Used 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Consumer Reviews
Used Cruze for sale
Oh what high hopes I had for a GM vehicle
John S, 09/01/2015
updated 03/10/2017
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LS 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
So this is my first delve into buying a GM vehicle for about 15 years. But it probably will be the last one I will ever buy. My wife and I thought we were buying a good used 2011 Cruze LTZ. Only had 29,000 on it and looked great! Oh but how looks can fool you, turbo went out a month into ownership, how does a turbo fail with 29,000 miles? OK well then we think OK fluke right. No, then a few thousand miles later water pump leaking. OK, well maybe another fluke. No, water pump replaced 15,000 miles ago?? What? A water pump that lasts 15,000 miles? So these two engine parts should last well beyond what they have and obviously being on third water pump in 34,000 miles does not seem to indicate GM has done anything to actually fix this problem. Guess every third oil change I need to replace water pump? The car drives fine, but the 18" low profile tires are expensive to replace, why you would put 168 MPH rated tires on a econobox car I'll never figure out? Then you have the questionable turbo issues, oil sludge potential, I have seen these engines with less then 50,000 miles have total engine failure due to oil lubrication issues. Now you have the reduced value of the car because these issues are getting worse. I would not recommend this car to anyone at this point from my 4 months of ownership. If you do have one, make sure to change the oil, use synthetic if you want the engine to last to 100,000 miles, watch coolant levels, burn better gas for improved MPG and don't expect GM to do anything about these issues. Update 3/2/2016 So no major issues since Turbo at 29,000 and 3 water pumps. Have learned GM has "special warranty" on water pumps so I guess they do not have a real fix. I guess first year (2011) a real bear for these Cruze's. I even contacted the turbo maker Garrett about fixes and they fail to respond on why waste gate pin seizes? Again, no apparent solution I guess? Personally, I think the oil change schedule through the oil sensor is far too long. Were talking at least 10,000 miles on synthetic blend on a small engine with a turbo. Seems like GM wants them to fail early? My advice change the oil every 5,000 at least and use full synthetic oil! I am going that route now that my powertrain warranty is expired. Auto climate is a joke, takes forever on a hot day for AC to catch up, and on a cold start in Winter the little engine takes several miles before you feel heat in the car. Sadly the depreciation is happening much faster than my shrinking loan balance so I guess I am stuck with this car for a while. The bottom line on any compact car is don't buy with too many bells and whistles and get that price into the the mid twenties or even close to 30K. Because no matter what its a small car, with a small engine and all those options won't change that or keep depreciation from occurring.
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Love the Cruze
beezer34, 06/25/2013
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Have a Cruze LTZ with Navigation. Love the two toned interior. Had a Jetta before the Cruze and the Cruze blows it away. Better performance and nicer interior. Love it
no 40 mpg
mspeakman, 07/11/2013
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 16 people found this review helpful
I want to report on my trip to The national parks. I put 5400 miles on my cruz on this trip, and thought I would easily get 40 mpg on the interstates, but it never happened. The computer told me I was getting over 40 on many legs of the trip, but I kept actual numbers and gallons used and the best I ever got from fillup to fillup was 39.4. This was on virtually flat highway at speed of 65 mph. On a similar leg I got 39 even. Speeds above that gave results in the 34 to 35 mpg, which I thought was pretty good. My worst leg was when I got hung up in construction traffic for well over an hour, results there were 24.4. Worst leg without problems was 32.1 mpg while driving at 75 plus mph. Later.
Misled by GM
musiclover1212, 10/13/2011
2012 Chevrolet Cruze 2LT 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6M)
6 of 25 people found this review helpful
I was very excited about my cruze when I first got it, I was deciding between the Altima, Elantra and the Cruze and decided on the Cruze because of the entertainment package and fuel economy. I am meticulous on tracking my mileage and checking it against the computer, and found over a 10 percent difference, for example my last fill up the pump said 12.8 Gallons and my computer said i only used 11.4 Gallons. So when my computer says I averaged 27 MPG, I actually got closer to 24. I also have had a frustrating experience with my Zune not playing when I want it to, and coming on unexpectedly while I am listening to a cd or the radio. I wish I would have gotten the Altima, or Elantra
2012 Chrolet cruise ( curse)
Brent, 02/16/2022
updated 08/16/2022
2012 Chevrolet Cruze LT Fleet 4dr Sedan (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
Worst GM car ever made
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value