Home · 2012 Chevrolet Captiva · Complaints

What 145 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (145)Crash / fire / injury (7)Electrical system (89)Engine (38)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (20)Steering (12)Transmission & drivetrain (9)Airbags (8)Fuel system (8)Brakes (7)Lights (7)Speed control (7)

89 of 145 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 2 of 4

Jun 4, 2019Electrical systemLightsEngine

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.

NHTSA ODI 11217767

May 13, 2019Electrical systemEngineFuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11207145

Apr 10, 2019Electrical systemBrakes

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.

NHTSA ODI 11195437

Mar 1, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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.

NHTSA ODI 11183566

Jan 26, 2019Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11172288

Jan 24, 2019Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11171772

Jan 3, 2019Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11164722

Nov 7, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

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!

NHTSA ODI 11149999

Oct 29, 2018Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11143632

Sep 20, 2018Electrical systemLightsEngine

RADIO WOULD TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL MESSAGE LIGHT AND CHIMES, WOULD GO OFF, INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD DIM OUT VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT START, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD NOT STAY ON HOWEVER WAS ABLE TO GET AUTO STORE TO PULL CODES WHEN LIGHT WAS ON. TALKED TO DEALERSHIP ADVISED TO REPLACE BATTERY AND KEY FOB AS ONE CODE HAD TO DO WITH VEHICLE THINKING WRONG KEY WAS USED. REPLACED BATTERY AND KEY FOBS SEEMED TO BE OKAY FOR 2 MONTHS. THEN TODAY WHEN PUTTING WINDOW DOWN TO GET MAIL THE RADIO TURNED OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROLS LIGHTS STARTED GOING OFF AGAIN AND AIR BLOWER CUT OUT (THIS STARTED WHEN VEHICLE PUT IN PARK) NOTICED WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING THAT VOLTAGE ON BATTERY WOULD DROP. TOOK TO AUTO STORE AND THEY CHECKED BATTERY IT WAS FINE. BUT WHEN AIR WAS ON AND WINDOW WOULD BE PUT DOWN IT WOULD RECREATE THE SAME PROBLEM (VEHICLE WAS IN PARK). AUTO STORE SAID COULD BE A SHORT. AFTER TESTING BATTERY AND IT WAS GOOD THE AIR WAS TURNED OFF AND WINDOW BEING PUT DOWN WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY ISSUES. ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN AIR WAS ON. THERE SEEMS TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE TYPES OFF ELECTRICAL OCCURRENCES FOR THIS VEHICLE TYPE. ALSO HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH A SURGE WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. HAD DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN THINGS LOOKED AT FROM DEALERSHIP THAT HAVE IMPROVED IT BUT NOT FULLY CORRECTED. SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN EVEN A LITTLE BETTER AFTER BATTERY REPLACED BUT STILL OCCURS TO THE POINT WHERE IT SHIFTS HARD AND SURGES THE CAR FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11130502

Aug 26, 2018Electrical systemEngineFuel system

KILLS ON HIGHWAY AND IN TOWN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN OFF IN ABOUT 15-30 MINUTES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN IT DO KILLS, NO INDICATOR, RADIO SWITCHES LIKE IT'S GOING CRAZY SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AND WEEKS, I'VE BROUGHT 3 BATTERIES SINCE MARCH 10,2017 WHEN I STARTED FINANCING THIS VEHICLE, REPLACED BATTERY CABLES AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING, ALTERNATOR REPLACED AND NOW GIVING TROUBLE AGAIN, SOMETHING IS MAKING THE PRESSURE IN MY TIRES EXTREMELY LOW, LIGHTS DIM, DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERING, INSIDE LIGHTS COMES ON SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN ON THIS VEHICLE, WHEN STATIONARY VEHICLE IDLES AND HESITANT, WHEN IN MOTION VEHICLE IDILES, HESITANT, MISSES, AND KILLS. ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE IDLES, MISSED, SHAKY, HESITANT , AND KILLS WITH NO INDICATION VERY DANGEROUS AFRAID MY KIDS AND I WILL LOSE OUR LIFE IN THIS VEHICLE!!! WHEN TURNING VEHICLE IS HESITANT, SOMETIMES LOSE POWER, AND MISSES. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO PASS 45 MPH, WHEN TAKING OFF VEHICLE IDLES SO HIGH AND LOUD, RADIO DISPLAYS DEVICE NOT SUPPORTED WHEN NOTHING IS PLUGGED UP, RADIO TIME ALWAYS RESETS WHEN THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER, POPPING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE KEY IS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN VEHICLE LOOSES ALL POWER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DEPENDABLE AND VERY DANGEROUS!!! ALL THESE DEFECTS ARE REOCCURRING ISSUES AND PROBLEMS. THIS IS SCARY, I WOULD'VE NEVER FINANCED THIS VEHICLE, NEVER, HOWEVER I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY DEALER SHIP ALLOWED THIS PIECE OF CRAP AT THEIR YARD AND ALLOWED ME TO GET THIS VEHICLE, I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE SAVINGS REPAIRING THINGS ON THIS VEHICLE ONLY FOR IT REOCCUR IN NO TIME, I NEED A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE IS ALL I'M ASKING, IF I DON'T WORK MY FAMILY WON'T EAT, THEN WE'LL END UP HOMELESS PLEASE HELP!!! RECALL THIS DANGEROUS VEHICLE AND/OR MAKE IT RIGHT!!!

NHTSA ODI 11122386

Aug 12, 2018Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11119501

Aug 8, 2018Electrical systemLightsEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 11118477

Jul 19, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

KEY GETS STUCK AND WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND GO .IF YOU CAN GET CAR TO TURN OFF IT WON'TSTART BACK UP.

NHTSA ODI 11112381

Jul 19, 2018Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11112474

Jul 10, 2018Electrical system

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.

NHTSA ODI 11110457

Jun 5, 2018Electrical system

KEY WILL NOT TURN IN WHEN INSERTED INTO TUMBLER. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, SHIFTER LOCKED. KEY OCCASIONALLY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE STATIONARY. PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY; SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN; SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A SHORT TIME (5-10 MINUTES); SOMETIMES WHEN VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT. MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF VEHICLE IS LEVEL OR ON A GRADE (UP OR DOWN.) SAFETY ISSUE IF KEYS CANNOT BE REMOVED. SAFETY ISSUE IF VEHICLE CANNOT TO STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11099932

Jun 3, 2018Electrical systemEngine

TRANSITIONING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WOULD CAUSE RADIO AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS/DISPLAY TO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FIX PARKING BREAK AND ONBOARD EMISSIONS CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT WOULD GO ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS, SOMETIMES FLICKERING AND OTHER TIMES STAYING ON FOR A FEW HOURS. DROVE CAR 1.5 HRS AND TURNED OFF FOR 1/2 HR, WHEN CAME BACK IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. FEW MIN LATER IT STARTED. WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE WERE 18 ERROR CODES AND 1 WAS FOR ECM AND 1 FOR BCM. THEY REPLACED BOTH. CAR WAS 100% FINE FOR 6 DAYS. THEN, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD TURN OFF WHEN A CALL CAME IN OVER BLUETOOTH, RADIO AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS AND DISPLAY WOULD GO OUT COMPLETELY WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL. VARIOUS DASH PANEL LIGHTS WOULD COME ON SIGNIFYING REPAIRS NEEDED. A COUPLE TIMES CAR WOULDN'T START - WAS 100% DEAD - COULDN'T EVEN OPEN TRUNK, DOOR LOCKS OR GET LIGHTS TO COME ON. KEY WOULD BE STUCK IN THE ON POSITION AND I COULDN'T GET IT OUT. AFTER ABOUT 45 MIN POWER RANDOMLY TURNED ON.

NHTSA ODI 11099377

May 21, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

STABILITRAK SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON YESTERDAY. THEN THIS MORNING, THE PARKING BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT. ANYTIME I APPLIED THE BRAKE, MY SHIFTER WOULD CLICK LOUDLY. ANYTIME I WENT OVER 20 MPH, THE CARE WOULD REV LIKE IT WAS HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE SHIFTING. TWICE IT WOULDN'T GO RIGHT AWAY EVEN IF I WAS HARD OR EASY ON THE GAS AND I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND IN TRAFFIC. THE D SYMBOL ON DASH WOULD EVEN FLICKER. THIS CAR HAS HAD SO MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE ISN'T FURTHER RECALLS!

NHTSA ODI 11096979

May 18, 2018Electrical system

IGNITION LOCKS UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO START CAR. CANNOT REMOVE KEY. CANNOT TURN KEY. CANNOT MOVE SHIFTER. CAR IS ALWAYS IN A LOT WHEN IT HAPPENS. CALLED ROAD SERVICE ONCE. HAVE SINCE PURCHASED A BATTERY BOOSTER. THE BOOSTER IS NOT NEEDED TO START CAR. JUST TOUCH CABLES TO BATTERY POSTS AND DASH LIGHTS UP AND CAR WILL START WITYH ITS OWN BATTERY WHICH IS NEW. NOW BEGINNING TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11096767

May 13, 2018Electrical system

KEY WON'T COME OUT OF IGNITION, CAR IN PARK, RUNNING LIGHTS ON. THIS IS THE 2ND OCCURANCE. GM CHARGED ME $250 TO FIX IT IN SEPTEMBER DESPITE MY PROTEST THAT, AS DEMONSTRATED BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW!!!

NHTSA ODI 11093524

Apr 6, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AS WELL AS TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER (BILLION AUTO CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF CLINTON (2421 LINCOLN HWY, CLINTON, IA 52732, (563) 241-3750) WAS CONTACTED AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS AND SUGGESTED THAT THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART. THERE WERE 118 TSBS FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11083683

Mar 26, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AAA WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ELECTRICITY WAS NOT BEING APPLIED TO THE BATTERY. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT MIDWAY CHEVROLET (2323 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023) WHERE NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11081384

Mar 13, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

INTERMITTENTLY THEN PANEL LIGHTS COME ON (TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS) TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WORK, . YOU LOSE POWER TO CAR AND CANNOT EVEN TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. AFTER SOME TIME, YOU CAN FINALLY GET THE KEY OUT. SOMETIMES IT'S MINUTES, SOMETIMES IT'S HOURS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING A FEW WEEKS AGO, HAPPENING FEW TIMES A WEEK. NOW, IT'S HAPPENING DAILY, EVEN FEW TIMES A DAY. WE FOUND A CHEVY FORUM ONLINE AND SHOCKINGLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO 2012 CAPTIVA'S. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? THIS CAN BE FATAL TO LOSE POWER TO THE CAR IF WE ARE ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOSE FUNCTION OF THE VEHICLE. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO START THE CAR NOTHING HAPPENS AND I CAN'T GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ODI 11078963

Mar 5, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I PURCHASED THE CAPTIVA AFTER MY VAN WAS TOTALED, IN FEB 2017, PROBLEMS STARTED IN APRIL, CAR WOULD DIE, EVERYWHERE, DRS OFFICE, GROCERY STORE, DRIVEWAYS, LIBRARY, RESTAURANTS, RAIN, SNOW, DAY OR NIGHT. COULD NOT TAKE KEY OUT, GEAR FROZE IN PARK, NO ELECTRICAL WORKING AT ALL, AT 1ST CAR WOULD START AFTER A WHILE, THEN IT WOULD NOT, CALLED AAA, NO 1 COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, I HAVE SPENT $453.00 WITH NO RESULTS, USED UP MY FREE CALLS FROM AAA PLUS. EVERY MECHANIC HAD A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THE PROBLEM. BOUGHT CAR AT A CARFAX...THEY SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING....TOOK CAR TO CHEVY DEALER, THEY COULD DO NOTHING AS THEY HAD NOT SOLD THAT MANY CAPTIVAS, WOULD CHECK IT FOR $500.00. I WROTE TO CHEVROLET TO TELL THEM OF THE PROBLEM, WAS TOLD VERY NICELY THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP SOONER. THEY COULD DO NOTHING, I COULD PAY THE $500.00 MAYBE WITH NO RESULTS. I KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS...1 OF THE MECHANICS SAID THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LEFT HAND NODE ON THE BATTERY..NOW I START THE CAR BY HITTING THE RED PLASTIC COVER!!! I AM A 84 YRS OLD F, LIVE ALONE & WORK. SO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE I WILL BE DOING THIS TO START THE CAR. HAVE HAD GMA & CHEVY CARS ALL MY LIFE, I WILL TELL ALL MY FAMILY (20) NEVER BUY GM. I CANNOT EVEN SELL THIS LEMON EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD IT. I AM REPORTING THIS TO THE BBB AND TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11076202

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Chevrolet Captiva verdict →