YearToAvoid

2014 Chevrolet Captiva Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 5 Captiva years

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

The 2014 Chevrolet Captiva ranks worst of 5 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and 138 complaints, mostly electrical (44%) and engine (23%) issues, at a median mileage of 62,600. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Captiva years.

Complaints
138
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
8 / 2
Injuries / deaths
15 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
3 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 24 hwy

Top 2014 Chevy Captiva problems

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

  1. Electrical System61 (44%)
  2. Engine32 (23%)
  3. Other31 (22%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain17 (12%)
  5. Brakes14 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body10 (7%)
  7. Steering9 (7%)
  8. Airbags7 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers5 (4%)
  10. Fuel System3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and T-bone collisions, sometimes with injuries.
  • Sun visors catch fire from the passenger side, filling the interior with smoke.
  • The brake pedal is reported to depress but fail to engage, leading to loss of stopping power.
  • The engine stalls and shuts off unexpectedly at low speed after a traffic light change.
  • Radiator fluid leaks accompanied by smoke and burning smell shortly after starting to drive.
  • The engine makes clattering noises at slow speeds before losing power.
2014 Chevrolet Captiva complaints: complaints filed per quarter172014 Q22015 Q32017 Q12018 Q22019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q3
192 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q2 to 2023 Q3; peak 2020 Q1 (17).

2014 Chevrolet Captiva recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2014 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.

2014 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
2012Caution5065019
2013Avoid7597019
2014Avoid100138019
2015Good2514023

All Chevrolet Captiva years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Chevrolet Captiva reliable?
Among the 5 Captiva model years with data, 2014 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and 138 complaints logged with NHTSA, so it carries an Avoid verdict relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2014 Chevrolet Captiva?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 61 complaints, or 44% of all complaints, with a median failure mileage of 62,200.
Does the 2014 Chevrolet Captiva have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2014 Captiva.
How does the 2014 Captiva compare to other model years?
The 2014 model has a complaint index of 100, higher than 2012 (50), 2013 (75), and 2015 (25), making it the worst-ranked year in the dataset.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Chevrolet Captiva?
EPA rates the 2014 Captiva at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway), with an 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.