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2013 Chevrolet Captiva

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 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

84 reports with mileage · 13 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.

  • Engine. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

48 reports
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100,000 miles · Jan 24, 2020
Engine

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 50. CAR JUST DIES OUT IF NO WHERE. PULLED OVER AND IT WOULD START. WAITED 15 MINUTES AND IT WOULD THEN START. CAR ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACT CHEVY. THEY TELL ME TO GET IT LOOKED AT BY CHEVY DEALER. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. THEY HAVE NO…

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 50. CAR JUST DIES OUT IF NO WHERE. PULLED OVER AND IT WOULD START. WAITED 15 MINUTES AND IT WOULD THEN START. CAR ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACT CHEVY. THEY TELL ME TO GET IT LOOKED AT BY CHEVY DEALER. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. THEY HAVE NOW INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED AND THEY BELIEVE NO LONGER GOOD. NEW ENGINE WILL COST 8000. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I SEE ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM N WITH THE ENGINE IN THIS MODEL. AND THIS ENGINE IS USED IN A FEW OTHER MODELS AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. REPRESENTATIVE AT CHEVY ALSO VERIFIED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. HIS NAME IS [XXX] WITH FRIENDLY CHEVROLET IN SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. SHOULD THESE ENGINES BE FAILING? SHOULD CONSUMERS BE FACED WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11301699

140,000 miles · Jan 10, 2020
Engine

OIL JUST BURNS OUT OF IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT EVERY WEEK TO EVERY OTHER WEEK. I GOT MY REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND IT DIDN'T MATTER STILL NEEDED OIL CONSTANTLY. TILL MY MOTOR FINALLY WAS BLOWN WITH NO OIL EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST PUT SOME IN. WASN'T LEAKING I HAD IT LOOKED AT TO SEE IF WAS.

NHTSA ODI #11298364

71,000 miles · Dec 22, 2019
Engine

STARTING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THAT IT WOULD START SHAKING WHEN I WAS SITTING IDEL. I TOOK MY CAPTIVA TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT HE BELIEVED IT DEALT WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. I DRIVE ONLY SHORT DISTANCES TO MY WORK, SO I SHOULD NOT BE USING VERY MUCH OIL. EVERY TIME I HAVE HAD THE…

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STARTING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THAT IT WOULD START SHAKING WHEN I WAS SITTING IDEL. I TOOK MY CAPTIVA TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT HE BELIEVED IT DEALT WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. I DRIVE ONLY SHORT DISTANCES TO MY WORK, SO I SHOULD NOT BE USING VERY MUCH OIL. EVERY TIME I HAVE HAD THE LIGHT COME ON, I TAKE IT IN AND THEY BASICALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF MY OIL. THE VEHICLE IS BURNING IT MUCH FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE.

NHTSA ODI #11290765

134,000 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Engine

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL. SO MUCH THAT I NEED TO SET A REMINDER ON MY CALENDAR TO CHECK EVERY 2 WEEKS. IT DID NOT LEAK OIL. ON 12/19/2019 AT 134K, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE CAR'S POWER WEAKENED. IT STALLED, I STARTED AND WENT ON THE HIGHWAY. STABILITY TRACTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS DECREASED …

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THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL. SO MUCH THAT I NEED TO SET A REMINDER ON MY CALENDAR TO CHECK EVERY 2 WEEKS. IT DID NOT LEAK OIL. ON 12/19/2019 AT 134K, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE CAR'S POWER WEAKENED. IT STALLED, I STARTED AND WENT ON THE HIGHWAY. STABILITY TRACTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS DECREASED ENGINE POWER. I HAD MY HAZARDS ON AND COASTED TO A GAS STATION OFF THE HIGHWAY. I CHECK MY OIL. I NEARLY HAD ANY. MIND YOU ON 12/9 I HAD TO HAVE MY HEAT FIXED AND PAID FOR A NEW BLEND DOOR HEAT ACTUATOR. THEY ALSO ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL ON 12/9. I HARDLY HAD ANY 10 DAYS LATER. A FTER ADDING 2 QTS THE VEHICLE SOUNDED OKAY AND OFF I WENT. WITHIN 5 MINUTES, ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN.THE CAR WAS DECREASING ENGINE POWER. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY AND BROKE DOWN IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE DURING RUSH HOUR.. ENGINE WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC SAID THE REAR MAIN SEAL COME OUT AND LOST ALL THE OIL. THERE IS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS HAPPENING DURING COLD WEATHER. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE AND AM ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVY FOR BEING AWARE OF ISSUES AND NOT HAVING A RECALL. I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER CAR NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11290433

68,890 miles · Dec 11, 2019
EnginePower Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING;DEALER SAID TIMING CHAIN AND CAM ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $1750.TIMING CHAIN IS SUPPOSED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE. DEALER AND CHEVY WILL NOT PROVIDE REASON IT OCCURED AT 69K MI OTHER THAN "IT HAPPENS". I ASKED IF ENGINE WAS 2.4L LEA, LAF ECOTRAIN COVERED IN 11/19 $42M CLASS ACTIO…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING;DEALER SAID TIMING CHAIN AND CAM ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED $1750.TIMING CHAIN IS SUPPOSED TO LAST LIFE OF VEHICLE. DEALER AND CHEVY WILL NOT PROVIDE REASON IT OCCURED AT 69K MI OTHER THAN "IT HAPPENS". I ASKED IF ENGINE WAS 2.4L LEA, LAF ECOTRAIN COVERED IN 11/19 $42M CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. DEALER TOLD ME "DUAL OVERHEAD CAM". CHEVY/GM SAID 2.4L 4 CYLINDER. MANUAL STATES 2.4L LEA - 8TH CHARACTER(K) IN VIN TELLS THEM THIS.THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFO ON ELLEN BERMAN & DAYANA GUACH V GM CLASS ACTION & 2 OTHERS SETTLED NOV 2019 OR HOW TO FILE CLAIM. GM IS SUPPOSED TO IDENTIFY VEHICLES W/THIS ENGINE, INSTEAD THEY ARE STILL DENYING DEFECTS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS CAUSING CRANKCASE SEAL ISSUES RESULTING IN OIL OVERSPRAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE, CAM, PRE-MATURE TIME CHAIN REPLACEMENT, ETC. I WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T SEE PISTON RINGS WITHOUT TAKING ENGINE APART. I INSISTED ON OIL CONSUMPTION STUDY. LAW SUIT STATES FAULTY PISTON RINGS IN 2.4L LEA CAUSE OIL OVERSPRAY DAMAGE TO ENGINE INCLUDING PRE-MATURE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT -OIL DOESN'T LUBICATE REQUIRED PARTS. VEHICLE BOUGHT - BARLOW CHEVY, DELRAN, NJ WITH 12,500 MILES/PRE-OWNED CERTIFIED-PREVIOUSLY A FLEET VEHICLE. OIL CHANGED EVERY 4,100 MILES BASED ON OPW/OLM SYSTEMS. NO WARNING PRIOR TO CHECK ENGINE. REPAIRS COST $1,650-NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE ENGINE DAMAGE ISSUES SETTLEMENT SAYS GM WILL REPAIR PISTON RINGS/DAMAGE,& INCREASE WARRANTY TO 10YR/120,000 AT NO COST & PROVID $4500 ABOVE SETTLEMENT TO CONSUMERS. THEY TOLD ME VEHICLE IS SAFE; SUIT SAYS - COULD CATCH FIRE OR JUST STOP CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. I TRANSPORT 2 TODDLERS & DRIVE HWY. SETTLEMENT SAID GM KNEW OF DEFECTS SINCE 2009; NOT DISCLOSED TO BUYERS, NOT RECALLED, NO OFFER OF SUITABLE REPAIRS. GM & DEALER IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF SETTLEMENT. SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11288315

82,000 miles · Dec 4, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. ALSO, WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. ALSO, WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOBILE CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2900 GOVERNMENT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36606, (251) 545-4291), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT TWO VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11286895

59,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT TWO QUARTS OF OIL NEEDED TO BE ADDED EACH WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KUNES COUNTRY FORD LINCOLN OF STERLING (2811 N LOCUST ST, STERLING, IL 61081, (815) 625-6300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BENT V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT TWO QUARTS OF OIL NEEDED TO BE ADDED EACH WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KUNES COUNTRY FORD LINCOLN OF STERLING (2811 N LOCUST ST, STERLING, IL 61081, (815) 625-6300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BENT VALVE CYLINDER HEAD AND COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CYLINDER "JUMPED TIME". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #11271505

67,000 miles · Sep 10, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL (TWO QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES). THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAWKINS CHEVROLET (1244 MONTOUR BLVD, MAHONING TWP, PA 17821, 570-275-0711) WHERE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE USED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL (TWO QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES). THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAWKINS CHEVROLET (1244 MONTOUR BLVD, MAHONING TWP, PA 17821, 570-275-0711) WHERE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED THAT REVEALED EXCESSIVE OIL WAS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO PAY TEN PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT FILED COMPLAINT NUMBER: BCP-19-05-014150 WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #11254379

98,000 miles · Aug 19, 2019
EngineStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS FADING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARE CHEVROLET (20…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS FADING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HARE CHEVROLET (2001 STONY CREEK RD, NOBLESVILLE, IN 46060, (855) 971-7214) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #11244999

75,000 miles · Jul 17, 2019
Engine

IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH A FROZEN PCV VALVE ON MY 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA. BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE, IT CREATED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BLOW OUT MY REAR VALVE SEAL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THE SEAL BLEW. I CONTACTED GM AS THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR. I FELT THAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE COV…

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IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH A FROZEN PCV VALVE ON MY 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA. BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE, IT CREATED ENOUGH PRESSURE TO BLOW OUT MY REAR VALVE SEAL. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THE SEAL BLEW. I CONTACTED GM AS THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR. I FELT THAT REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY EXTENSION (SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 14882). HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED GM, THEY INDICATED THAT 14882 DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. NOW I AM STUCK WITH THE $1,800 FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T DRIVING WHEN THE SEAL BLEW. IN MY RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW GM FEELS IT'S APPROPRIATE TO LIMIT THEIR RECALL, WHEN THE ISSUE IS MORE WIDESPREAD.

NHTSA ODI #11232842

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.