Key will lock in ignition and vehicle will not start. Happens intermittently. Battery is fine, alternator is fine, dealership replaced ignition when purchased which helped for about a year, but the problem continues to become more frequent. Rattling the battery fixes the problem, but only temporarily.
2013 Chevrolet Captiva
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Captiva 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
84 reports with mileage · 13 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.
- Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
31 reportsContinus electric drop causing different systems to lose power, fail, or temporarly disable including but not limited to traction control, emergency break, radio and lights. After researching the problem in various forums I noted many owners facing the same problem over various years with no clear solution.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that on multiple occasions after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. Also, the key would remain stuck inside the ignition switch and could not be removed. The vehicle was towed to a local…
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The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that on multiple occasions after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. Also, the key would remain stuck inside the ignition switch and could not be removed. The vehicle was towed to a local service center who replaced the ignition switch, but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
UNKNOWN, several times between my husband or myself while driving down the road and on the interstate, the vehicle would just completely shut off no lights, no brakes no nothing. We purchased the vehicle used so we thought that it had something to do with some minor maintenance but this first occurred only after having the vehic…
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UNKNOWN, several times between my husband or myself while driving down the road and on the interstate, the vehicle would just completely shut off no lights, no brakes no nothing. We purchased the vehicle used so we thought that it had something to do with some minor maintenance but this first occurred only after having the vehicle for two weeks. We've taken the vehicle back to where we purchased it, they could not find any issues with the vehicle and taken it to other locations with no luck on solving issue. The vehicle does not give any signs or warning when it will shut down while drive. Here recently when using the turn signals, switching on high beams, or even turning on the radio causes the vehicle shut down.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHASSIS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHASSIS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MAY 2019 RADIO TURNING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY - THOUGHT IT WAS ISSUE WITH RADIO STATION, BUT ON-LINE CHEVY FORUMS INDICATE IT IS A SIGN OF LARGER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUNE 1, 2019, ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER DINNER OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING; DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT NIGHT WITH AC & CRUISE CONTROL O…
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DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MAY 2019 RADIO TURNING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY - THOUGHT IT WAS ISSUE WITH RADIO STATION, BUT ON-LINE CHEVY FORUMS INDICATE IT IS A SIGN OF LARGER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUNE 1, 2019, ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER DINNER OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING; DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT NIGHT WITH AC & CRUISE CONTROL ON THERE WAS A SUDDEN NOXIOUS ODOR IRRITATING TO EYES, NOSE, AND THROAT (2 PEOPLE ILL); HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING; OPENED WINDOWS TO VENTILATE; MADE IT HOME (~12 MILES); ALL LIGHTS - EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR - STILL FLICKERING UPON ARRIVAL HOME; STILL A STRONG NOXIOUS ODOR - STRONGER ON INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE; INTERNET SEARCH OF SYMPTOMS INDICATED DRIVER VISOR MIGHT BE EXTREMELY HOT - WENT OUT TO CHECK AND IT WAS VERY HOT - EVEN AFTER SITTING WHILE WE DID INTERNET SEARCH; FURTHER INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES MANY CHEVY CAPTIVA OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS; FORUMS INDICATE KNOWN BATTERY CABLES VOLTAGE DROP ISSUE LEADING TO EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (~$1000) NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, SO WE DISCONNECTED BATTERY OVERNIGHT UNTIL WE COULD CHECK THINGS IN THE DAYLIGHT. 6/2/19 - AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE BATTERY DISCONNECTED OVERNIGHT, RECONNECTED AND DRIVER VISOR IMMEDIATELY GOT WARM TO TOUCH - CAR NOT EVEN CRANKED, JUST SITTING IN THE SHADY DRIVEWAY WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTED. SHIFTED VISOR DOWN AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP/CLICK NOISE. VISOR WOULD NOT FULLY RETURN TO STOWED POSITION. DISCONNECTED BATTERY AGAIN. NOT A SAFE SITUATION WITH OVERHEATING VISOR, NOXIOUS FUMES, AND FLUTTERING LIGHTS. CHEVY FORUMS INDICATE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOW ISSUE SINCE 2012, BUT DEALERSHIPS WILL ONLY ASSIST WHILE CAR IS STILL IN ORIGINAL PURCHASE WARRANTY PERIOD. FORUMS INDICATE THIS WAS A RECALL IN EUROPE/GREAT BRITAIN, BUT NOT HERE IN USA. RIDICULOUS. AN AMERICAN COMPANY NOT TAKING CARE OF ITS AMERICAN CUSTOMERS... FOR YEARS... MULTIPLE YEAR MODELS REPORTING SAME ISSUES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE, ENGAGE THE BRAKE, AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO EJECT FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO PARK THE VEHICLE, ENGAGE THE BRAKE, AND TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
THE BATTERY CABLES ARE DEFECTIVE CAUSING A SHORT. CAR WORN START SOMETIMES OR BATTERY SKIPS OR TURNS OFF BEEN HAPPENING FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE FAULTY CABLE CONNECTOR. THEY TRIED A NEW ONE FOR THESE CARS. IT HAPPENS A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH THE LAST TIME I USED IN THE DATE BOX.
I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND IT JUST SHUT OFF. I COULDNT STEER OR DO ANYTHING
WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVY CAPTIVA ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SHOPS TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET TO THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN …
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WHILE DRIVING MY CHEVY CAPTIVA ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE SHUTOFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY PREGNANT WIFE. ON OTHER OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SHOPS TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GET TO THE PROBLEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN TURNS OFF. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL CAUSE MY DEATH. I CALLED GM BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER AND WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDN'T BUILT CORRECTLY. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE POST OF THE SAME THREAT ONLINE OF THE VEHICLE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AND GM IS NOT TAKING THE MATTER SERIOUSLY.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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