2013 Chevrolet CAPTIVA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Chevrolet CAPTIVA has 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (34% of all complaints), specifically: on 11/9/2015 my suv engine cut off and i lost all power to operate it. the key would not come out of the ignition. i was attempting to come to a stop on two occasions on the same day and could not continue normal vehicle operations. i am taking the vehicle back to the dealer 11/10/2015.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.
143
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
48 complaints- • ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.
- • MY CAR HAS BEEN CHECK SINCE I BUY THE CAR I ALREADY CHANGED TWO SENSOR THE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO DO AND I STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO MY LIFTGATER WONT NOT WORK EITHER I HAVE LOST POWER ON MY CAR
- • ENGINE RUNNING OUT OF OIL. BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY
“ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
31 complaints- • SINCE MY 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA TOOK THE PLACE OF THE SATURN VUE WHEN SATURN SHUT DOWN. HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT SINCE MY CAPTIVA IS EXCLUSIVELY SOLD TO FLEET CONSUMERS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT BEING OVERLOOKED ON THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PROGRAM SINCE IT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVY C
- • WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WON'T TURN TO START THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. CALLED AAA TO START IT. MECHANIC HAD HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. HAS TO PUSH ON BRAKE SO HARD THAT I CAN'T DO IT. HE SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. HE HAD DIFFICULT TIME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIV
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE AND, MOMENTS LATER, IT FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICL
“SINCE MY 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA TOOK THE PLACE OF THE SATURN VUE WHEN SATURN SHUT DOWN. HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT SINCE MY CAPTIVA IS EXCLUSIVELY SOLD TO FLEET CONSUMERS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT BEING OVERLOOKED ON THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PROGRAM SINCE IT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVY C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
19 complaints- • MY VEHICLE'S (2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA SPORT) SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MAY 1, 2015. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AFTER THE FIRST TIME BUT THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. 2ND INCIDENT I CONTACTED ONSTAR -DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED "COMPUTER MALFUNCTION" WITH THE AIR BAG. THE PA
- • WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE KEY WON'T TURN TO START THE CAR. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12 TIMES. CALLED AAA TO START IT. MECHANIC HAD HARD TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE. HAS TO PUSH ON BRAKE SO HARD THAT I CAN'T DO IT. HE SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. HE HAD DIFFICULT TIME. I AM AFRAID TO DRIV
- • ONGOING SPORADIC PROBLEM - IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS AND AM UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE. CALLED DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF WARRANTEE AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIX AND DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS UNLESS THEY PROBLEM HAPPENED WHILE IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. SOMETIMES IT TAKES UP TO 20
“MY VEHICLE'S (2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA SPORT) SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MAY 1, 2015. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AFTER THE FIRST TIME BUT THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. 2ND INCIDENT I CONTACTED ONSTAR -DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED "COMPUTER MALFUNCTION" WITH THE AIR BAG. THE PA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
9 complaints- • ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.
- • MY CAR HAS BEEN CHECK SINCE I BUY THE CAR I ALREADY CHANGED TWO SENSOR THE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO DO AND I STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO MY LIFTGATER WONT NOT WORK EITHER I HAVE LOST POWER ON MY CAR
- • THIS PAST YEAR 2017; OIL CHANGES; LOW A QUART OR TWO; ONE TIME, TOLD IT WAS OUT OF OIL. NO LEAKS FOUND. DROVE 360 MILES IN THE WINTER AND BACK. CAR STALLED, BLUE SMOKE, SAID CHECK STABILITY TRACTION AND SHUT CAR OFF! (OUT OF OIL JUST 3 DAYS AFTER FILLED WITH OIL) I CHANGE OIL EVERY 2K MILES. I WAS I
“ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS
7 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE REDUCED POWER INDEPENDENTLY TO 20 MPH AS THE STABILITY TRACKER AND THE ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED
- • THE STABILIZER , TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ENGINE LIGHT SEEMS TO APPEAR WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER OF THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN TREMENDOUS BARELY ABLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN RATHER I'M DRIVING ON THE STREETS OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES.
- • THIS PAST YEAR 2017; OIL CHANGES; LOW A QUART OR TWO; ONE TIME, TOLD IT WAS OUT OF OIL. NO LEAKS FOUND. DROVE 360 MILES IN THE WINTER AND BACK. CAR STALLED, BLUE SMOKE, SAID CHECK STABILITY TRACTION AND SHUT CAR OFF! (OUT OF OIL JUST 3 DAYS AFTER FILLED WITH OIL) I CHANGE OIL EVERY 2K MILES. I WAS I
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE REDUCED POWER INDEPENDENTLY TO 20 MPH AS THE STABILITY TRACKER AND THE ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 143 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: SINCE MY 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA TOOK THE PLACE OF THE SATURN VUE WHEN SATURN SHUT DOWN. HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT SINCE MY CAPTIVA IS EXCLUSIVELY SOLD TO FLEET CONSUMERS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT BEING OVERLOOKED ON THIS IGNITION SWITCH RECALL PROGRAM SINCE IT IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE PONTIAC G5 AND CHEVY C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: MY VEHICLE'S (2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA SPORT) SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MAY 1, 2015. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AFTER THE FIRST TIME BUT THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. 2ND INCIDENT I CONTACTED ONSTAR -DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED "COMPUTER MALFUNCTION" WITH THE AIR BAG. THE PA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: ON 11/9/2015 MY SUV ENGINE CUT OFF AND I LOST ALL POWER TO OPERATE IT. THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP ON TWO OCCASIONS ON THE SAME DAY AND COULD NOT CONTINUE NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATIONS. I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER 11/10/2015.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet CAPTIVA — Year Comparison
How does 2013 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
- 143
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 5
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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