2013 Chevrolet CAPTIVA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
97 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
77,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 97 complaints (49.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 13 | 13.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 11.3% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 48 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Power Train | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Engine: 48; Electrical System: 30; Unknown Or Other: 16; Power Train: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 7; Steering: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 26 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2015: 12; 2016: 9; 2017: 10; 2018: 21; 2019: 26; 2020: 10; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10874831 · 2016-06-17 (June 17, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE VEHICLE DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER DEPRESSING THE POWER BUTTON ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. FURTHERMORE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE PARK ASSIST LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874831 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10915439 · 2016-10-12 (October 12, 2016)
I OWN A 2013 CAPTIVA, ON A REGULAR BASIS I TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND AM UNABLE TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AROUND 6 MONTHS. I READ MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND JUST WANT IT FIXED, HOWEVER MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY @ A LITTLE OVER 70000 MILES ON IT. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET FIXED IF I CAN SIT HERE ON MY COMPUTER AND READ ABOUT IT HAPPENING TO OTHERS 100'S IF NOT 1000'S OF TIMES! THERE ARE ALSO POINTS WERE THE ENGINE JUST ABOUT STALLS OUT, IT HAPPENS MOSTLY WHEN JUST PARKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10915439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916500 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION. WILL NOT COME OUT. AND IF YOU LEAVE IT IN THERE, THE BATTERY WILL GO DEAD. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AS I SEE MANY OTHERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM !!! MILEAGE (APPROX 80,000).
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010480 · 2017-07-25 (July 25, 2017)
OVER A YEAR AGO AAA INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAD TO CALL AAA TO COME OUT AS THE CAR WOULD NOT START....EACH TIME THAT CLEANED AND GREASED THE TERMINALS. NOW IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREGUENTLY. ON SUNDAY...WHILE WAITING FOR AAA I CHECKED AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN ALL ON ITS OWN. SO NOT EVEN SURE IT IS THE TERMIALS AFTER ALL....I AM BECOMING AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I CAR WAS ALWAYS IN A PARKED POSITION. I HAVE OVER 60,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11010480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732788 · 2015-07-08 (July 8, 2015)
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 DRIVE THE CAR. I WANT THIS REPORTED AND SOMETHING DONE. SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE. ALSO THE BUMPER PAINT IS ALL CHIPPED WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE BODY THE WHOLE WAY AROUND ON ONE BUMPER. THIS IS A DEFECT ALSO. NO WAY SHOULD THESE TWO PROBLEMS BE HAPPENING!! …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10794928 · 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT OF HOW TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11160670 · 2018-12-11 (December 11, 2018)
I HAVE HAD THE 2013 CHEVY CAPTIVA SPORT FOR ALMOST 6 MONTHS. AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND STOP AT A RED LIGHT/STOP SIGN. IT EITHER SHUTS OFF OR BEGINS TO SHAKE FORWARD AND BACKWARD. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM IN A LITTLE TOWN, HIGHWAY, INTERSTATE, ETC., IT DOES THE SAME THING. MY WIPER WARNING LIGHT AND SOUND ALONG WITH MY BATTERY LIGHT, AND RANDOM INDICATOR LIGHTS AND SOUNDS GO OFF RANDOMLY. THE ONLY ACCURATE LIGHTS ARE THE SEATBELT AND DOOR AJAR INDICATOR LIGHTS. WHEN THE HEATER OR AC IS ON THE VEHICLE SHAKES MORE. WHEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761977 · 2015-09-07 (September 7, 2015)
TWO PROBLEMS: FIRST THE IGNITION SWITCH FROZE. COULD NOT TURN OFF CAR. HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO DEALER. THEY FINALLY REPAIRED THAT, NEXT, THE TRANSMISSION FROZE. THAT WAS A FEW WEEKS LATER. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THAT. LAST WEEK THE TRANSMISSION FROZE AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FIXED, GOT IT BACK FRIDAY. FROZE AGAIN TODAY AND WE HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. WHAT IF IT FREEZES WHILE IN DRIVE? WHAT IF IGNITION FREEZES WHILE CAR IS ON AND CANNOT TURN IT OFF??
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808997 · 2015-12-08 (December 8, 2015)
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 THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808997 at NHTSA ↗