I bought this from a dealer used in 13. Started having electrical problems this past few months, much the same as on these pages. I replaced the battery and it was fine for a couple months but now problems are back and battery is good. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have them change the battery cables hopefully that fixes it because it isn't cheap. Not impressed that the problem is so well known yet Chevy isn't doing anything about the problem.

 

I purchased my 2012 Captiva LTZ used in 2013. I started experiencing acceleration issues within first year, thought I purchased bad gas. Blamed it on myself. Then I was starting to lose power while driving, the head lights would dim, cabin lights would go dim and the vehicle would start chugging. This happened at night, in October of 2015. I managed to drive it to an Auto Zone and had them change the battery, the voltage reading was extremely low when I checked. The new battery seemed to solve the issues, for a short time. Sometimes when accelerating there is no response from gas peddle being pressed, all other functions seem to be fine but no acceleration. I would let off gas and try again, then chugging and finally it would go. Since November of 2015 I am now experiencing the slow acceleration along with a key that cannot be released from the ignition. This does not happen all the time but has become more frequent. I managed to get the key out most times, within the last two weeks it has been stuck for 2 days sometimes 3. I've had to resort driving around with a booster pack just to use MY vehicle. This is not safe!

 

This blog is very interesting... I myself purchased a 2012 Chevy Captiva LTZ last year Jan 2015. A month or so in I experienced the radio cutting out when turning a corner and pressing on the gas. Then it would be the radio shutting off when car was turned off but no doors opened. Little things. Then 4 months after buying it we get in the car and it is like 80+ degrees and I go to turn on the Air conditioning and the whole heating/cooling unit is out, including the heated seats, and the temperature reading gage. So I took it in to the Chevy dealer I bought it at and they tell me its the HVAC System. I replace it. Then in July comes and same things with the radio are happening again and then there are a couple dash codes that keep flashing and beeping. I take it back to same dealer/service and they said it is the altenator. I replace it. September comes around and I am at the school waiting to pick up my kids from school (I am widower/single mother) and we get back in to leave and the car is completely dead. Won't start, no lights, nothing. I get a jump and it seems like everything has been reset and recharged. Took it in and there weren't any codes to read, altenator is reading good and so is battery. Good.. But then 3 -4 months later we are back to the same things. Car dies, I get a jump and now there are 3 codes that are on dash and they all say low voltage. So I buy a new battery. Now 3 months later it starts all over again. It is currently (as of today) sitting in my drive way and will not start at all. First there was no power at all, then I got a jump because I was stranded at the bank with my two kids in the parking lot.. And drove it home and parked it. Now it has power (lights on dash come on, alarm works, and those kind of things) but still wont turn over and start. We are a one car family and I bought this thinking it would be a good car for the three of us. Bought it right from a Chevy Dealer (who neglected to mention the issues with these models) So now what Chevy??!! Thinking I am going to dealer "again" and we are gonna have a different kind of conversation this time.. This is not ok or safe. Luckily I am a homebody and I don't travel out much after dark...

 

The service dept discovered the shifter was not operating correctly, the vehicle would not recognize it was in park, therefore would not release key. The part is covered under my extended warranty. I will let you know how it operates.
I hope you have some answers for your vehicle soon.

 

I have a 2012 Chevy Captiva that I purchased in 2013 from a dealer. I didn't have any of these problems immediately, but for a while now my radio randomly turns itself off and then back on. The traction control warning light comes on for a second and then goes off. I had the traction control thing checked by my mechanic but because it never stays on long enough it doesn't trigger a computer code. Today, I got into my car, to go back to work after running an errand, and my car won't start. It doesn't make a noise, no click, nothing. I take the key out, try again, nothing, and then it randomly starts -with the key not in the start position, but now the radio isn't coming on. Now, I found this forum and see that a LOT of people are having the same issue and how come Chevy isn't doing anything about it? It's clearly a problem. This is very frustrating and disappointing. This is the first Chevy I've ever owned and will probably be the last. Shame on you, Chevy.

 

Hello Amy5,

We don't want this to be your lasting impression of our brand and do genuinely apologize for the frustrations you've experienced with your Captiva. Are you planning on making your servicing dealership aware? We'd be happy to provide an extra layer of assistance and review your situation in greater depth. If this is something you'd like to move forward with, please send us a private message with your VIN, mileage, contact information, and preferred dealership.

Thank you,

Jasmine
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

As an update: I took my Captiva to the dealer and they checked it out. it turned out it was the 'Body Control Monitor" (BCM) unit in the computer that had gone bad. They found an error code for it in their computer. Luckily, they had the part on hand and were able to replace it the same day. They said it was pretty rare to see that, but that's what it was. They are having me watch it to see if any of the same issues arise, but so far so good. Since my car is a 'certified' car, it was still under some sort of warranty for that and it didn't end up costing me a thing. The service person that helped me, Paul, was really nice. They even washed and vacuumed my car! Nice end to what has been a frustrating situation. Also the Chevy Customer Care folks here on the forum helped facilitate this and I appreciated it. Hopefully I won't have any more to post about problems with this car.

 

So my daughters 2012 Captiva Sport 2LS is having the same issue as many I've read here, turn on the turn signal causes the dash service indicators to come on, the turn signals no longer work, the Bluetooth cuts out, the radio cuts out, the noise coming from the fan is obserdedly loud,,, I've not seen the corrective action for these issues. Before I spend an excessive amount of additional money trying to fix this, is it fixable??? I might add that she has taken it to the dealership multiple times, even left it for a few days, they could not duplicate the problem. Very frustrating to have a defective car and no support from Chevy. Is this problem related to ambient temerature? Is it failing because it's too hot? What courses of action have been successful? Legal? Class Action? It's time to get this fixed before someone winds up getting injured.

 

So I wonder if this forum is no longer monitored by Chevy???

 

Well, I spoke too soon. So, they did replace that part in the computer. However, yesterday, the traction control light started coming on again, and the radio turned itself off and on a few times. Very disappointing. Back to square one. I called the service person that helped me last time I took it in and am waiting to hear back from him.