RoadVitals

2012 Chevrolet Cruze Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
150
Latest Jun 3, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 864 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
27
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 150 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 150, in the owner's own words

BrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 3, 2026

My breaks do not work in reverse. Pump valve seems to be bad

NHTSA ID
11741926
Incident
May 28, 2026
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2026

Have called about this starting 2020. Had 137000. Also previous owner since 99000mi. Drive train & Turbo. Brake assist. Oil leaks, shutting off while driving. Now as of Saturday April 25 2026 Car shut off while driving and has been towed to dealership. Car deemed lemon by GM. In 2020 car to have been replaced I have all service contact numbers as well as my receipts. Car is a death trap. Do better Chevrolet & GM

NHTSA ID
11734134
Incident
Apr 25, 2026
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Mar 21, 2024

Runs like the black stallion with a stud of a hide [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11578614
Incident
Mar 21, 2024
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed May 15, 2023

Started the purchase June 2022 when dealer said everything is good, Carfax no accidents, good car, nothing wrong. Dealers had me drive MI to CT to get the car, had 5-y.o. kid w/me. Brought car to mechanic when finally delivered July 6, ebrake almost gone; dealers had me drive w/my kiddo CT to MI with no ebrake on 6 speed turbo manual, wonderful. In writing said they would fix & some extras for all the issues they caused such as selling a vehicle w/o having title. Made it home in one peice. Next few weeks, car started shaking and stalling out losing complete power while driving, stopping at lights/signs, it hasn't stopped. Different smells of fluids coming inside ever since. Clouds of smoke coming from exhaust. Fuel seems to slip like sputtering/jolting, more smells coming in car. Check engine light on, went to Advanced Auto, showed me code has to do w/fuel/fuel tank & it showed dealer cleared out check engine without repairing. More research, they fraudulently passed the car for inspections/emissions & said it was good & passed, never received copies. They passed brakes when in writing they were to repair at no cost due to deceptive practices. No, nothing has been fixed; no, they never transferred title/registered vehicle. Now May 2023. Drove it now/then keep it going; MI awful winters. This winter heater went out for 3 days, no blower, no noise, magically started working. Roughly a dozen times when I shut it off, theres noises from front by grille like a ticking, no clue. I've drivien car 5,000 mostly from trip to get it. Dealers never provided the 3 special 10 yr warranties that car had. I found out, they were all expired, nothing I could do. They didn't disclose issues & 3 wks after purchase, accident on Carfax. So much fraud, it is sickening. One of the dealers violated their FTC Orders. Lies & lies, also @3 times stabilization/traction both need repairs then disappears 2 days. Loses power, definitely does not feel turbolike. Issues 7.6.22 & continue

NHTSA ID
11522176
Incident
Jul 6, 2022
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact initially received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired. After the vehicle was repaired, the contact stated that upon a cold start, extra brake pedal force was needed to stop the vehicle. Over time, the failure worsened as the contact was forced to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. Two unknown dealers were notified of the failure and informed her that there was no defect with the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that the vacuum pump was defective. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was still under warranty; however, the dealer informed her that the warranty was closed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and she was provided the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID
11487825
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jun 13, 2022
Crash reported

When the ac on the brake pad will lock and there no brakes you can't push it down it gets hard but when you turn the ac turns off the brake pad goes back to normal but it's damage to be driving and this happen .. Also the trac control light comes on along with the sailablzie light

NHTSA ID
11469091
Incident
Jun 13, 2022
Brakes
Filed Dec 16, 2021

The contact's sister-in-law owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated that while his sister-in-law was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed however, the vehicle was still moving forward. The failure nearly caused a collision. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The parts for the brake assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was 133,000.

NHTSA ID
11444024
Incident
Dec 16, 2021
Mileage
133,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 2021
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owned a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal failed to respond causing another vehicle to crash into the rear of the vehicle. The contact did not recall whether there were warning lights illuminated. The contact was unsure whether the air bags deployed. The contact stated that she was unconscious for a moment. The contact also sustained back injuries and sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 123, 000.

NHTSA ID
11436439
Incident
May 11, 2021
Mileage
123,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 12, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact had to pump the brake pedal several times before the vehicle stopped. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID
11428881
Incident
Aug 12, 2021
Mileage
95,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 16, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while reversing the vehicle, extra effort was needed to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 13V360000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,250.

NHTSA ID
11425197
Incident
Jan 4, 2021
Mileage
110,250 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 9, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle intermittently stalled. The contact also stated that the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road; then drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that they could not determine the cause of the failure since the unknown warning lights were no longer illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis once the warning lights were again illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ID
11424106
Incident
Apr 7, 2021
Mileage
56,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 2021

Brake assist, no brakes when backing up. This was recalled on almost 300,000 Chevy cruzes but not all. Recall number 12213. My vehicle being one that was not included. I believe Chevy needs to recall more than the 300,000. Brakes work fine driving forward, but again no brakes in reverse. This is not ok! Could definitely cause vehicle to crash. Not safe at all!

NHTSA ID
11421382
Incident
Jun 11, 2021
BrakesPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 12, 2021

BRAKE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL SHOWS ON THE DASH BOARD DISPLAY AND WHEN I CHECKED IT WITH SERVICE THEY FOUND NO ODB2 OR ANY SERVICE ISSUE?

NHTSA ID
11387764
Incident
May 12, 2020
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 2020

ALMOST EVERY TIME I START MY CAR AND TURN ON THE AC AND THEN PUT MY CAR IN FORWARD/REVERSE I HAVE NO BRAKE ASSISTANCE AT ALL. IT WILL ALSO DO THIS WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THROUGH FOR FAST FOOD AS WELL. IT HAS ONLY OCCURRED AFTER FIRST START UP WITH AC RUNNING AND AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT, STOP SIGN, DRIVE THROUGH ETC. WITH AC RUNNING. IT STARTED DOING THIS APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IN 2015 AND HAS HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY SINCE THEN.

NHTSA ID
11352861
Incident
Sep 2, 2020
Mileage
75,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2020

MY BRAKES WANT GO DOWN AND I NEED A BRAKES BOOSTER MASTER CYLINDER IS THERE ANYTHING Y'ALL CAN HELP ME WITH I'M ON DISABILITY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX

NHTSA ID
11350045
Incident
Aug 14, 2020
Mileage
108,757 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 28, 2020

MY CAR HAS STARTED TO GET HARD TO BRAKE. EVEN GOING FORWARD OR REVERSE SLOWLY THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO BRAKE. I TRY TO BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL SLIDES FORWARD OR REVERSE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE MULTIPLE TIME AND IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HELP. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY CAR'S VIN IS NOT APART OF THE RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I BLEED THE BRAKES AND PUT NEW FLUID AND NOT MUCH HAS REALLY CHANGED. I HAVE A CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO 1.4L, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

NHTSA ID
11341805
Incident
Jul 6, 2020
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 18, 2020

I'VE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM GETTING WORSE OVER THE LAST MONTH. WHEN I'M BACKING UP, I HAVE TO PUSH REALLY HARD ON THE BREAK PEDDLE TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THEN TODAY I STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE IN DRIVE AND COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I THINK THE BREAK BOOSTER OR SOME COMPONENT IN THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS FAULTY. IVE HEARD OF A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11340053
Incident
Jul 17, 2020
Mileage
149,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 10, 2020

LET ME LIST ALL THAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR: STABILLITRACK TRACTION CONTROL PURGE VALVE TIRE SENSOR TRANSMISSION LIGHTS FLICKER WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND USE MY TURN SIGNAL INTAKE MANIFOLD BRAKE BOOSTER CAR STALLS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO START. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE PART OF THE RECALL FOR MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE BUT FOR SOME REASON IT SAYS MY VIN # ISN'T PART OF THE RECALL. HOW IS THAT?? *TR

NHTSA ID
11328084
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 6, 2020
Crash reported

MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD LAST WEEK AND DASH FLASHED STABILINK AND HE LOST ALL POWER AND FORCES HIM TO TRY TO PULL OVER WHICH HE COULD BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BRAKES GOT HARD TO PUSH. A WEEK LATER STABILINK FLASHED AGAIN AND THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HE HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES FOR A STOPPED VEHICLE AND BRAKES WOULD WORK AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN RESULTING IN HIM REAR ENDING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11320365
Incident
Apr 5, 2020
Brakes
Filed Jul 7, 2019

WHEN BACKING MY DAUGHTERS CAR OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR HER CAR FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE, BUT WHEN I PUT THE VIN NUMBER IN FOR HER CAR, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID TO LET HER DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11229941
Incident
Jul 6, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jun 28, 2019

STARTED TO HAVE NOISE. ASK MECHANIC TO CHECK WHAT IS IT. TURNED OUT IT IS VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. LOOKED UP INFORMATION AND THIS ISSUE IS UNDER THE CAMPAIGN #13V360000. CONTACTED LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP ASKING CAN THEY FIX IT AT NO COST. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THIS RECALL DOES NOT LISTED UNDER MY VIN. WHY I SHOULD PAY FOR RECALL ISSUE AND OTHER OWNER DO NOT.

NHTSA ID
11223144
Incident
Jun 11, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jun 28, 2019

STARTED TO HAVE NOISE. ASK MECHANIC TO CHECK WHAT IS IT. TURNED OUT IT IS VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM. LOOKED UP INFORMATION AND THIS ISSUE IS UNDER THE CAMPAIGN #13V360000. CONTACTED LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP ASKING CAN THEY FIX IT AT NO COST. THEY REFUSED BECAUSE THIS RECALL DOES NOT LISTED UNDER MY VIN. WHY I SHOULD PAY FOR RECALL ISSUE AND OTHER OWNER DO NOT.

NHTSA ID
11223140
Incident
Jun 11, 2019
Brakes
Filed Jun 24, 2019

BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT RESPOND TO NORMAL PRESSURE WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I NOTICE THAT THE ISSUE HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, WHETHER I AM ON THE FREEWAY OR SURFACE STREETS. THERE SEEMS TO BE PRESSURE BUILT UP AND I HAVE TO STEP A LOT HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I KNOW FROM LOOKING UP FORUMS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2012 AUTOMATIC CRUZE, BUT MINE IS A 6 SPEED MANUAL. I KNOW THE RECALL WAS FOR A MICROSWITCH ON THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 13V360000. I AM WORRIED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY SEEING THAT I HAVE 2 TEENAGE SONS, MY WIFE AND I WHO ARE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
11222131
Incident
Jun 24, 2019
Mileage
104,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 6, 2019

I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO DRIVE THE CAR DID NOT STOP MOVING. I HAD MY FOOT ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. EVENTUALLY IT CAME TO A STOP BUT HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER CAR IN THE STREET I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM AND BEEN AT FAULT FOR AN INCIDENT THAT WASN'T COMPLETELY MY FAULT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT I FINALLY DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CRUZE DUE TO BRAKE ASSISTANCE. I ENTERED MY VIN NUMBER AND IT SAID IT WAS NOT AFFECTED BUT I AM POSITIVE THAT MY CAR IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT OVER 300,00 OTHER CRUZE SEDANS ARE HAVING.

NHTSA ID
11218274
Incident
Jun 6, 2019
Mileage
111,800 mi
Brakes
Filed May 28, 2019

WHEN I USE THE BRAKES AND THE AIR IS ON THE CAR WILL NOT STOP LIKE IT SHOULD. IT KEEPS MOVING. I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT SHOWS THERE IS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE BUT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DOESN'T MATCH WHAT YOU HAVE PREDETERMINED THAT WILL HAVE FAULTY PARTS CHEVY SAYS MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL. HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PREDICT WHAT CARS WILL HAVE FAULTY PARTS?

NHTSA ID
11210493
Incident
May 22, 2019
Mileage
116,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .