YearToAvoid

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 103 steering complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 12% of all complaints filed for that year, with 7 crashes and 1 fire reported. Median mileage at failure was 45,500 miles. No related recall is listed in this data.

Steering complaints
103
12% of 865
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
45,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Steering wheel locks up suddenly while driving, sometimes leading to loss of control and a crash.
  • Electrical warnings such as StabiliTrak flicker on and off along with dashboard lights before steering problems appear.
  • Steering wheel and front end shake or vibrate at low speed, especially when turning or taking off from a stop.
  • Vehicle wanders or drifts left and right at highway speed, particularly noticeable in windy conditions.
  • Some owners tie the wandering feeling to work done on the underbody shield during an unrelated recall.

When 2012 Chevrolet Cruze steering complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 27, 2011, latest Sep 16, 2023.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze steering complaints: complaints filed per quarter122011 Q42013 Q12014 Q22015 Q22016 Q22017 Q32020 Q22021 Q3
103 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2023 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (12).

Steering recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Cruze model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20100 (0%)
  2. 201148 (7%)
  3. 2012103 (12%)
  4. 201374 (13%)
  5. 201493 (13%)
  6. 201524 (10%)
  7. 201618 (7%)
  8. 20176 (3%)
  9. 20189 (8%)
  10. 20190 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does NHTSA have for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
NHTSA lists 103 steering complaints for the 2012 Cruze, which is 12% of the 865 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for steering problems on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
This data shows no related recall listed for the steering complaints on the 2012 Cruze.
At what mileage do steering problems usually appear on the 2012 Cruze?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2012 Cruze is 45,500 miles.
Did steering problems on the 2012 Cruze lead to crashes?
Yes, NHTSA records 7 crashes and 1 fire tied to steering complaints for the 2012 Cruze.
How does the 2012 Cruze compare to other Cruze years for steering complaints?
The 2012 Cruze's 12% share of complaints tied to steering is higher than 2011 (7%), 2016 (7%), and 2017 (3%), but close to 2013 (13%) and 2014 (13%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.