2012 Chevrolet Cruze cruise control problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 28 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 8 model years of Chevrolet Cruze in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 Cruze has widespread electrical and powertrain control issues that can severely limit acceleration without warning, create sudden limp mode that restricts speed to 5 mph on highways, and in some cases cause complete loss of power and braking. Brake system failures and repeated component failures even after warranty repair are documented concerns.
Owners report limp mode activation as the most frequent and dangerous failure—the vehicle abruptly restricts acceleration to 5 mph when driving at highway speeds or normal city speeds, triggered by P2135 throttle sensor codes or throttle body failures. Multiple owners cite this as a known issue affecting thousands of 2009-current GM vehicles with no recall coverage despite documented safety hazards from sudden loss of acceleration during highway merging.
A separate pattern involves complete electrical shutdown: the dash, all warning lights, and power steering and braking systems go offline without warning, leaving owners without control. One owner experienced this twice in less than a year at different mileages, even after battery terminal replacement under warranty.
Acceleration hesitation is common—some owners wait 10 to 40 seconds for the engine to respond after pressing the pedal, or experience violent shaking and stalling. One owner was told the transmission failed after complaining of hesitation a year earlier; GM paid only one-third of the repair cost.
Brake system issues include microswitch failure that causes hard or unresponsive brakes, particularly on first application after startup. One owner reported the microswitch was already replaced via recall but failed again—GM said they only perform recalls once.
Accelerator pedal fracture has occurred at 35,000 and 134,000 miles, completely disabling acceleration. High-pitched noises at 50+ mph and rough engine running during acceleration are also reported.
Same Chevrolet Cruze cruise control reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Limp Mode / Reduced Engine Power (P2135 Throttle Sensor / Throttle Body)
Vehicle enters a severe power-limiting limp mode, restricting acceleration to 5 mph or less, triggered by electrical fault detection. Owners report this can occur suddenly at highway speeds or during normal city driving. Multiple owners cite P2135 diagnostic codes (throttle positioning sensor) and throttle body failures.
When: Throughout vehicle's life; reported between 27,800 and 134,474 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe acceleration reduction (to 5 mph or less); Check engine light illuminates; Service Stabilitrak warning message; Service traction control warning; Reduced engine power warning on dash; Unable to safely merge or maintain highway speed
Codes mentioned: P2135, Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body replacement reported; some owners paid out of pocket. One owner reported throttle body and all sensors replaced 90 days prior to recurring failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or special coverage for throttle body issue despite owners reporting thousands of complaints across multiple GM platforms (2009–current). Existing special coverage for pedal accelerator fracture does not apply.
Loss of Power and Electrical System Shutdown
Complete loss of vehicle power and control, with dashboard displays and critical systems going dark. Occurs unexpectedly at low speeds and highway speeds. In one case, the vehicle powered off completely and then restarted seconds later. Owner reports terrifying experiences on two separate occasions.
When: March 2014 (60k miles) and February 2015 (84k miles) in one vehicle; another incident during interstate driving
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power to vehicle; No steering control; No brake control; Dashboard lights flash intermittently; Warning lights illuminate (power steering, brakes, traction control); All electrical systems shut off and restart; Violent shaking; Check engine light activation
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: Negative battery terminal replaced under warranty in 2014; issue recurred within months. Second repair included negative battery terminal, intake gasket, and engine oil seep. Repairs did not resolve the underlying issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Special coverage adjustment for negative battery cable loose (per owner's prior NHTSA complaint 10574169). However, issue recurred after warranty repair.
Acceleration Hesitation and Sluggish Performance
Engine hesitates during acceleration, particularly when merging or climbing hills. Requires extended throttle input (10–40 seconds to achieve full speed) or difficult-to-control RPM behavior. Some owners report stalling during acceleration or in reverse.
When: Reported at various mileages; one complaint cites June 2014 onset
Symptoms owners cite: Long delay from accelerator input to engine response (10–40 seconds); Stalling during acceleration or reverse; Engine revving without proportional speed increase; RPM jumps erratically between gears; Engine light comes on during episodes; Difficult or dangerous merging on freeway; Vehicle feels like it will stall when accelerating
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: O2 sensors replaced in one case but problem persisted. Another owner reported transmission failure mid-road after complaining of hesitation a year prior; GM covered only one-third of repair cost. One owner noted owner mechanic mentioned possible clogged catalytic converter but diagnosis unclear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner received only partial warranty coverage (one-third of transmission repair cost) despite prior warranty-period complaint. Another owner told mechanic could not find transmission codes despite symptoms.
Cruise Control Malfunction / Unintended Acceleration
Cruise control seizes, causing unintended acceleration that does not respond to normal throttle release. Vehicle continues accelerating despite driver input to reduce speed. Extreme brake pressure required to stop.
When: Several years prior to complaint filing; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control engages and refuses to disengage; Vehicle continues accelerating uncontrollably; Does not respond to brake input initially; Requires extreme pressure on brake pedal to stop; Occurs during low-speed driving and in reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis performed but specifics not provided; recurred later. Second recurrence diagnosed as brake microswitch vacuum failure; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle not included in recall for this failure. No special coverage provided.
Brake System Failures (Hard Brakes, Loss of Power Brakes, Microswitch Failure)
Power brakes fail intermittently or completely, with the microswitch component failing repeatedly even after recall replacement. Brakes become hard and unresponsive, particularly on first application after startup. One owner reported microswitch already recalled and replaced but failed again.
When: Recurring issue; one owner reports failures almost daily, usually on first brake application after startup
Symptoms owners cite: Power brakes fail or become hard; Brakes unresponsive on first application after startup; Brake microswitch failure; Loss of brake vacuum; Microswitch fails again after recall replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Master cylinder, brake booster, microswitch, MAF sensor, and air intake hose replaced in one case; issue recurred within a year. Microswitch replaced via recall but failed again. One owner also reported brake pedal not returning to full rest position after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM stated they perform recalls only once; when replacement part fails, no additional recall issued. Brake microswitch was subject to an earlier recall.
Accelerator Pedal Fracture
Accelerator pedal fractures suddenly during normal operation, rendering the vehicle unable to accelerate and preventing reverse operation. Occurs at low speeds in driveway and at highway speeds.
When: At 35,000 miles and 134,474 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal suddenly fractures while driving; Vehicle unable to accelerate; Cannot operate vehicle in reverse; Occurred while idling and pulling into driveway; also at 70 mph highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Not specified; manufacturer awaiting instructions. One owner's insurance company towed vehicle to dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Special coverage exists for pedal accelerator fracture, but process not detailed in narratives.
ECM / BCM Communication Failure
Engine control module (ECM) and body control module (BCM) fail to communicate properly, causing multiple warning lights and severe power loss. Issue recurs even after computer reset by technician.
When: At approximately 40,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Stabilitrak and power steering lights illuminate; Vehicle fails to accelerate; Loss of power; Vehicle stalls; Failure recurs after technician reset
Repairs/costs cited: Technician reset computer; failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure.
High-Pitched Noise at Highway Speeds
High-pitched audible noise occurs when vehicle speed reaches approximately 50 mph. Noise diminishes when speed drops to 45 mph. May be seasonal, occurring primarily in summer.
When: Seasonal, primarily summer months
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched noise at 50+ mph; Noise diminishes at 45 mph or lower; Possible correlation with air conditioning operation
Engine Rough Running / Transmission Shudder During Acceleration
Engine runs roughly and transmission behaves unpredictably during acceleration. Vehicle sounds like it is in wrong gear despite being automatic. Owner reports engine reving but car not moving as expected.
When: Ongoing issue since purchase in September 2014
Symptoms owners cite: Loud engine noise during acceleration (sounds like wrong gear); Engine rears up and revs loudly; Requires gentle throttle application to avoid noise; Transmission shudder or hesitation
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 40,000 and 93,900 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 93,900. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.