2012 Chevrolet Captiva

Routine

Owners filed 65 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
60,000 milesMedian miles at failure

53 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System29
010
Engine9
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)7
000
Unknown or Other5
010
Steering3
000
Air Bags3
000
Service Brakes2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Tires1
000
Power Train1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2019150,000 milesOK

GOING DOWN ROAD AT 70MPH AND VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO 40MPH ON ITS OWN AND I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 20, 201985,000 milesID

THE VEHICLE IS LIGHTWEIGHT TO THE POINT WHERE HIGH WINDS PUSH THE CAR TO THE SIDE WHILE IT IS IN MOTION. YOU CAN FEEL THE WIND MOVING IT AND FEEL THE CAR MOVE A LOT WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS NEXT TO IT.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 18, 201947,000 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO EJECT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND MANUEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *JS

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jun 4, 201984,000 milesWV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN ACTIVATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY AND THE SERVICE VEHICLE AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 10, 201994,258 milesOK

THE E-BRAKE COMES ON BY ITS SELF WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. CHECKED AGAINEST VIN AND STATED NOT ON RECALL LIST BUT OTHERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAME THING.

Engine
Filed Apr 9, 201992,000 milesIA

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. HAD IT TESTED AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT AND THE CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. DID THAT DROVE IT FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON TESTED IT AGAIN AND GOT THE SAME READING CONCERNING BANK 1 CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE TIMING CHAIN CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. WAS TOLD THAT THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE CAMSHAFT BUT THE READING STILL COMES UP THE SAME IN BANK 1. IS THIS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS IT UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY. HAVE ONLY 104200 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE.

Engine
Filed Apr 2, 201965,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THREE QUARTS OF OIL WERE ADDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL AND IT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BEFORE EVERY 1,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED HEALEY CHEVROLET BUICK (LOCATED AT 5216 NY-17M, NEW HAMPTON, NY 10958, (845) 360-9821) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 24, 2019MO

ONE DAY MY HEAT AND AIR MODULE JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE DASH BOARD READS -40 FOR THE OUTSIDE TEMP. SO NOW THERE IS NO HEAT NO DEFROST OR AIR.

Engine
Filed Jan 18, 201994,570 milesCO

ON 1/2/19, I LEFT WORK AND TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WHEN I BEGAN HEARING ENGINE NOISE. UPON PULLING INTO CONVENIENCE STORE, I CHECKED DIPSTICK AND FOUND NO OIL SHOWING. SINCE OIL WAS CHANGED ABOUT 400 PRIOR AND NO LEAKS WERE FOUND, I PROCEEDED TO ADD OIL TO ENGINE. FOUND OIL LEAKING OUT AS FAST AS PUTTING IN. AFTER BEING TOWED BACK TO WHERE I WORK (INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP) AND NEXT DAY FOUND REAR CRANKSHAFT SEAL ON ENGINE DISLODGED FROM ENGINE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND TAKING IT TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THE OCCURRENCE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PCV CAUSING THIS FAILURE TO HAPPEN.. APPARENTLY AS I DROVE UP THAT BUSY HIGHWAY FROM WORK, MY VEHICLE WAS DISPERSING A VERY FIINE SPRAY OF OIL ON THE VEHICLES FOLLOWING ME, THE ROAD, AND THE ROADSIDE VEGETATION, APPROXIMATELY 5 QUARTS WORTH. THIS CREATED A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING ME AND RAISED SOME SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. IN SPITE OF GM HAVING ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHICH WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS REPAIR, I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE LIST. I HAVE HAD THE REPAIR PERFORMED, BUT IF IT IS A KNOWN FAULTY DESIGN, GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND CORRECTING THE ISSUE AND IF I AM NOT ON THEIR LIST, THEY SHOULD EXPAND THE LIST. I HATE HAVING BEEN THE VEHICLE BEHIND CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR OTHER DRIVERS AND FOR CONTAMINATING THE ROAD AND ROADSIDE WITH PETROLEUM WASTE. THE SPECIAL POLICY THAT DID NOT HAVE ME ON THE LIST WAS 14882 - SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT

Engine
Filed Nov 27, 2018TN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE KEPT SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN COLD STARTED FROM A PARKED POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Steering
Filed Nov 10, 2018128,022 milesMA

QUITE OFTEN, WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE, I LOOSE MY POWER STEERING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS MAKES TURNING VERY DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES SCARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES, TODAY BEING THE MOST RECENT.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 7, 2018NC

THIS CAR HAS SO MANY ELECTRICAL CODES WHEN TESTED. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR A YEAR. WHY HADN'T GM DID A RECALL ON THESE CARS. PLEASE HELP ALL OF US WHO HAVE THIS CAR. I HAVE 3 KIDS AND WOULD LIKE A ANSWER TO WHY THERE ISNT A RECALL WITH SO MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS!

Electrical System
Filed Oct 29, 201828,359 milesVI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO REMOVE IT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO ADVISE THAT WHEN THE KEY DID NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARIBBEAN AUTO MART (4523 CHARLOTTE AMALIE STREET SAINT THOMAS, VA 00802, (340)777-7600) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOUND A FAILURE CODE AT THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY CONNECTIONS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT CERTAIN THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST LOCATED THE CORRECT FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,359.

Tires
Filed Oct 27, 201868,555 milesFL

FIRESTONE CHAMPION FUEL FIGHTER TIRE 235/60R17 TREAD SEPARATING FROM BODY OF TIRE

Engine
Filed Sep 25, 201898,000 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL WITHIN 1,000 MILES WELL BELOW THE 3,000 MILE NORMAL CHECKUP PERIOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A 20,000 MILE EXTENSION OF THE MANUFACTURER'S 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REASON FOR THE EXCLUSION HAD TO DO WITH WHERE THE ENGINE PARTS WERE SUPPLIED FROM, EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE IN THE CAPTIVA WAS THE SAME AS THE OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. THE DEALER (CHAPMAN CHEVROLET, 1717 E BASELINE RD, TEMPE, AZ 85283, (480) 838-1234) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2018102,000 milesMD

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON MARCH 2, 2018. WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, IT HAS HAD A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED (WITHIN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS). ON JUNE 11, 2018, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 95,000 MILES ON AT THE TIME. I PURCHASED IT WITH 92,500 ON IT. A WEEK AND A HALF LATER I HAD TO RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER REPAIR WITH THE VALVES DEALING WITH THE TIMING BELT. THE VEHICLE IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AN ENGINE CAMSHAFT/EXHAUST PROBLEM DUE TO IT CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AT LEAST 9 TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 12, 2018101,600 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 40 IN OK AT 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTING DOING STRANGE THINGS. AT FIRST EVERY TIME YOU ENABLED THE TURN SIGNAL IT WOULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A MESSAGE APPEARED STATING A FAULT WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THEN WITHIN A FEW MORE MINUTES THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE RADIO WENT OFF AND THE CLOCK DISPLAY WENT AWAY. WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT A MCDONALD'S AND WHEN I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL WOULD NOT OPERATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. AT THIS POINT WE DECIDED TO HAVE BREAKFAST BEFORE CALLING A TOW SERVICE. WHEN WE FINISHED WITH BREAKFAST WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT WAS STILL ON FOR A FEW MILES AND THEN WENT OUT AND EVERY THINK WORKED PROPERLY FOR THE REMAINING 1000 MILES OF THE TRIP TO PA.. THE NEXT DAY I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND SOME INFO ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE MANY 2012 CAPTIVE OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING WITH THE BATTERY CABLING. THE ONLY THING THAT APPEARED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WAS CHANGING OUT THE CABLING TO THE BATTERY OR ADDING AN ADDITIONAL GROUND CABLE FROM THE BATTERY TO THE ENGINE.

Electrical System
Filed Aug 8, 201894,000 milesMN

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LOST POWER STRANDING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 19, 201845,306 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE RADIO WILL SHUT OFF & ALL LIGHTS ON RADIO WILL GO OUT. AFTER SOME TIME APPROX. 3 TO 15 MINUTES THE RADIO WILL COME BACK ON BY ITSELF. THE AIR CONDITIONER FAN WOULD BE BLOWING ON HIGH AND SUDDENLY DROP TO A LOW SETTING AND THEN COME BACK ON IN A FEW ABOUT ABOUT 20 SEC. THESE PROBLEMS BECAME SIMULTANEOUS ALONG WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON, BOTH THE RED & AMBER EMERGENCY INDICATOR LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND SAID THERE WERE BULLETINS WRITTEN ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE FIX IS A NEW ALTERNATOR AND ALL NEW BATTERY CABLES ALL THE WAY AROUND, WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE COST WOULD BE $990. I HAVE JUST FINISHED PAYING $776 FOR AN AIR CONDITIONING TENSIONER BELT INSTALLATION BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS SHAKING SIGNIFICANTLY AND MAKING LOUD NOISES. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE DISASSEMBLED FOR ACCESS. MY CAR HAS 45,306 MILES ON IT AND IT ALSO REQUIRED A TRANSMISSION AT 30,000 MILES, WHICH GM INSTALLED FREE. I AM CONVINCED THE ELECTRICAL SUB SYSTEM IN THIS CAR IS OF POOR DESIGN.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 10, 201854,000 milesIL

BOUGHT LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. PUT KEY IN, ACTS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. CANNOT TAKE KEY OUT OF IGNITION. TOOK BATTERY TO BE CHECKED BATTERY IS FINE. HAD TO JUMP START IT TWICE. NO REASON WHY IT'S BEEN SO RANDOM BOTH TIMES CAR WAS PARKED LESS THAN AN HOUR.

20 of 65 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2014
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201514000Routine
2014138020Routine
201397040Routine
2012 — this page65020Routine
20111100Routine

Compare every Captiva year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.