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)

12 of 145 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Mar 30, 2026Steering

My shifter doesn't recognize that its in park and won't let me remove my keys. It gets stuck on ACC and I can't turn my key/ignition to the off position. And for the 3rd time it's like popped outta gear. I bought it used. This started 2 months ago but for the 10 days its continually gotten worse. 8 outta 10 times I go to put it in park and I can't get key out. I haven't had it inspected or looked or anything else like that. I Googled it and i read up on how this is an issue for 2012 to 2014 Chevrolet Captiva. But no recall for 2012 year. I don't know what time do. There was no accidents regarding this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11728052

Sep 24, 2023SteeringElectrical systemSpeed control

Unknown, car will shut off while driving and turn back on while flashing service traction control. In some cases it will completely turn off and I will have to put transmission in park and re crank it in the middle of traffic. Power steering goes out while driving aswell as other issues. Locks go in and out while driving. No known cause to this as battery and alternator is good and I've replaced BCM and reprogrammed it but still having the same issue

NHTSA ODI 11546278

May 3, 2021Steering

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

NHTSA ODI 11414920

May 15, 2020SteeringEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 60 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. STEW HANSEN HYUNDAI (11344 HICKMAN RD, CLIVE, IA 50325, 888-426-6396) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SENSOR MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OTHER OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAMSHAFT WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,500.

NHTSA ODI 11324652

Feb 23, 2020Steering

MY KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME . WHEN YOU TURN THE KEY TO TAKE IT OUT. IT WON'T TURN ALL THE WAY TO THE LOCK OPTION AND PULL OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE

NHTSA ODI 11310839

Sep 23, 2019SteeringElectrical systemEngine

STALLED, SLOWED SPEED, STOPPED. WILL NOT RESTART

NHTSA ODI 11257333

Sep 23, 2019SteeringSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash

LOSS OF POWER DURING STEERING - STEERING NOT STABLE - STALL OF ENGINE WHEN TURNING A CURVE. CAUSED MINOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE

NHTSA ODI 11257338

Nov 10, 2018Steering

QUITE OFTEN, WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE, I LOOSE MY POWER STEERING FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS MAKES TURNING VERY DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES SCARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES, TODAY BEING THE MOST RECENT.

NHTSA ODI 11150698

Apr 12, 2018Steering

IGNITION DON'T TURN TO THE OFF POSITION STICKS IN ACC YOU HAVE TO RESTART VEHICLE AND MOVE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH THEN TRY TO TURN CAR OFF AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11084773

Jul 28, 2017SteeringParking BrakeElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE EMERGENCY PARKING SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD SUDDENLY ILLUMINATE BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER JIM LUPIENT CHEVROLET LOCATED IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE REOCCURRED 2 MONTHS LATER. IN ADDITION, IN 2013 THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11011221

Sep 21, 2016Steering

ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE THE KEY STAYS IN ACC AND DOES NOT COME OUT OF STEERING WHEEL COLUMB. SO YOU HAVE TO UNPLUG BATTERY IF YOU ARE OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR ALONG TIME OR YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD.

NHTSA ODI 10908408

Apr 1, 2016Steering

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN IN PARK. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHUT OFF. . KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION UNLESS YOU RESTART THE CAR. HAVE MOVED THE SHIFTER AND STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHED THE KEY IN AS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP. STILL NO

NHTSA ODI 10853020

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 →