Dealer then replaced the module/computer that controls the keyless functionality. Problem reoccurred a few days later. Dealer will now replace the key fobs again while the vehicle is in for a separate repair.
- Mt Pleasant, SC, USA
While driving all of the dash lights keep flickering on and off. The power steering went out and the ac turned off and would not turn on. The next day the car would not start and key was stuck in the ignition.
- Mount Juliet, TN, USA
Radio flashed on and off and all brake lights on dash would light up. Service stability control notice would appear. Then it would go away and reappear. Did this for an entire hour and a half ride on highway. Radio on radio off dashboard lights on and off. Blinker no longer clicked when used... disconcerting to drive a car with such problems. A week earlier I had car issues covered under power tran warranty... and now this...all after a massive recall announced. Think GM needs to re look at all of their cars...
- West Springfield, MA, USA
December 2013 -- the radio and dash board lights (service stabilitrak) have been flashing on and off then this evening while driving on a straight road, the "service power steering" light flashed on and my steering wheel locked up. That continued for approx. 2 minutes then started working correctly. When I got home and pulled into my parking spot and turned my car off everything turned off, including my interior lights and I couldn't remove my key from the ignition. I let it sit for approx. 5 minutes then tried to start the car and it did turn on so I turned it off again and I was able to remove the key. February 2014 -- the same things are happening and the power steering turns off and the steering wheel locks up May 2014 -- power steering turns off and steering wheel locks up; battery completely dies randomly; new dealership tells me the battery cables need to be replaced; however, other Cruze owners who have filed a complaint with the same issues and had their battery cable replaced report that this does not resolve the issue.
- Columbus, MS, USA
Radio starts turning on and off, stability control lights flash, power steering gets hard to turn.this is the third time we brought it to the shop.its good for a week or so and does the samething again. They claim this is the only Cruze they ever heard of doing this.I don't think so not according to your web site somebody knows this is a big problem. Why do dealer ships think lying is the way to solve the problem, I mean it just come out and say ya your daughters car is not the only 2012 Cruze with this problem! my patience are getting a little thin. Car was bought with 20000 miles on it by my oldest daughter who is 20 yrs old and putting herself trough college to become a nurse. She was so happy when she bought the car now she thinks she bought a lemon! car from kissel Chevrolet calumet mi cant figure out the problem, its to late when somebody gets hurt or worse!!!! concerned father.
- Atlantic Mine, MI, USA
- Troy, MO, USA