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2012 Chevrolet Captiva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

53 reports with mileage · 12 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

65 reports
87,390 miles · Feb 12, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MARTIN CHEVROLET, 8800 GRATIOT RD, SAGNINAW MI 48609) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED ON DECEMBER 3, 2016 THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (MARTIN CHEVROLET, 8800 GRATIOT RD, SAGNINAW MI 48609) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED ON DECEMBER 3, 2016 THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON JANUARY 25, 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PISTONS, RINGS, AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-3844130010. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,390.

NHTSA ODI #11072357

58,000 miles · Dec 6, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

AT RUSH HOUR , THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR STOPS DEAD. NO POWER AT ALL. WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD, BUT IT WAS DARK AND WITH NO ELECTRICAL WORKING, COULD NOT USE THE FLASHERS. WAS ALMOST HIT SEVERAL TIMES BY UNCARING DRIVERS. EVEN YELLED AT. NO POWER TO THE CAR AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11052718

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2017
EnginePower Train

NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH RATE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH CHEVY CAPTIVA'S, THAT THE OIL BURNING WILL MELT THE PISTONS INTO THE PARTS BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. LOCATED BULLETIN 13-06-01-003F-EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER THE GM WEBSITE…

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NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH RATE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH CHEVY CAPTIVA'S, THAT THE OIL BURNING WILL MELT THE PISTONS INTO THE PARTS BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. LOCATED BULLETIN 13-06-01-003F-EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER THE GM WEBSITE BUT THEY STATE IT DOESN'T COVER MY VIN#. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM HOW CAN IT SELECT WHICH VEHICLES TO FIX.

NHTSA ODI #11039748

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2017
Unknown Or OtherFire

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH TOWARD HARRISBURG AR AND I STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND NOTICED IT COMING FROM VENTS. AFTER I GOT OUT OF MY CAR , FLAMES ENGULFED AND TOTALED MY CAR COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #11035596

57,000 miles · Oct 19, 2017
Electrical System

HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR, IT HAS 57000 ON IT.. STARTED WITH TURNING SIGNAL DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THEN LIGHTS COMING ON THE DASH AND THE RADIO GOING OFF. THEN HAVING IGNITION CHIME COMING ON AND THE CAR SLOWING LIKE IT WOULD STALL. DOOR LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WOULD STALL, IT FI…

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HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR, IT HAS 57000 ON IT.. STARTED WITH TURNING SIGNAL DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THEN LIGHTS COMING ON THE DASH AND THE RADIO GOING OFF. THEN HAVING IGNITION CHIME COMING ON AND THE CAR SLOWING LIKE IT WOULD STALL. DOOR LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WOULD STALL, IT FINALLY DIED IN A PARKING LOT. COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FORM THE IGNITION. GOT TO THE DEALER.. CHANGED A FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. . TWO DAYS LATER, IT JUST STOPPED BUT I HAD ELECTRIC TO RESTART. TOWED AGAIN. GM DEALER WAS GREAT AT TRYING TO FIX THIS. REPLACED A MODUAL IN THE CONSOLE OF THE CAR BY SHIFTING LEVER. CAR WAS GREAT FOR 3 DAYS, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT OFF, PARKING BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND RADIO WENT OFF.. THEN BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS REGISTERING LOW VOLTAGE. IT IS STILL AT THE GM DEALER, THEY HAVE HAD IT HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER FOR 3 DAYS AND CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE.. NICE CAR TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS RUNNING, BUT NOT RELIABLE...

NHTSA ODI #11034526

56,000 miles · Oct 12, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

PARKING LIGHT COMES ON AND RADIO TURNS OFF EXCEPT FOR THE CLOCK, THEN TURNS BACK ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, WENT OFF WHEN HIGH BEAMS TURNED ON. USING THE TURNING SIGNAL DISABLES THE CRUISE CONTROL. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. CHECKING THE VOLTS ON THE DASH …

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PARKING LIGHT COMES ON AND RADIO TURNS OFF EXCEPT FOR THE CLOCK, THEN TURNS BACK ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ONE, WENT OFF WHEN HIGH BEAMS TURNED ON. USING THE TURNING SIGNAL DISABLES THE CRUISE CONTROL. TODAY ON THE WAY TO WORK, THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF. CHECKING THE VOLTS ON THE DASH AND IT SHOWS THEY ARE LOW. CAR HAS BEEN TRAVELING FOR 25 MINUTES, SO ALTERNATOR SHOULD HAVE CHARGED BATTERY. GET TO WORK AND THE VOLTS ARE BACK UP TO 13.8 BUT BATTERY LIGHT STILL ON. THIS IS ONE WEEK AFTER THE CAR JUST STOPPED ( IN THE ROAD) AND NOTHING WORKED AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. CAR REPAIR REPLACED FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD THEN A MODUAL IN THE CONSOLE. CAR WAS GREAT FOR 5 DAYS, NOW NEW ISSUES HAPPENING AND SOME OF THE OLD ( RADIO AND CRUSE) CAR HAS 56000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11033007

55,000 miles · Oct 4, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

PROBLEMS STARTED WITH RADIO GOING OFF. THEN LIGHTS DIMMING WHEN USING THE WINDOW SWITCH. THEN WHILE USING THE TURNING SIGNAL, THE CRUSE WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN SEEMED TO TURN OFF. THE CAR SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER. THE BREAK LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN GO OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND…

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PROBLEMS STARTED WITH RADIO GOING OFF. THEN LIGHTS DIMMING WHEN USING THE WINDOW SWITCH. THEN WHILE USING THE TURNING SIGNAL, THE CRUSE WOULD SHUT OFF. THEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN SEEMED TO TURN OFF. THE CAR SEEMED TO LOOSE POWER. THE BREAK LIGHT WOULD COME ON THEN GO OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE. THE WARNING BELL THAT SOUNDS WHILE THE KEY IS IN IGNITION WOULD GO OFF AND MESSAGES WOULD FLASH ACROSS THE RADIO AND THE INFORMATION ON THE DASH WOULD SCROLL WITH OUT YOU SCROLLING THEM. TODAY THE CAR DECELERATED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THE CAR LOCKS WENT UP AND DOWN. ON THE WAY HOME, THE CAR WAS DEAD AND I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY. CALLED A TOW, THEY JUMPED THE CAR, IT STARTED. ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR GARAGE, THE CAR DIED IN THE ROAD. CALLED FOR A SECOND TOW, BUT WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BY HITTING THE EXTERNAL FUSE BOX. GOT IT TO THE GARAGE AND IT IS THERE TODAY.

NHTSA ODI #11031651

48,000 miles · Sep 26, 2017
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ST…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (COOPER CHEVROLET BUICK, 1300 S QUINTARD AVE, ANNISTON, AL, 36201), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE OR DISPLAY A FUEL PUMP ERROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

NHTSA ODI #11029888

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

THE PARKING BRAKE KEEPS ON GOING ON WELL DRIVING, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND FUEL PUMP NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11024941

63,000 miles · Sep 8, 2017
Electrical System

VEHICLE IS PUT IN PARK AND I TRY TO TURN THE KEY TO OFF POSITION BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION SO KEY CAN BE REMOVED. FURTHERMORE, GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO PLACE MY MODEL ON THE RECALL LIST ACCORDING TO INQUIRES THAT I HAVE MADE. I ALSO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, PROTECTIVE ASSET THAT WAS PURCHA…

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VEHICLE IS PUT IN PARK AND I TRY TO TURN THE KEY TO OFF POSITION BUT THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION SO KEY CAN BE REMOVED. FURTHERMORE, GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO PLACE MY MODEL ON THE RECALL LIST ACCORDING TO INQUIRES THAT I HAVE MADE. I ALSO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, PROTECTIVE ASSET THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM PURCHASE DEALER, BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER JUST THE IGNITION SWITCH. I NEED GM TO ISSUE A RECALL ON MY MODEL, CHEVY CAPTIVA.

NHTSA ODI #11022387

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.