2012 Chevrolet Cruze Brakes Problems
NHTSA has 253 brakes complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 29% of all complaints that year, tied to 30 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries. GM issued recall 13V360000 for a power brake vacuum microswitch. Median mileage at failure was 50,000.
- Brakes complaints
- 253
- 29% of 865
- Crashes reported
- 30
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 50,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal goes to the floor with little or no stopping power, often during low-speed maneuvers like parking or merging into traffic.
- Vehicle fails to decelerate when brakes are applied at speeds around 15 to 50 mph, leading to rear-end collisions.
- Some owners report the pedal offers no catch or grinding feedback at all, just a complete lack of deceleration.
- At least one owner reported the brake vacuum boost failure occurred alongside sudden vibration and forward lunging, suspected to involve turbo engagement.
- Several owners report the brake failure recurred even after the vehicle was serviced under the recall for the brake vacuum pipe microswitch.
When 2012 Chevrolet Cruze brake complaints were filed
First complaint May 22, 2012, latest Jun 3, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
- NHTSA 13V360000Aug 15, 2013Brakes292,879 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist
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.
Risk: 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.
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.
Brakes complaints by Cruze model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?
- NHTSA lists 253 brakes-related complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, which is 29% of all 865 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
- Yes. GM recall 13V360000, reported August 15, 2013, covers a microswitch in the power brake vacuum pipe assembly on 2011-2012 Cruze models with the 1.4L turbo engine and 6T40 transmission. Dealers replace the microswitch free of charge.
- Do brake problems on the 2012 Cruze cause crashes?
- NHTSA data links this brake complaint area to 30 crashes, 1 fire, and 3 injuries for the 2012 Cruze.
- At what mileage do 2012 Cruze brake problems usually show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this brake issue is 50,000 miles, though individual sample complaints range much lower and higher.
- Is the 2012 Cruze worse for brakes than other Cruze years?
- Yes, relative to other Cruze model years. The 2012 Cruze has 253 brake complaints (29% share), higher than 2011 (147, 20%), 2013 (107, 18%), and all later years, which have progressively fewer.