2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
No verdictComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 3 Captiva Sport years
The 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport has 80 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 100, the worst among the 3 model years with data (2013 scored 50, 2014 scored 0). Electrical System issues account for 57% of complaints, with median failure mileage around 74,500 miles.
- Complaints
- 80
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System46 (57%)
- Engine25 (31%)
- Brakes18 (23%)
- Other15 (19%)
- Steering9 (11%)
- Airbags5 (6%)
- Fuel System4 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (5%)
- Structure & Body1 (1%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (1%)
What owners report
- Ignition switches stick in the accessory position and the key cannot be removed, sometimes preventing the engine from restarting.
- Electrical failures cause the check engine light to flash, the radio to shut off, and dash warning lights to activate while driving, with the vehicle temporarily unable to restart.
- Brake system warning lights for the parking brake, ABS, and traction control illuminate intermittently, and dealers have been unable to duplicate the issue.
- Brake calipers have locked up and caught fire, in one case burning the vehicle to the ground.
- An engine fire occurred while the vehicle was parked and off, reportedly linked to the climate control module.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a rear-end collision at low speed, with the airbag warning light illuminating instead.
2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 12V301000Jun 28, 2012Brakes2,070 vehicles
Parking brake
General motors llc (gm) is recalling certain model year 2012 chevrolet captiva sport passenger vehicles manufactured from april 26, 2012, through may 17, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to the park brake performance requirements federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "light vehicle brake systems." the park brake cable may not be fully seated in its connector and may separate from the connector. If this occurs, the park brake will become inoperative and will not hold the vehicle.
Risk: If the vehicle is on an uneven surface, this could result in unintended vehicle movement and a crash.
Remedy: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and ensure that the park brake cables are connected and secure free of charge. The safety recall began on july 27, 2012. Owners may contact the chevrolet owner center at 1-866-694-6546.
- NHTSA 11V591000Dec 19, 2011Steering3,150 vehicles
Steering:hydraulic power assist:power steering fluid
General motors (gm) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 chevrolet captiva vehicles manufactured from october 2, 2009, through april 21, 2011. Driving the vehicle with the transmission in manual mode and in first gear causes the engine and power steering pump to operate at higher speed than is typical. Increased pump speed generates heat that is transferred to the power steering fluid and can result in power steering fluid temperatures that approach the power steering pump reservoirâs melting point.
Risk: After prolonged exposure to elevated fluid temperatures, the reservoir may leak. Leaking fluid, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.
Remedy: Gm will notify owners and dealers will replace the power steering fluid cooler with an improved version, free of charge. An advisory letter to customers, along with instructions, will be mailed in january 2012. When parts become available, gm will send another letter asking customer to take their vehicle to a gm dealer to have the repairs performed. Gm anticipates parts will be available in march 2012. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
2012 compared with other Captiva Sport years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport reliable?
- Among the 3 Captiva Sport model years with data, 2012 has the highest complaint index at 100 and ranks worst. It logged 80 complaints, well above the 9 for 2013 and 6 for 2014.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport?
- Electrical System issues make up 57% of complaints, followed by Engine problems at 31% and Brakes at 23%. Median mileage at failure ranges from about 65,500 to 93,527 miles depending on the component.
- Does the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for park brake cables not being secure (campaign 12V301000) and one for a power steering fluid cooler issue that can cause a stall in manual mode, first gear (campaign 11V591000). Neither is listed as a do-not-drive recall.
- Has the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport caught fire?
- NHTSA complaint data lists 2 fire reports for this model year, including one involving a locked brake caliper and one involving an engine fire linked to the climate control module while the vehicle was parked.
- How does the 2012 Captiva Sport compare to other years?
- It ranks worst of the 3 years with data, with a complaint index of 100 versus 50 for 2013 and 0 for 2014.