IllustrationTHE CAR HAS LEAKAGE AND COOLANT PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE OVERHEATS AFTER A LITTLE WHILE OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Captiva Sport years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
1325–50K
1150–75K
1575–100K
12100–150K
2150K+
56 reports with mileage · 24 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
80 reportsSERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSES SUV TO SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGHT UP, RPMS GO TO 0 CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, CAR CAN'T BE STEERED AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS ARE DEAD. KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. COMPLETELY DEAD VEHICLE.NEW BATTERIES, NEW ALTERNATORS …
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SERIOUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSES SUV TO SHUT DOWN WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIGHT UP, RPMS GO TO 0 CAR SHUTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, CAR CAN'T BE STEERED AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND THE HAZARD LIGHTS ARE DEAD. KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. COMPLETELY DEAD VEHICLE.NEW BATTERIES, NEW ALTERNATORS AND MULTIPLE MECHANICS CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. DISCONNECT BATTERY CABLES, RECHARGE THE BATTERY AND IT RUNS FOR A FEW MONTHS. NO ONE CAN TELL US THE ISSUE AND WE ARE STUCK WITH NO RECALLS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE. CAR IS DRIVABLE TODAY BUT TO DANGEROUS TO PUT MY FAMILY IN ANYMORE. ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO DIE BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED?
MANY TIMES THIS CAR HAS JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING. OIL AND BATTERY ARE GOOD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE NOW SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A FUEL PUMP OR SENSOR CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE. I AM TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. GREAT LOOK ON THE OUT…
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MANY TIMES THIS CAR HAS JUST DIED WHILE DRIVING. OIL AND BATTERY ARE GOOD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN. THERE NOW SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A FUEL PUMP OR SENSOR CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE. I AM TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THIS WEEK. CURRENTLY NOT DRIVEABLE. I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. GREAT LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT BEING A GENERAL MOTORS CAR, THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THIS BY NOW. I WILL DO MY BEST TO FILE COMPLAINTS AND SUBMIT PROOF. NOT A DURABLE CAR.
THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION 3/4 OF THE TIME. HAD GEAR SHIFT REPLACED A YEAR AGO AND FIXED PROBLEM. STARTED BACK UP MONTHS AGO AND THE CHEVY DEALER WON'T REPLACE WITHOUT ANOTHER $800.00. TOOK IT FOR OTHER OPINIONS AND EVERYONE SAYS GEAR SHIFT. POWER STAYS ON WHEN KEY IS STRUCK SO CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT. HAVE TO MOVE G…
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THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION 3/4 OF THE TIME. HAD GEAR SHIFT REPLACED A YEAR AGO AND FIXED PROBLEM. STARTED BACK UP MONTHS AGO AND THE CHEVY DEALER WON'T REPLACE WITHOUT ANOTHER $800.00. TOOK IT FOR OTHER OPINIONS AND EVERYONE SAYS GEAR SHIFT. POWER STAYS ON WHEN KEY IS STRUCK SO CAN'T JUST LEAVE IT. HAVE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT BACK AND FORTH, RESTART, MOVE GEAR SHIFT AGAIN AND KEEP REPEATING TILL KEY COMES OUT. UP TO 8 TIMES, SO FAR.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN STREET OR EVEN IN A PARKED POSITION THE SUV WON'T START. NO LIGHTS, NO AUDIO. CANNOT REMOVE KEY. UNABLE TO ENGAGE ALARM. RADIO ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY; TRIGGERED BY USING HAZARDS, TURN SIGNALS, HI-BEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO, 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL', 'ABS', AND A CAPITAL 'P' WITH WRENCH ICON FLICKER INTERMI…
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WHEN DRIVING DOWN STREET OR EVEN IN A PARKED POSITION THE SUV WON'T START. NO LIGHTS, NO AUDIO. CANNOT REMOVE KEY. UNABLE TO ENGAGE ALARM. RADIO ON & OFF INTERMITTENTLY; TRIGGERED BY USING HAZARDS, TURN SIGNALS, HI-BEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO, 'SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL', 'ABS', AND A CAPITAL 'P' WITH WRENCH ICON FLICKER INTERMITTENTLY IN THE DASH PANEL. 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT APPEARS PERIODICALLY BUT EVENTUALLY CLEARS. SUV HAS DIED SIMPLY DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WITH THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS. ALL FUSES IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR FUSE PANEL ARE IN TACT. AFTER WIGGLING THE BATTERY HARNESS, SUV WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY.
A LITTLE OVER 93000 MILES AND THE ENGINE BLOWS. OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED LESS THEN 200 MILES BEFORE
CONSTANTLY LOSES POWER REGARDLESS OF NEW BATTERIES, BATTERY CABLES, AND MANY OTHER REPAIRS. HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CHEVY HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT EVEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. THERE IS A LENGTHY FORUM I HAVE FOLLOWED WITH OTHER CAPTIVA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITHOU…
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CONSTANTLY LOSES POWER REGARDLESS OF NEW BATTERIES, BATTERY CABLES, AND MANY OTHER REPAIRS. HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CHEVY HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES BUT EVEN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING. THERE IS A LENGTHY FORUM I HAVE FOLLOWED WITH OTHER CAPTIVA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY LUCK. NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED REGARDLESS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY BEING PUT AT RISK TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND COUNTLESS DOLLARS SPENT ON FAILED REPAIRS.
GM HAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSED MINE.BASICALLY OIL IS BYPASSED IN LARGE VOLUME TO THE ENGINE INTAKE BECAUSE THE PASSAGES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR PCV SYSTEM. THIS IS SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 14882 BY GM. PCV VALVE REPLACED AND PASSAGES ENLARGED
KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN IGNITION MULTIPLE TIMES. HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY AS THE CAR WAS STUCK IN ACCESSORY, AND THE BATTERY WAS STILL BEING DRAINED. HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. TRIED DIFFERENT KEYS, MOVING STEERING WHEEL ETC. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AS WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS. THIS STARTED ABOU…
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KEY HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN IGNITION MULTIPLE TIMES. HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY AS THE CAR WAS STUCK IN ACCESSORY, AND THE BATTERY WAS STILL BEING DRAINED. HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. TRIED DIFFERENT KEYS, MOVING STEERING WHEEL ETC. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AS WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS. THIS STARTED ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO AND THE CAR WAS AT AROUND 82K MILES
KEY WILL NOT GO PAST ACCESSORY WHEN TRYING TO SHUT OFF. TOOK TO DEALER, IT'S AN ARM THAT IS NOT ENGAGING IN SHIFTER WHEN PLACING IN PARK.
Official recalls
212V301000 · Parking Brake
Jun 28, 2012
GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 26, 2012, THROUGH MAY 17, 2012. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PARK BRAKE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "LIGHT VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE PARK BRAKE CABLE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED IN ITS CONNECTOR AND MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PARK BRAKE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A CRASH.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE PARK BRAKE CABLES ARE CONNECTED AND SECURE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
11V591000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
Dec 19, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND IN FIRST GEAR CAUSES THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING PUMP TO OPERATE AT HIGHER SPEED THAN IS TYPICAL. INCREASED PUMP SPEED GENERATES HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAN RESULT IN POWER STEERING FLUID TEMPERATURES THAT APPROACH THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIRS MELTING POINT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED FLUID TEMPERATURES, THE RESERVOIR MAY LEAK. LEAKING FLUID, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION, FREE OF CHARGE. AN ADVISORY LETTER TO CUSTOMERS, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE MAILED IN JANUARY 2012. WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, GM WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER ASKING CUSTOMER TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. GM ANTICIPATES PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.