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)

8 of 145 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Apr 4, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel system

I am not sure what component could be one could be several. When I pulled into my driveway and put it in park. The engine light came on and the stereo went off. When checking the stereo would not turn back on and nothing on the instrument panel would work, heater/air conditioning, rear wipers, heated seats, hazard lights, the parking/emergency break literally nothing. So I turned the key in the ignition to the off position took the key out and the engine continued to run? I called onstar from the vehicle and realized that didn't work either so I had called from my cell. They advices me to call a mechanic. Unable to do so as it was 9pm and not was mechanic shop was available I looked online. I ended up pulling the fuel relay switch and waited several minutes for it to finally die then I undid the negative battery cable. Tried again the next day and same thing happened. It is available for inspection as I have no clue as to if and when it can be fixed. My safety was at risk due to the vehicle not shutting off and a fire/explosion could happen. The safety feature or requirement of the hazard lights (good thing I wasn't on the freeway) the parking/emergency break no need to explained this. Unable to call for emergency with onstar equipped vehicle and who know what else could be wrong. Unknown if anyone else has a verified claim but it seems to be a problem with this vehicle and no it has not been inspected but will be taking to a shop Monday morning! No lights/lamps/warnings were on or appeared prior to the engine light turning on with all this at the same time.

NHTSA ODI 11459472

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

Jan 21, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

GM HAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSED MINE.BASICALLY OIL IS BYPASSED IN LARGE VOLUME TO THE ENGINE INTAKE BECAUSE THE PASSAGES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR PCV SYSTEM. THIS IS SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 14882 BY GM. PCV VALVE REPLACED AND PASSAGES ENLARGED

NHTSA ODI 11171193

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

Dec 6, 2017Electrical systemEngineFuel 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

Sep 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

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

Sep 22, 2017Electrical systemEngineFuel system

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

NHTSA ODI 11024941

Aug 14, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT CHEVY CAPTIVAS ONLINE TODAY AS I WAS SEARCHING FOR AN ANSWER FOR WHY MY CAR DIED ON ME TWICE WHILE DRIVING HOME THIS EVENING. ONCE WAS ON A HILL TURNING ONTO THE ROAD BEFORE MY HOME AND THE SECOND TIME WAS PULLING INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. IF I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY OR THERE WAS A CAR COMING OVER THE HILL I COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT. LATELY THE PARKING BREAK AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF, ALSO I'VE HAD TIMES WHEN I'D GO TO START MY VEHICLE IT WOULD ACT AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED A YEAR TO YEAR AND A HALF AGO SO I DON'T SUPPOSE THAT'S THE PROBLEM. ALSO THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS OFTEN FLICKER. WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THESE PROBLEMS I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH THE CAPTIVA AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN AND I DON'T WANT TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR DYING WHILE DRIVING THEM TO OR FROM DAYCARE AND SCHOOL AND US GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11015255

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 →