Model year record
2013 Chevrolet Captiva recalls & problems
The 2013 Chevrolet Captiva has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 97 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine (48 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2013 Chevrolet Captiva SUV FWD
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 18.5% |
2013 Chevrolet Captiva SUV AWD
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 15.9% |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Captiva FWD FFV
| City / highway | 20 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
Captiva FWD FFV
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Captiva AWD FFV
| City / highway | 16 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 6-spd · All-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 48 | 90,000 mi |
| Electrical systemIgnition | 31 | 76,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 16 | 40,000 mi |
| Power train | 9 | 81,448 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 7 | 76,896 mi |
| Steering | 5 | 76,000 mi |
| StructureBody | 4 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 83,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 4 | 58,681 mi |
| Air bags | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | — |
| Parking brake | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that the cruise control intermittently failed to operate as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil and that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Electrical system
Key will lock in ignition and vehicle will not start. Happens intermittently. Battery is fine, alternator is fine, dealership replaced ignition when purchased which helped for about a year, but the problem continues to become more frequent. Rattling the battery fixes the problem, but only temporarily.
- Engine
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle was making abnormal sounds. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact was informed to closely monitor the oil level. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled and was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain had failed and bent the valves. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. No additional…
- Electrical system
Continus electric drop causing different systems to lose power, fail, or temporarly disable including but not limited to traction control, emergency break, radio and lights. After researching the problem in various forums I noted many owners facing the same problem over various years with no clear solution.
- Steering
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that while his brother was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering column knuckle detached, causing the steering wheel to become inoperable. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,386. Car was serviced on 12/5/2019 for a KIA warrantied repair; timing belt replacement causing engine failure. The representative restated again that KIA would not repair the car. Consumer stated vehicle sustained a rod…
- Electrical system › Ignition
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that on multiple occasions after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. Also, the key would remain stuck inside the ignition switch and could not be removed. The vehicle was towed to a local service center who replaced the ignition switch, but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
- Electrical system
UNKNOWN, several times between my husband or myself while driving down the road and on the interstate, the vehicle would just completely shut off no lights, no brakes no nothing. We purchased the vehicle used so we thought that it had something to do with some minor maintenance but this first occurred only after having the vehicle for two weeks. We've taken the vehicle back to where we purchased it, they could not find any issues with the vehicle and taken it to other locations with no luck on solving issue. The vehicle does not give any signs or warning when it will shut down while drive. Here recently when using the turn signals, switching on high beams, or even turning on the radio…
- Engine
PURCHASED CARE USED AT 76,000. CAR WENT FOR REPAIRS ONCE AFTER 4 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, WAS JERKING. CAMSHAFT ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. OIL CHANGE WAS DONE AT THIS TIME AS WELL. SIX MONTHS LATER CAR BEGINS TO JERK REPEATEDLY IN DRIVE AND REVERSE WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR IDLING, NO WARNING LIGHTS LIT. UPON INSPECTION WAS FOUND WITH NO OIL AT ALL. CAR WAS 3,500 INTO AN OIL CHANGE - BURNED THROUGH ALL OIL. SINCE RESEARCHING, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4 L ECO ENGINE, SAME AS CHEVY EQUINOX. ENGINE IS BEING REPAIRED, MAY NEED REPLACEMENT. VERY UPSETTING OWNING VEHICLE UNDER A YEAR, AND UNDER 100,000 MILES. CHEVY NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE CAPTIVA.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.