How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?

NHTSA lists 137 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Cruze, which is 16% of the 865 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze transmission?

No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain component on the 2012 Cruze.

At what mileage do 2012 Cruze transmission problems typically show up?

NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 57,340 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2012 Cruze.

How serious are the reported transmission issues?

Among the 137 complaints in this area, NHTSA records 5 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 injuries.

How does the 2012 Cruze compare to other Cruze years for this problem?

The 2011 Cruze had more complaints in this area (193, 26% share) than the 2012 model, while later years like 2015 through 2019 show fewer complaints, ranging from 6 to 37.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 137 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, 16% of all 865 complaints filed for the year. Owners reported failures at a median of 57,340 miles, including 5 crashes and 3 fires. No related recall is listed for this component.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 137; 16% of 865
Crashes reported: 5
Fires reported: 3
Injuries reported: 3
Median mileage: 57,340 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners report the vehicle hesitates or refuses to accelerate from a stop, with the transmission slow to respond or slipping between gears while driving at various speeds.
Manual-transmission owners describe the car balking or grinding when shifting into 2nd or 4th gear, especially at lower RPM.
Some owners report the clutch failing and the transmission slipping gears while driving around 60 mph, accompanied by a burning odor and fluid leak.
Automatic-transmission owners describe the car rolling backward and the engine cutting off when releasing the brake pedal on hills.
A few owners report the vehicle rolling away in reverse while exiting the car, in one case leading to a crash.
Owners describe jerking or hesitation during acceleration paired with a burning anti-freeze smell, prompting multiple dealer visits for transmission updates.

When 2012 Chevrolet Cruze transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 28, 2011, latest Apr 27, 2026.

137 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2014 Q2 (8).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Cruze model year

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

20101 (50%)
2011193 (26%)
2012137 (16%)
2013112 (19%)
201497 (14%)
201537 (15%)
201631 (12%)
201739 (19%)
201823 (21%)
20196 (29%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze have?: NHTSA lists 137 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2012 Cruze, which is 16% of the 865 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze transmission?: No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the Transmission & Powertrain component on the 2012 Cruze.
At what mileage do 2012 Cruze transmission problems typically show up?: NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 57,340 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2012 Cruze.
How serious are the reported transmission issues?: Among the 137 complaints in this area, NHTSA records 5 crashes, 3 fires, and 3 injuries.
How does the 2012 Cruze compare to other Cruze years for this problem?: The 2011 Cruze had more complaints in this area (193, 26% share) than the 2012 model, while later years like 2015 through 2019 show fewer complaints, ranging from 6 to 37.