Recall 12V522 covers 2,949 2012 Cruze, Sonic, and Verano vehicles with a driver airbag shorting bar defect. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 2,949 2012 Cruze, Sonic, and Verano vehicles under recall 12V522 because the driver-side frontal air bag shorting bar can contact the air bag terminals. If that contact is present during a crash that requires deployment, the driver's air bag will not deploy, increasing injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver side frontal air bag in these 2012 Cruze, Sonic, and Verano vehicles is built into the steering wheel area. Its electrical terminals carry the signal that tells the air bag to deploy in a frontal crash. A shorting bar is a small contact inside the air bag circuit that is supposed to stay in the correct position so the terminals remain ready for that signal.
On affected vehicles, the shorting bar can intermittently touch the air bag terminals. That contact is not supposed to happen during normal use. When it does, it can interfere with the electrical path the air bag relies on, so the driver side frontal air bag does not receive the deployment signal as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is inside the air bag electrical connection, so an owner should not expect a noise, smell, or change in steering feel before the problem occurs.
Who's affected?
Covers the Cruze, Sonic, and Verano from the 2012 model year, all tied to the air bag system.
| 2012 Chevrolet Cruze | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Sonic | air bag system |
| 2012 Buick Verano | air bag system |
| Units affected | 2,949 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
During a crash that requires the driver's frontal airbag, contact between the bar and terminals prevents that airbag from deploying, increasing injury risk. Drive cautiously and confirm the VIN before assuming the vehicle is clear. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Cruze, Sonic, or Verano is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask for the free steering-wheel airbag coil replacement that fixes the shorting-bar contact at the driver's frontal air bag terminals.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one. If not, reference recall number 12V522 when you call.
- Drive with added caution until the repair is complete because the driver's frontal air bag can fail to deploy in a crash that needs deployment.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces the steering wheel airbag coil in the driver side frontal air bag system. The source remedy says the replacement is free under the recall, and the safety recall began on January 11, 2013. When you contact the dealer, ask the service desk to confirm that the airbag coil replacement is open for your VIN before you bring the vehicle in. Parts and labor are covered once the dealer can perform the recall work.
Timeline
| October 31, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V522?
Recall 12V522 covers 2,949 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, and Verano vehicles with a driver frontal air bag shorting bar that can contact the air bag terminals. In a crash requiring deployment, the driver's frontal air bag will not deploy, increasing injury risk. Chevrolet dealers replace the steering wheel airbag coil for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Chevrolet Cruze, Sonic, or Verano is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 12V522. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the steering wheel airbag coil replacement. Reference recall number 12V522 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Chevrolet dealers will replace the steering wheel airbag coil free of charge. The free repair applies even if you bought the vehicle used.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the driver's frontal air bag will not deploy during a crash that requires it when the shorting bar contacts the air bag terminals. That increases the driver's risk of injury. The repair path is the free steering wheel airbag coil replacement at a franchised Chevrolet dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V522000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-521-7300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V522 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V522000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →