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What 106 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 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 (106)Crash / fire / injury (6)Engine (55)Electrical system (31)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (7)Brakes (5)Steering (5)Airbags (4)Body & structure (4)Fuel system (4)Visibility & wipers (3)

5 of 106 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Feb 17, 2022Steering

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that while his brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering column knuckle detached, causing the steering wheel to become inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,386. Car was serviced on 12/5/2019 for a KIA warrantied repair; timing belt replacement causing engine failure. The representative restated again that KIA would not repair the car. Consumer stated vehicle sustained a rod bearing failure at 74,000 miles during operation at highway speeds. Consumer did not receive a letter from KIA for corrective maintenance.

NHTSA ODI 11452545

Feb 5, 2019SteeringElectrical system

I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE AND IT JUST SHUT OFF. I COULDNT STEER OR DO ANYTHING

NHTSA ODI 11174566

Apr 5, 2018SteeringElectrical system

VEHICLE STATIONARY IN PARK THE KEY WON'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE OTHER ISSUE IS THE DEFROST VENT HEAT SOMETIMES BLOWS COLD FOR A FEW HOURS. IT SEEMS TO GET STUCK ON DEFROST AND IT WON'T CLOSE THE DOOR OVER TO THE OTHER VENTS. IT SEEMS THAT IT COULD BE A PROGRAM ISSUE. THE SWITCHES SEEM TO WORK IT WILL HEAT UP. NOTICED IT DOES IT A LOT ON WINDY COLD NIGHTS THEN IN THE MORNING IT WON'T WORK FOR A FEW HOURS. PLEASE HELP! SAFETY ISSUES IF YOU CAN'T SEE OUTSIDE THE WINDOW WHEN BLOWING COLD AIR.

NHTSA ODI 11083376

Nov 19, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT OF HOW TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10794928

Jul 8, 2015SteeringElectrical system

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WON'T TURN TO START THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. CALLED AAA TO START IT. MECHANIC HAD HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. HAS TO PUSH ON BRAKE SO HARD THAT I CAN'T DO IT. HE SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. HE HAD DIFFICULT TIME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I WANT THIS REPORTED AND SOMETHING DONE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE. ALSO THE BUMPER PAINT IS ALL CHIPPED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE BODY THE WHOLE WAY AROUND ON ONE BUMPER. THIS IS A DEFECT ALSO. NO WAY SHOULD THESE TWO PROBLEMS BE HAPPENING!! I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG PROBLEM?

NHTSA ODI 10732788

Working with the data? Download all 106 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 2013 Chevrolet Captiva verdict →