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2012 Chevrolet Captiva
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
145 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 28, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (61% of complaints, typically reported near 43k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#190 of 548Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva ranks #190, scoring higher than 65% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electronic Stability Control (esc) (20) · Steering (12) · Transmission & drivetrain (9) · Fuel system (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Electrical system
61%89 complaints · typically near 43k mi
“The car will stall and shut off, the radio quits working and the key will get stuck in the ignition.”
Engine
26%38 complaints · typically near 95k mi
“The car will stall and shut off, the radio quits working and the key will get stuck in the ignition.”
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
14%20 complaints
“CAR HAS RANDOM TIMES IT WONT START. NOW MY RADIO CUTS IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING. LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF”
Steering
8%12 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“KEY GETS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. ALWAYS NOT SOMETIMES ALL THE TIME. JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IS PARKED AND CANT DRIVE IT WITHOUT LEAVING THE KEY INSIDE”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 145 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 7 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 43k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 95k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Chevrolet CAPTIVA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Captiva model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.