M32 manual transmission life expectancy

Typical GM design life is 148,000 miles.

It really depends on how you drive. CruzeECOBlueTopaz is over 400,000 miles on his 2012 ECO MT and on his original clutch. I'm at 87,000 miles with no noticeable change in the clutch (hydraulics tend to do this unfortunately).

Mines getting a new trans at 52k due to bearing noise under warranty. No clue how long it was making it before I bought it though.

If it was my vehicle new off the lot and I followed this site and changed the fluid and filled to the CORRECT, revised fill level it's anyone's guess how long. I will be doing that once I get the car back tomorrow because who knows what it'll be filled to. Weird how service info for the '12 doesn't show the updated 2.3qt fill and still states 1.9qt in GMs system.

Bearings on a underfilled trans looks to be 40-50 when everyone decides to change the fluid and go why did onlt 1 qt come out?

obermd said:

It really depends on how you drive. CruzeECOBlueTopaz is over 400,000 miles on his 2012 ECO MT and on his original clutch. I'm at 87,000 miles with no noticeable change in the clutch (hydraulics tend to do this unfortunately).

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Well, I bought this new and changed to Amsoil at 6500 miles. So I will hope for 200,000 on this manual. I will be changing the fluid at 50,000, 100,000 etc. We shall see what happens. I presume they can change out a clutch when I need one. Wonder how much that will cost?

Hazlitt777 said:

Well, I bought this new and changed to Amsoil at 6500 miles. So I will hope for 200,000 on this manual. I will be changing the fluid at 50,000, 100,000 etc. We shall see what happens. I presume they can change out a clutch when I need one. Wonder how much that will cost?

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$1300

Also, change your fluid every 45K miles per the 2014 Owner's manual. Clutch and gear fluid.

I have a 2016 Cruze at 36,700 miles and the clutch went out

Clutches don't seem to be an issue aside from the 2011 model year.

However, the dual-mass flywheels have a relatively short life expectancy.

Mine made it to ~40k before I had flywheel issues, and it finally gave up at 52k. Resulted in flywheel and entire transmission replacement.

jblackburn said:

Clutches don't seem to be an issue aside from the 2011 model year.

However, the dual-mass flywheels have a relatively short life expectancy.

Mine made it to ~40k before I had flywheel issues, and it finally gave up at 52k. Resulted in flywheel and entire transmission replacement.

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Replaced with improved parts,hopefully.

karmatourer said:

Replaced with improved parts,hopefully.

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Replaced with improved car. 9/10 would do again.

jblackburn said:

Replaced with improved car. 9/10 would do again.

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Good. I mean if the repair was done,were the replacement parts an improved part of just replacing with the same part that expired prematurely?

karmatourer said:

Good. I mean if the repair was done,were the replacement parts and improved part of just replacing with the same part that expired prematurely?

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It was replaced with a rebuilt transmission that had a different shift assembly on the top of it; AFAIK, no improvements were made to the clutch or flywheel until the 2015 model year (GM Performance clutch kit and flywheel became "stock"). I don't believe those filtered down to replacement parts for the previous years. I had the clutch replaced on my own dime while they were in there. When the stupid thing still made knocking noises after having in into the dealer 8 times for transmission/clutch/flywheel problems, I washed my hands of it.

jblackburn said:

It was replaced with a rebuilt transmission that had a different shift assembly on the top of it; AFAIK, no improvements were made to the clutch or flywheel until the 2015 model year (GM Performance clutch kit and flywheel became "stock"). I don't believe those filtered down to replacement parts for the previous years. I had the clutch replaced on my own dime while they were in there. When the stupid thing still made knocking noises after having in into the dealer 8 times for transmission/clutch/flywheel problems, I washed my hands of it.

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D a m n,what an experience!

Well at least this is encouraging. Came across US News and World Report once before on cars. Seems positive except that there is no specific mention of the manual transmission. Hopefully I get lucky if I don't beat it.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/chevrolet/cruze/2014/reliability

About $1,200 is what it cost me at Hanner Cheverolet in Baird Texas.

Well I have a 2012 ECO with just shy of 100k miles on the car, with no transmission faults yet, but with me coming up on 100k I figured its about time to change my fluid.....

Mine lasted almost exactely 156.000 miles, european driving style...clutch was original and still working but not much left and uneven wear on the friction disc...it shuttered a lot when taking off from a stop at operating temp..was ok when cold. Dual Mass Flywheel was completely shot... play was ok but zero damping
I wish I had changed clutch and DMF much much much sooner because it drives like a new car now.

Transission was making some noises for ever but more like gear whining and not bearing noise...suddenly very loud grinding / bearing noise after driving fast on the Autobahn. Somehow made it to a tranny specialist without blowing it and got "new" competely rebuild transmission + clutch+DMF
I never knew what happened because I got a rebuild tranny in exchange to my broken one and they did not open it while I was there.. I changed oil about every 15k

SlvrECObullet said:

Well I have a 2012 ECO with just shy of 100k miles on the car, with no transmission faults yet, but with me coming up on 100k I figured its about time to change my fluid.....

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I'm at 77,000 and no problems. However, I put Amzoil manual transmission fluid in after 6000 miles, and and changed it at 51,000 and plan on changing it every 45,000. I sure hope I can come back year in the future and write that I've had no transmission issues till after 200,000.

Hazlitt777 said:

I've not seen or read a lot of praise for the M32 manual transmission at this site.

I would like to hear opinions on the life expectancy of 32 manual transmissions....how many miles can one get out of it before clutch replacement...how many miles before bearing failure?

thanks,
Joe

FYI... I own a 2014 chevy cruze eco MT.

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I have a 2012 Cruze LS MT that i bought new and just flipped 200,000 miles. I never added more fluid when I got it, and ran the first 100,000 miles on the original fill. Then I changed it with Mobile 1 full synthetic 75W-90 with limited slip friction modifiers. I have had zero problems with it, but it does occasionally not mesh going into 2nd when it is really cold out, and the transmission is cold. (I live near Buffalo, NY) But if you shift slower until it warms up it works fine. Of course with the sporty feel of the car(I've only had pickups and older cars before this) I tend to take corners hard. This sloshing could have saved my transmission by helping to lube 5th and 6th gear shaft. Sill have the original clutch too.