Most common 2012 Chevrolet Captiva problems
Share of the 65 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Captiva complaints by model year
Best Captiva years: 2015, 2012. Years to avoid: 2014, 2013. Compare all years →
What 2012 Chevrolet Captiva owners say
Electrical system all 43 →
My Captiva did not want to start. The key was locked in the ignition. All the lights were off and there was no lights on the instrument panel. I disconnected the negative battery cable for a minute and then plugged it back on to the battery. When I went to open the door the horn started honking and all the lights came on. I deactivated the alarm with the remote on the key but accidently hit the lock button. I stated the vehicle and went to close the hood. But when I went to open the door the doors had locked and my vehicle was running. I had to break the window because my year old baby was in the car. My wife complained that the radio will some times turn off and the instrument lights will come on. One is the traction control need to be serviced and engine light will come on. Also the service light will turn on. Also the lights inside the vehicle will dim at times. …
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. …
Engine & cooling
My Captiva did not want to start. The key was locked in the ignition. All the lights were off and there was no lights on the instrument panel. I disconnected the negative battery cable for a minute and then plugged it back on to the battery. When I went to open the door the horn started honking and all the lights came on. I deactivated the alarm with the remote on the key but accidently hit the lock button. I stated the vehicle and went to close the hood. But when I went to open the door the doors had locked and my vehicle was running. I had to break the window because my year old baby was in the car. My wife complained that the radio will some times turn off and the instrument lights will come on. One is the traction control need to be serviced and engine light will come on. Also the service light will turn on. Also the lights inside the vehicle will dim at times. …
On 1/2/19, I left work and traveled approximately 2 miles when I began hearing engine noise. Upon pulling into convenience store, I checked dipstick and found no oil showing. Since oil was changed about 400 prior and no leaks were found, I proceeded to add oil to engine. Found oil leaking out as fast as putting in. After being towed back to where I work (independent repair shop) and next day found rear crankshaft seal on engine dislodged from engine. Further investigation and taking it to Chevrolet dealership verified the occurrence of a known problem with the pcv causing this failure to happen.. Apparently as I drove up that busy highway from work, my vehicle was dispersing a very fiine spray of oil on the vehicles following me, the road, and the roadside vegetation, approximately 5 quarts worth. …
Stability & traction control
My Captiva did not want to start. The key was locked in the ignition. All the lights were off and there was no lights on the instrument panel. I disconnected the negative battery cable for a minute and then plugged it back on to the battery. When I went to open the door the horn started honking and all the lights came on. I deactivated the alarm with the remote on the key but accidently hit the lock button. I stated the vehicle and went to close the hood. But when I went to open the door the doors had locked and my vehicle was running. I had to break the window because my year old baby was in the car. My wife complained that the radio will some times turn off and the instrument lights will come on. One is the traction control need to be serviced and engine light will come on. Also the service light will turn on. Also the lights inside the vehicle will dim at times. …
I bought this car in February. In March the radio started going off and on sometimes when blinker is turned on sometimes not. Traction light comes on for no reason. One day just started acting like battery was going dead. Turned it off could not get key out of egnition. Had it tolled to Chevy said it was my battery. 400.00 hundred for that trip .that was the 4th time in shop in two monthes. This is the third battery in 4 years. Had it replaced in April. It started the same thing last week radio, lights go dim, tonight get home again key stuck in egnition. The same things I have read about happening to other Captiva . My husband read on other site to move election seats up and down and key would come out he tried it and it worked. I have had the car in the shop more then I have drove it. I bought the extra warranty but it didn't help. …
2012 Chevrolet Captiva engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva a good car?
Based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Captiva rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Captiva at the same age. It is one of the best Captiva years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva?
The electrical system — 43 complaints, 66% of all complaints for this model year, most often about 12v/24v/48v battery › cables. Next are the engine & cooling (16) and stability & traction control (8).
How many recalls does the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Captiva?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014 and 2013. See the full Chevrolet Captiva years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Chevrolet Captiva problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 26% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.