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 4 of 4

Dec 28, 2015Parking BrakeElectrical systemSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT OFF WHEN THE BLINKER WAS ACTIVATED, WHICH DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 10816582

Sep 30, 2015Electrical system

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES WHILE IN MOTION OR AT STOPPED-WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL, AND BRAKES THE ELECTRICAL PANEL (INCLUDING RADIO, DASH LIGHTS, AND SIGNALS TURN OFF FOR 3-5 SECONDS. AFTER TAKING THE CAPTIVA TO A CHEVROLET GARAGE, THEY SUSPECT THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLES ARE TO BLAME DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE TYPE. I HAVE NOT YET PROCEEDED WITH REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2015.

NHTSA ODI 10778850

Aug 25, 2015Electrical system

ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AROUND 5:30 PM MY CHARGING SYSTEM SIGNAL CAME ON AND MY AC STOPPED WORKING. I FIGURED THE CHARGING SYSTEM SIGNAL WAS AN INDICATION THAT MY AC HAD BROKEN AND I RESOLVED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR. TEN (10) MINUTES AFTER THE CHARGING SYSTEM SIGNAL CAME ON MULTIPLE SIGNAL LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING AND IMMEDIATELY MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STARTED DECELERATING. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING SEVENTY (70) MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS ALSO IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS ABLE TO STEER MY CAR TO A RAMP WITHOUT BEING COLLIDING WITH ANOTHER CAR. AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY I NARROWLY AVOIDED COLLIDING WITH A CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND I SWERVED JUST BARELY AVOIDING ROLLING INTO A DITCH. MY CAR CAME TO A HALT ALONG THE SIDE OF AN OFF-RAMP WHERE MY IT SAT FOR NEARLY TWO (2) HOURS, JUST BARELY OUT OF THE REACH OF EXITING TRUCKS AND CARS, AS I WAITED FOR AAA. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A HENDRICK CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT MY ALTERNATOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FEE WAS NINE HUNDRED FOURTEEN DOLLARS AND NINETY NINE CENTS ($914.99). I ASKED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHY THIS HAPPENED AND IF I COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO PREVENT IT. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT A DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE DETECTED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS GOING BAD AND THAT FURTHER COMMENTED THAT HE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD GONE BAD WHEN MY CAR AT ITS LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA ODI 10759076

Aug 18, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ABS SKID LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 10749589

Aug 17, 2015Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 30 MPH, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO AND THE HEATING SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION AS TEMPERATURE BELOW 40 WAS DISPLAYED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOORS IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START AS THE THEFT ALARM INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A THEFT MODULE MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10749278

Aug 6, 2015Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WOULD SHUT OFF AND THE PARKING BREAK WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE SPARK PLUGS, THE FUSES, AND THE RADIO WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. ..UPDATED 09/03/15 *BF UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10746853

Jul 23, 2015Electrical system

RADIO GOES OFF WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT COME BACK ON. HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN OPEN/CLOSE WINDOWS, DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLICKER, PARKING BREAK SERVICE LIGHT GOES ON/OFF RANDOMLY, CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD WHEN YOU TRY TO RESTART IT AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES CAR WILL RESTART OTHER TIMES IT NEEDS TO BE JUMPED TO START IT. BATTERY POSITIVE POST IS HOT TO THE TOUCH EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS DEAD FOR OVER 24 HRS.

NHTSA ODI 10736057

May 28, 2015Electrical systemAirbags

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT STAYED ON FOR 8 MILES THEN SWITCHED OFF. I WAS DOING APPROX 68 MPH WHEN IT CAME ON, TURNED OFF WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AT 50 FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION. HAD JUST PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER THAT MORNING AFTER HAVING A REAR AXLE BOOT/SHAFT SOMETHING LIKE THAT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 10722001

May 18, 2015Electrical system

VEHICLE DRIVEN IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREA WHEN WITHOUT WARNING SLOWLY LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. INITIAL ATTEMPT TO START VEHICLE FAILED. AFTER SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE STARTED ONLY TO GRADUALLY LOSE POWER AND STALLED AGAIN. ABLE TO ROLL VEHICLE OFF MAIN STREET ONTO SIDE STREET AND CALLED AAA. WHILE WAITING FOR AAA I DISCONNECTED BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLES WAITED 10 MINUTES AND RECONNECTED. VEHICLE STARTED BUT WHEN MOVED IT AGAIN LOST POWER AND STALLED. AAA ARRIVED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE FLATBED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY HOME AND WHEN THE OPERATOR ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE FLAT BED IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO START AND DRIVE VEHICLE OFF THE FLAT BED. WE HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE WE ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE HAD A TRAGIC ENDING HAD I BEEN HIT DURING THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10720908

May 18, 2015Electrical system

MY 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT 2LS IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THE KEY IS NOT REMOVABLE FROM IGNITION TO TURN VEHICAL OFF, IT STOPS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. SAFTY CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DISABLED NOT ALLOWING RESTART OF ENGINE OR INABILITY FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED FORM PARK INTO GEAR. IT WOULD ALSO DRAIN THE POWER FROM THE BATTERY NOT ALLOWING IT TO BE RESTARTED. DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THERE WAS TO MUCH WEIGHT ON THE KEY RING, ONLY THE FACTORY KEY FOB IS ON THE KEY RING.

NHTSA ODI 10717185

Feb 20, 2015Electrical system

MY MOST RECENT PROBLEM WITH MY 2012 CHEVY CAPTIVA IS THE KEY WAS GETTING JAMMED IN IGNITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY. THIS WENT ON FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS OR MORE. I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES ON 2/17/15. ON 2/18/15, LATER IN THE NIGHT, THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION AT ALL. I HAVE VEHICLE AT DEALER AS OF 2/20/15 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND AWAITING THE RESULTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS THE SAME GM PROBLEM WITH IGNITION SWITCH FOR OTHER MODELS THAT ARE BEING "RECALLED." ALSO JUST FOR THE RECORD, I DID EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AS WELL BACK IN 2014; AND PROBLEM WITH ALTERNATOR BACK IN 2013 ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I ALSO NOTICE SOME HESITATION IN ACCELERATION, (SIMILAR TO A SLIGHT/FAINT PULL) ON OCCASIONS. NOT ENOUGH TO THINK ANYTHING SERIOUS, BUT DID OCCUR OFTEN ENOUGH IN 2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10689576

Sep 1, 2014Electrical system

I HAD THE EXACT SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS PERSON. TWICE NOW, WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH, THE RADIO WOULD GO DEAD AND ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON. CAR MADE IT TO THE HOUSE. COULD NOT TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER ABOUT 15 / 20 MINS, THE CAR WOULD START AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES, BUT THEY LOOKED AT ME AS IF I WERE CRAZY. THEY KEPT CAR FOR A WEEK AT A TIME AND COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY WERE AS STUMPED AS ME. GOOD TO HEAR THAT MY CAR ISN'T THE ONLY ONE TO DO THIS. IT'S BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE THE LAST INCIDENT. HOPEFULLY IT HAS GONE AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10629880

Aug 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemSpeed control

CAR WAS DRIVING FINE WENT INTO A STORE CAME OUT KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK, OPENED DOOR WITH KEY AND CAR WOULD NOT START. CALLED FOR A JUMP BUT BEFORE THE PERSON CAME THE CAR STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. I NEVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN BUT HAD INADVERTENTLY LEFT THE SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION. I TOOK THE CAR INTO GOOD CHEVROLET FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR'S BRAINS WERE BASICALLY SCRAMBLED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PCM, BANK 1 SENSOR 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THAT ALL CODES WERE CLEARED AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS VERIFIED. I PICK THE CAR UP ON 8/14/14 DROVE IT ON 8/15/14 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AGAIN I SAT THERE AND WAITED AND ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED. THIS TIME THE CAR SHOW ADDITIONAL ISSUES. THE LIGHTS WHERE THE RPMS ARE SHOWN FLICKERS ON AND OFF, THE CAR SPUTTERS, TRYING TO GET UP TO A CERTAIN SPEED IS TAXING AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE IS A RATTLING COUPLED WITH A SQUEALING SOUND. TODAY IS 8/16/14 AND I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK INTO GOOD CHEVROLET ONCE AGAIN FOR SERVICE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE CAR THIS TIME AND THAT I DO NOT HAVE SOME MAJOR ISSUE AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AS THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITHIN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER COMPONENTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626129

Apr 8, 2014Electrical system

I BOUGHT THE SUV IN DEC. 2013. SINCE THIS TIME THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. EACH TIME I HAD THE BATTERY BOOST AND THE CAR STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO MUNDAY CHEVERLOT. CHEVY AUTO MECHANICS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID MY BATTERY IS GOOD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WHEN THE SUV DOES NOT START I CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY. I TRY TO START THE CARS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I TRY TO REMOVE THE KEY AND I CANNOT. THE KEY SWITCH WILL NOT GO TO THE LOCK POSITION THEREFORE I CANNOT REMOVE THE KEY. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I AM NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHY OR WHAT TO DO WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10578161

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Working with the data? Download all 145 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

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 →