Most common 2013 Chevrolet Captiva problems
Share of the 97 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 2013 Chevrolet Captiva owners say
Engine & cooling all 48 →
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact was informed to closely monitor the oil level. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled and was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain had failed and bent the valves. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 103,416.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that the cruise control intermittently failed to operate as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil and that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical system all 31 →
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that on multiple occasions after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. Also, the key would remain stuck inside the ignition switch and could not be removed. The vehicle was towed to a local service center who replaced the ignition switch, but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
UNKNOWN, several times between my husband or myself while driving down the road and on the interstate, the vehicle would just completely shut off no lights, no brakes no nothing. We purchased the vehicle used so we thought that it had something to do with some minor maintenance but this first occurred only after having the vehicle for two weeks. We've taken the vehicle back to where we purchased it, they could not find any issues with the vehicle and taken it to other locations with no luck on solving issue. The vehicle does not give any signs or warning when it will shut down while drive. Here recently when using the turn signals, switching on high beams, or even turning on the radio causes the vehicle shut down.
Transmission & drivetrain
Engine sputtered, lurched forward, then almost died repeatedly at a stoplight. Drove car home as no warning lights came on and made an appointment with my mechanic. Mechanic advised to drive car to the shop. When I started the car to drive there, several engine lights came on stating 'reduced engine power' and a stabilitrack warning. The car then died and would not start again. Towed the car to the shop and was told my timing chain snapped and destroyed the engine. 80K miles on the car and my warranty is expired, so now I'm putting several thousand dollars into a new engine. Have heard of several other issues similar at the same mileage.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle came to a screeching hault and failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer (pinegar Chevrolet Buick GMC of branson, 163 adair road, branson, missouri 65616) where it was awaiting diagnostic testing. The contact also stated that the "check traction control immediately/see dealer" message appeared on the display screen. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
2013 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: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva a good car?
Based on 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Captiva rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Captiva at the same age. It is one of the Captiva years we suggest avoiding. 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 2013 Chevrolet Captiva?
The engine & cooling — 48 complaints, 49% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (31) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Chevrolet Captiva problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 77,000 miles; 23% 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.