2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport.

< older2013
Complaints
134
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Injuries
9
Fatalities
Recalls
2

Worst 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#145 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:79,328 mi
#222 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:95,097 mi
Fires:1
#312 complaints

Electronic Stability Control

Avg mileage:94,338 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport.

Electrical Faults
45
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
79,328
Engine Problems
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
95,097
Electronic Stability Control
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
94,338
Steering Defects
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
79,400
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
53,695
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
84,287
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~5,220 vehicles.

12V301000Parking Brake
~2,070 affected

GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 26, 2012, THROUGH MAY 17, 2012. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PARK BRAKE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "LIGHT VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE PARK BRAKE CABLE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED IN ITS CONNECTOR AND MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PARK BRAKE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE.

11V591000Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
~3,150 affected

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND IN FIRST GEAR CAUSES THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING PUMP TO OPERATE AT HIGHER SPEED THAN IS TYPICAL. INCREASED PUMP SPEED GENERATES HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAN RESULT IN POWER STEERING FLUID TEMPERATURES THAT APPROACH THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIR’S MELTING POINT.

Other Chevrolet Captiva Sport Years

2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport has 134 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 45 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (45 complaints, avg 79,328 mi); Engine Problems (22 complaints, avg 95,097 mi); Electronic Stability Control (12 complaints, avg 94,338 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83,658 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport include 4 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 5,220 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (electrical faults) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Captiva Sport reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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