Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

46% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze reliable?

Based on MOT data from 2,188 vehicles, the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has a first-time MOT pass rate of 75.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze are: Oil leak, but not excessive (87.9% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (43.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Chevrolet Cruze (2012)

2,188 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.9% first-time pass rate

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

CarHunch analysed 2,188 real MOT records for the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze's 75.9% first-time pass rate sits 4.1 percentage points below the UK average, which is a meaningful gap, but the real concern is that 45.8% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—nearly double the typical rate. Petrol versions perform marginally better (76.4% pass rate) than diesels (74.5%), though neither inspires confidence.

At 51,131 miles median, these Cruzes are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet still average 3.25 failures and 16.6 advisories per test, suggesting mechanical fragility rather than wear-and-tear. Before purchasing, obtain a full service history and have an independent pre-buy inspection focus on any previous dangerous defect flags in the MOT records.

The 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has a decent first-time pass rate (75.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

75.9%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

45.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.26

Over 12.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

51k

Middle half: 38k–65k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 16.6 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 2,188 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,188 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 87.9%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Tyre wear 43.7%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 42.2%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 26%

Offside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken · Offside Rear coil spring broken

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,188 Chevrolet Cruze cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 1.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

76.4%

Petrol

1,553 vehicles

74.5%

Diesel

631 vehicles

Before you buy a 2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Based on MOT data from 2,188 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 45.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (71%)	1,553	76.4%	3.2
Diesel (29%)	631	74.5%	3.39

Colour Breakdown

Based on 8,391 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 25.7%

2,155

Silver 23%

1,929

Blue 19.3%

1,617

Grey 18.3%

1,536

Red 7.7%

646

White 5.2%

435

Brown 0.8%

Beige 0.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

51,131

typical

38,200

low mileage

65,238

high mileage

Half of all 2012 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles fall between 38,200 and 65,238 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 38,200 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 38,200–65,238 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2012 Chevrolet Cruzes sit.

⚠ Over 88,071 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 61% of 2012 Chevrolet Cruzes are still active.

1,264 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 61% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

12.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.26

Avg failures per vehicle

16.6

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Chevrolet Cruze: All Cruze years → Which year to buy? →

2009 2010 2011 2013 2014

Or browse all models: Chevrolet →

Compare with another model

See how the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze stacks up against a rival.

Watch for defects — worth knowing