Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2011 vs 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 179 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 19.6% more reports in the equal exposure window

2011 719 complaints 2012 860 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2011 share 2012 share Share change
POWER TRAIN 20.5% 12.4% ▼ 8.1 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 8.0% 14.3% ▲ 6.3 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6.2% 9.9% ▲ 3.7 pts larger share
STEERING 4.4% 7.8% ▲ 3.4 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6.9% 4.3% ▼ 2.6 pts smaller share
ENGINE 24.5% 22.7% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 3.6% 4.8% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 3.3% 2.6% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 3.7% 3.0% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.0% 1.6% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 1.1% 1.5% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.7% 0.4% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.4% 0.6% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE not reported 0.1% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
TIRES 0.4% 0.4% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 0.4% 0.5% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23.3% 17.8% ▼ 5.5 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2011 7

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and STEERING

2012 7

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
20 → 17
◆ Injuries
39 → 30