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2012 Chevrolet Captiva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 65.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

53 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

43 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2018
Electrical 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…

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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

126,000 miles · May 21, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service 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 ALMO…

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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

40,000 miles · May 18, 2018
Electrical 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…

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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

66,000 miles · May 13, 2018
Electrical 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

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2018
Electrical 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 IND…

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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

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2018
Electrical 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 …

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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

60,000 miles · Mar 13, 2018
Electrical 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…

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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

73,000 miles · Mar 5, 2018
Electrical 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 N…

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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

58,000 miles · Dec 6, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion 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

57,000 miles · Oct 19, 2017
Electrical System

HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR, IT HAS 57000 ON IT.. STARTED WITH TURNING SIGNAL DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THEN LIGHTS COMING ON THE DASH AND THE RADIO GOING OFF. THEN HAVING IGNITION CHIME COMING ON AND THE CAR SLOWING LIKE IT WOULD STALL. DOOR LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WOULD STALL, IT FI…

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HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN 1 YEAR, IT HAS 57000 ON IT.. STARTED WITH TURNING SIGNAL DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THEN LIGHTS COMING ON THE DASH AND THE RADIO GOING OFF. THEN HAVING IGNITION CHIME COMING ON AND THE CAR SLOWING LIKE IT WOULD STALL. DOOR LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WOULD STALL, IT FINALLY DIED IN A PARKING LOT. COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FORM THE IGNITION. GOT TO THE DEALER.. CHANGED A FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD. . TWO DAYS LATER, IT JUST STOPPED BUT I HAD ELECTRIC TO RESTART. TOWED AGAIN. GM DEALER WAS GREAT AT TRYING TO FIX THIS. REPLACED A MODUAL IN THE CONSOLE OF THE CAR BY SHIFTING LEVER. CAR WAS GREAT FOR 3 DAYS, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT OFF, PARKING BREAK LIGHT CAME ON AND RADIO WENT OFF.. THEN BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS REGISTERING LOW VOLTAGE. IT IS STILL AT THE GM DEALER, THEY HAVE HAD IT HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER FOR 3 DAYS AND CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE.. NICE CAR TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS RUNNING, BUT NOT RELIABLE...

NHTSA ODI #11034526

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.