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Chevrolet

2012 Chevrolet CAPTIVA SPORT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Chevrolet CAPTIVA SPORT has 134 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: i bought the suv in dec. 2013. since this time the car has failed to start twice. each time i had the battery boost and the car started. i have taken the truck into munday cheverlot. chevy auto mechanics and others have said my battery is good and they do not know why this is happening. when the . ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 4 crash reports 9 injuries

134

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

46 complaints
34%
  • I BOUGHT THE SUV IN DEC. 2013. SINCE THIS TIME THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. EACH TIME I HAD THE BATTERY BOOST AND THE CAR STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO MUNDAY CHEVERLOT. CHEVY AUTO MECHANICS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID MY BATTERY IS GOOD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WHEN THE
  • I HAD THE EXACT SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS PERSON. TWICE NOW, WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH, THE RADIO WOULD GO DEAD AND ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON. CAR MADE IT TO THE HOUSE. COULD NOT TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER ABOUT
  • MY 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT 2LS IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THE KEY IS NOT REMOVABLE FROM IGNITION TO TURN VEHICAL OFF, IT STOPS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION. SAFTY CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DISABLED NOT ALLOWING RESTART OF ENGINE OR INABILITY FOR THE KEY TO BE REMOVED CAU
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

I BOUGHT THE SUV IN DEC. 2013. SINCE THIS TIME THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. EACH TIME I HAD THE BATTERY BOOST AND THE CAR STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO MUNDAY CHEVERLOT. CHEVY AUTO MECHANICS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID MY BATTERY IS GOOD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WHEN THE

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

22 complaints
16%
  • TRANSITIONING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WOULD CAUSE RADIO AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS/DISPLAY TO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FIX PARKING BREAK AND ONBOARD EMISSIONS CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT WOULD GO ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS, SOMETIMES FLICKERING AND OTHER TIMES STAYING ON FOR A FEW HO
  • STOPPED RUNNING SUDDENLY.I HAD DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. SHUT IT OFF CAME BACK IN ABOUT 4 HOURS AND IT WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO GARAGE FOR REPAIRS...TIMING BELT BROKEN AT APPROX 100,000 MILE.
  • KILLS ON HIGHWAY AND IN TOWN, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN OFF IN ABOUT 15-30 MINUTES, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN IT DO KILLS, NO INDICATOR, RADIO SWITCHES LIKE IT'S GOING CRAZY SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AND WEEKS, I'VE BROUGHT 3 BATTERIES SINCE MARCH 10,2017 WHEN I STARTED FINANCING THIS VEHICLE,
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

TRANSITIONING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WOULD CAUSE RADIO AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS/DISPLAY TO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FIX PARKING BREAK AND ONBOARD EMISSIONS CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT WOULD GO ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS, SOMETIMES FLICKERING AND OTHER TIMES STAYING ON FOR A FEW HO

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

16 complaints
12%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT OFF WHEN THE BLINKER WAS ACTIVATED, WHICH DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SLOWED DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANU
  • TAKATA RECALL-I BOUGHT MY 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA LS IN MARCH 2013. ON JUNE 20, THE CAR WENT ON A TRIP TO BRANSON, MO.WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE AC STARTED BLOWING DRY VAPOR FROM THE VENTS-NO COLD AIR. ALSO THE LIGHT FOR THE SHIFTING GEARS P,N,R &D WAS NOT WORKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

12 complaints
9%
  • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE
  • KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN IN PARK. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHUT OFF. IGNITION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LESS THAN 3,000 MILES AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION UNLESS YOU RESTART THE CAR. HAVE MOVED THE SHIFTER AND STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHE
  • UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. NORMALLY YOU HAVE TO RUN THROUGH THE GEARS SEVERAL TIMES OR RESTART. NOW IT'S MUCH HARDER AND TAKES LONGER TO GET THE KEY OUT. ALSO, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ELECTRIC
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints
7%
  • KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN IN PARK. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHUT OFF. . KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION UNLESS YOU RESTART THE CAR. HAVE MOVED THE SHIFTER AND STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHED THE KEY IN AS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP. STILL NO
  • ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE THE KEY STAYS IN ACC AND DOES NOT COME OUT OF STEERING WHEEL COLUMB. SO YOU HAVE TO UNPLUG BATTERY IF YOU ARE OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR ALONG TIME OR YOUR BATTERY WILL GO DEAD.
  • STALLED, SLOWED SPEED, STOPPED. WILL NOT RESTART
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

KEY STICKS IN IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT WHEN IN PARK. AT TIMES CAR WILL NOT EVEN SHUT OFF. . KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION UNLESS YOU RESTART THE CAR. HAVE MOVED THE SHIFTER AND STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHED THE KEY IN AS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP. STILL NO

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 134 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ELECTRICAL: I BOUGHT THE SUV IN DEC. 2013. SINCE THIS TIME THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START TWICE. EACH TIME I HAD THE BATTERY BOOST AND THE CAR STARTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO MUNDAY CHEVERLOT. CHEVY AUTO MECHANICS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID MY BATTERY IS GOOD AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. WHEN THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: TRANSITIONING FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WOULD CAUSE RADIO AND ASSOCIATED CONTROLS/DISPLAY TO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FIX PARKING BREAK AND ONBOARD EMISSIONS CONTROL SENSOR LIGHT WOULD GO ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS, SOMETIMES FLICKERING AND OTHER TIMES STAYING ON FOR A FEW HO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACK INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Chevrolet CAPTIVA SPORT — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
134
Recalls
0
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
4
Injury reports
9
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Chevrolet CAPTIVA SPORT