2012 Chevrolet Cruze: won't start

Filed Aug 31, 2026 · Engine · UT · fire

I was driving and the engine caught on fire. The flames came from the turbo gasket compartment not sure why or how it ignited. Thankfully the damage was not that extensive the car was towed to my residence and it is not drivable it won't start.

Filed Nov 5, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · NY

Shortly after purchasing car, the car started and lights started flashing by itself more than 10 minutes after exiting the car. Then heat stopped working in 0 degree weather. While driving notification said "AC off due to hight engine temp". While driving car shut down and wouldn't start saying "service stabili track" took to mechanic and they said I need a new water pump and head gasket. Mind you heat stopped working as well again. They confirmed there was no antifreeze because its leaking. Now thank goodness I was just getting home, could barely get into the driveway because now I'm getting a notification "service power steering". From everything I've read there have been recalls due to all of these issues but my VIN isn't listed. I still owe almost 5000.00 on this crappy car and I'm completely over it... Worst car ever

Filed Dec 5, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 146,000 miles · SC

I have a 2012 chevy cruze 1.4 turbo engine the issue is over heating .. This issue is reoccurring.. I was driving for approximately 10 to 20 minutes when the indicator on the dash reads that the car is to hot yo drive and will shut down left me stranded on the road side. I take it to chevy dealer to learn there has been a thermostat problem I get the issue repaird it runs ok for a while then again same problem (over heated) one again. Take again to chevy dealer they tell me it's the water pump. I have the water pump repaired. All is ok for a short while. Again the same issue I call chevy dealer again to bring my car back for the 4th time. They schedule my appt. To look at my car one again and on my way to the dealer car over heats turns its self off and will not start back after cooling down. Finally I get the car to the deal to learn that it blew the head gasket and now because it' over headed so many times I now need an engine!!! There has been extend warranty on all of the cooling parts of the engine and this issue should also be covered however the dealer will not fix the caused problem from the faulty parts !!!!!!

Filed Jul 14, 2019 · Electrical · 56,066 miles · IL

Car will not start. Put key in the ignition and it will not turn over. Had mechanic come and check out and he said the ignition switch is not getting the power it supposed to one core reads 12 volts the other 6 and they both suppose to read 12 volts to turn it over.

Filed Jun 6, 2019 · Engine · 70,000 miles · NC

The check engine light came on while I was driving stopped at advance soon as it came and then cut the car off and then it would not crank back. Had to have car towed to garage. Foudn out that it was the ECM computer messed up and only have 70,000 miles on the car. Garage called chevy and they stopped covering the computer 3 years ago due to so many calls about the computer messing up. This should have been a recall then and they will not cover the repairs to my car.

Filed Nov 25, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · MN

Ac auto shutoff temp to high message comes on l. I have replaced the thermostat already three times. Then the car won't start. Disconnect the ground and put it back on and it starts just fine. You can drive it for a while then AC off comes back in and start the process again.

Filed Jun 26, 2017 · Electrical · 45,000 miles · TX

Vehicle would not start could not open car but the dash light were on & once inside the window would go up & and down. Have changed battery but still not working.

Filed Jan 7, 2017 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · WA

I just bought my chevy cruze on dec 18th 2016 and on dec 24th 2016 my car wouldn't start while in park, no warning lights, no peeping, no nothing just would not start, I waited a few minutes then it started. I drove about 10 or more miles to my dads was there about 5 minutes got in my car to leave, same thing, wouldn't start, again no peeping, no warning lights nothing,waited about 3 to 5 minutes and it started. I immediately took it to the dealer, they told meto bring it in the following sat which was dec. 31, 2016, the car started the rest of that week no problem. Took the car in on dec. 31, 2016, they still have my car and it is january 7th, 2017, they can't find what is wrong. I have since done research on this car and found out it is the most unreliable car out there. I drive an 82 year old lady to her appointments and I can't risk being in an accident because of car problems. I got rid of a 1994 ford escort because of it breaking down all the time, now it sounds like I just traded that in for the same [xxx] thing just a different make and model. I am not dealing with it, I'm taking the car back one way or the other. Very disappointed in dealership selling me this car, specifically told them I needed a safe reliable car and they sell me the worst rating car on the [xxx] lot. Never ever will I buy a chevy or a ford again. We will see how the dealer makes this right if I go back to them or give them a good review. It has been 7 days now and they still have my car and everyday I'm told the same thing, don't know what the problem is, don't know when we will give you your car back. Much longer dealing with this and they can talk to my attorney. I don't want the car back, trade it in or give me my money back. This is bull. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Sep 15, 2016 · 127,247 miles · IN

Takata recall my 2012 chevy cruize eco will just shut off die while iam driving sometimes will start back and sometime when I when I try to start it it won't start or even turn over have taken to mechanic 3 times have not fixed it said was loose wire and bad battery and GPS but it won't start again today just got it fixed 2 days ago it's going to get someone killed dieing when driving g

Filed Aug 5, 2016 · Airbags, Brakes · 11,010 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 chevrolet cruze. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and the air bag and electronic stability control lights remained illuminated. In addition, the vehicle would not start immediately when prompted. The contact had to wait approximately ten seconds before the vehicle would start. Furthermore, when the brake pedal was depressed, the contact had to apply a significant amount of pressure before stopping the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 11,010.

Filed Dec 26, 2015 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · WI

My 2012 chevrolet cruze starting in september this year 2015 the car had 75,000 miles on it when it started with the dash lights, fan, radio and display all randomly shutting off and turning on. Sometimes when this happens the stabilitrack display will come on and this can happen at anytime but usually when the car is going slow or stopped, I first noticed it when applying the breaks. This however is not the extent of it as now when I shut the car off it has kept my keys and would not start either. Eventually when this has happened fortunately it came back to life and displayed a theft protection display. I called the local gm dealer who services my car and I was told they have never heard of such a problem however when I go online there are dozens if not hundreds of complaints related directly to these type of issues with the chevrolet cruze. I also posted a complaint on a car website to try to help communicate this issue with other chevrolet cruze owners who have the same or similar issues.

Filed Sep 21, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 33,400 miles · IL

The main console in the car starting turning on and off, the lights doing this as well. It affected the turn signals when I was making a turn, making them turn on and off as well. Turned off headlights as well, while I was on my way home. Once I got home I turned off the car and restarted it, and the whole system rebooted and I had to fix the date and time. This happened again when I used the auto-start on the key fob, drove a little bit as the console kept turning on and off, pulled over and tried to restart car. Couldn't remove the key from ignition, eventually got car to restart after trying to restart it for about fifteen minutes. The next day the same thing happened, so I parked the car and turned it off and tried to restart it again. Wouldn't start and the key would not come out of ignition for at least forty-five minutes. Finally got the car to start and drove home. When I got home, turned car off but could not get the key out of ignition. Sat for another fifteen minutes trying to get key free. Eventually able to remove, restart and turn car off normally. But after locking the car, and then coming back to get things out of car, the doors would not unlock and I cannot get into the vehicle.