YearToAvoid

2013 Chevrolet Captiva Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 Captiva years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Chevrolet Captiva ranks 2nd worst of 5 model years, with 97 complaints and a complaint index of 75. Engine problems dominate at 51% of complaints, with failures typically appearing around 90,000 miles. It has 0 recalls.

Complaints
97
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 4
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 24 hwy

Top 2013 Chevy Captiva problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine49 (51%)
  2. Electrical System31 (32%)
  3. Other16 (16%)
  4. Brakes11 (11%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain9 (9%)
  6. Steering5 (5%)
  7. Fuel System4 (4%)
  8. Structure & Body4 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
  10. Airbags2 (2%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine smoke and stalling at highway speed, sometimes with oil leaking from underneath the vehicle and out the tail pipe.
  • Electrical fires have started inside parked or unoccupied vehicles, destroying the interior with no warning.
  • One owner described a fire starting through a door speaker while driving on the highway, with seat belts failing to release afterward.
  • Steering wheels have seized up and become hard to turn when the vehicle failed to restart after being parked.
  • Ignition keys have gotten stuck or the vehicle has failed to start, sometimes requiring repeated attempts before starting.
  • A sunroof reportedly shattered on its own while driving, with no impact or collision involved.
2013 Chevrolet Captiva complaints: complaints filed per quarter202014 Q32015 Q42016 Q42017 Q42018 Q42019 Q42020 Q42022 Q1
136 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q3 to 2023 Q2; peak 2019 Q1 (20).

2013 Chevrolet Captiva recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 Chevrolet Captiva fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Captiva years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020112012201320142015
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011No verdict011—
2012Caution5065019
2013Avoid7597019
2014Avoid100138019
2015Good2514023

All Chevrolet Captiva years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva reliable?
Compared to other Captiva model years, 2013 ranks 2nd worst out of 5 years tracked, with a complaint index of 75 and 97 NHTSA complaints, mostly related to the engine.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva?
Engine complaints make up 51% of all complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 90,000 miles. Electrical system issues follow at 32% of complaints.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva.
How does the 2013 Captiva compare to other years?
The 2013 model has a complaint index of 75, worse than 2012 (50), 2015 (25), and 2011 (0), but better than 2014, which has the highest index at 100.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva?
The 2013 Captiva gets 19 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway), with an EPA-estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.