There are 9 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Captivain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving on an interstate, the voltage suddenly began to decrease. Within a few minutes, the car died on the highway. we were able to get it to the shoulder. No electrical equipment worked, including the emergency lights. After taking it to a garage, the mechanic said the alternator was working fine, but the battery was drained. He was able to start and run the car, but the computer indicated that a long-term memory issue with the computer, itself, was indicated. Also, previous to this, the transmission had to be rebuilt. Maybe DumDum should declare that all Americans made vehicles are presumed to be defective, and subject to a recall!
GOING DOWN ROAD AT 70MPH AND VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN TO 40MPH ON ITS OWN AND I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE KEY FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED MOVING. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE AND ACTIVATED THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOWSER CHEVROLET OF MONROEVILLE (1600 GOLDEN MILE HWY, MONROEVILLE, PA 15146) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
GM HAS A CAMPAIGN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSED MINE.BASICALLY OIL IS BYPASSED IN LARGE VOLUME TO THE ENGINE INTAKE BECAUSE THE PASSAGES ARE UNDERSIZED FOR PCV SYSTEM. THIS IS SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT 14882 BY GM. PCV VALVE REPLACED AND PASSAGES ENLARGED
APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO THE FRONT MAIN SEALS ON THE CAR WENT BAD DURING COLD WEATHER. ONCE AGAIN WE HAVE HAD NEGATIVE TEMPERATURES THAT THIS TIME MADE THE REAR MAIN SEALS GO BAD IN THIS CAR. THE MANUFACTURE WARRANTY RUNS OUT 1/29/2018 I PURCHASED THE CAR ON 1/29/2013 ME BEING THE SECOND OWNER THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO ME. I PURCHASED WHAT WAS TO BE AN EXTENDED MECHANICAL WARRANTY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, AND TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS A GAP WARRANTY WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY USELESS TO ME THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED. THIS PROBLEM BEING COLD WEATHER RELATED YOUR HAVE RECALLED SEVERAL IN THE COLDER NORTHERN STATES. I AM ASKING THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THIS TO BE RECALLED IN MY STATE AS WELL. -15 AND -8 IS A VERY WET COLD FOR THIS ARE CAUSING CONDENSATION ON THE SEALS CAUSING THEM TO GO BAD SHOULD NOT BE MY FAULT BUT A MANUFACTURE FAULT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ALL CONSIDERATION FOR THIS. FOR THIS TO BE DONE IS A $1,439.00 DOLLAR VALUE, FOR A SINGLE MOTHER WITH NO OTHER INCOME IS VERY DIFFICULT AND A HARDSHIP TO MANAGE.SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL AT A HIGH RATE. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH CHEVY CAPTIVA'S, THAT THE OIL BURNING WILL MELT THE PISTONS INTO THE PARTS BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER IT. LOCATED BULLETIN 13-06-01-003F-EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION UNDER THE GM WEBSITE BUT THEY STATE IT DOESN'T COVER MY VIN#. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY GM HOW CAN IT SELECT WHICH VEHICLES TO FIX.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE PAST AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (COOPER CHEVROLET BUICK, 1300 S QUINTARD AVE, ANNISTON, AL, 36201), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DISENGAGE OR DISPLAY A FUEL PUMP ERROR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000.
THIS CAR IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DRIVING STEADY BETWEEN 30-45MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL JERK LIKE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS HAVING PROBLEMS. DURING SLOW SPEED DRIVING SUCH AS A TRAFFIC JAM < 20MPH THE CAR WILL JERK INTO GEARS. DURING SLOW SPEEDS OF ABOUT 10MPH IF I STEP ON THE GAS THE CAR LAGS, NOSEDIVES A LITTLE, AND THEN TAKES OFF. GENERALLY SHIFTING IS VERY JERKY.
CAR WAS DRIVING FINE WENT INTO A STORE CAME OUT KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK, OPENED DOOR WITH KEY AND CAR WOULD NOT START. CALLED FOR A JUMP BUT BEFORE THE PERSON CAME THE CAR STARTED OUT OF THE BLUE. I NEVER ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN BUT HAD INADVERTENTLY LEFT THE SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION. I TOOK THE CAR INTO GOOD CHEVROLET FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR'S BRAINS WERE BASICALLY SCRAMBLED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PCM, BANK 1 SENSOR 2 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED AND THAT ALL CODES WERE CLEARED AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS VERIFIED. I PICK THE CAR UP ON 8/14/14 DROVE IT ON 8/15/14 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AGAIN I SAT THERE AND WAITED AND ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES LATER THE CAR STARTED. THIS TIME THE CAR SHOW ADDITIONAL ISSUES. THE LIGHTS WHERE THE RPMS ARE SHOWN FLICKERS ON AND OFF, THE CAR SPUTTERS, TRYING TO GET UP TO A CERTAIN SPEED IS TAXING AND WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE IS A RATTLING COUPLED WITH A SQUEALING SOUND. TODAY IS 8/16/14 AND I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK INTO GOOD CHEVROLET ONCE AGAIN FOR SERVICE. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE CAR THIS TIME AND THAT I DO NOT HAVE SOME MAJOR ISSUE AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD AS THERE IS CLEARLY SOMETHING WRONG WITHIN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER COMPONENTS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026