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8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$3,500
Average Mileage:
74,200 miles
Total Complaints:
6 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace motor (1 reports)
2012 Chevrolet Captiva engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Chevrolet Captiva Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 042021

Captiva LS 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Actually like this vehicle! Bought it because I was looking for another Saturn Vue, (a great vehicle!) but they no longer manufactured these vehicles. A friend of mine who is a car salesman at a local dealership suggested the Chevy Captiva. The problem is I have documentation showing that I have changed the oil at around 2.5 months or 2500-2700 miles, whichever came first. I did notice within the last couple of years that I was consistently adding oil before each oil change! (At least 1-2 quarts.)

No visible leaks so I asked a friend who is a mechanic at the dealership and he said that it was a known issue in these vehicles. I never noticed any noise or evidence of any mechanical issues until this past Monday. As I got 15 miles into my 30 mile trip I noticed a few lights had come on and I lost a lot of power! (Service Traction and Service Stabilitrak lights were on!) I was able to drive the vehicle but could not get over 30 miles per hour!

I took it to a dealer where they charged me $100 to tell me that I was at least 3 quarts of oil low! (Less than 2 months and 2,000 mile since my last oil change!) The also told me that the timing was off and I needed a valve job, but they would NOT be able to warranty the work because I should just purchase another motor or I would probably continue to have problems.

With that being said...Because I took such good care of this vehicle (Still looks new!) I now have to have a new motor installed! I've been a GM guy my whole life! I am extremely bothered after reading all of the consistent issues with this vehicle and they assume NO responsibility! Shame on you, General Motors!

- David N., Janesville, US

problem #5

Mar 292019

Captiva 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles

3/29/19 Heard a tapping noise coming from the engine. No dash lights came on. When I got home from work around 4:00 PM I called the dealership where I take my car for service, since I purchased it there. They could not have me come in the next morning, since there were not openings. So, I took the car to my local garage.

When I pulled into the garage, they knew what was wrong. I was low of 3 qts. of oil. He gave me the GM Bulletin # 13-06-01-003H to give to the dealership. This was an excessive oil consumption problem with Chevy Captiva's. So, I gave the number to the dealership and they kind of don't want to hear this. I explain to them that the Captiva's are using excessive oil. I was not due for another oil change for another 1000 miles and this car needed 3 quarts of oil before the next oil change.

I had an appointment for Monday to bring the car in, as I was filling out the paper work with the service Dept. She informed me that My warranty expired in February. Wonderful, she said they would have to run a test on the car to diagnose the problem, and that would be $139 to do this, so they would know what was wrong. I told her I know what the problem is, and gave her the GM Bulletin #. She informed me there were no recalls on my car regarding the oil consumption. I told her to forget it and walked out. I was not going to pay for something that is a GM problem, they should be the ones fixing this at no cost to the customer.

I did call GM directly and got the same run around. That there was not recall, take it to your dealer so they could test it. I gave them the Bulletin #, but they couldn't care less. I am still using oil, and I hope that if enough complaints are made GM will fix the piston's in the cars that have this problem.

- Mary Ann S., Middletown, NY, US

problem #4

May 122018

Captiva LS 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,996 miles

Rear seal failure led to an oil leak, car never alerted with a check engine light to report low oil pressure or low oil. After consumption of oil led to the timing belt being loosened which in turn led to the engine being destroyed.

Have continually kept up to date on all oil changes. Seeing others complain about similar issues but when calling GM they claim zero responsibility. I was told it is completely my fault that I should have been checking oil levels. Although there were no signs of leakage, no alerts through the vehicle and oil change had occurred within the proper amount of time.

Have not done anything as of yet and trying to gather all possible solutions to the issue.

- Spencer W., Alliance, OH, US

problem #3

Mar 052016

Captiva 2.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Excessive Oil use; rattling; sluggish; gas in oil pan; engine light on; "reduced engine power".

- Judy M., Vandalia, IL, US

problem #2

Jan 052015

Captiva LS 3 2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 43,000 miles

I had my oil changed and after 1 week it was low of oil, so I thought that maybe they did not fill it up all of the way. I had to add 1 quart of oil. The next time that I had it changed I went to a different place and it did the same thing. I keep an eye on the oil to be sure that it does not need anymore oil added and so far it has done fine. I'll see with the next oil change.

- jahill8027, Dora, AL, US

problem #1

Apr 012014

Captiva Sport 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

About a year ago started noticing it using what I considered to be a lot of oil. Dealer began a oil consumption test. When it needed oil I had to bring it to them check n document how much it took. I have been doing this for a year. It stills uses oil and nothing has been done.

- Cindy H., Seymour, IN, US

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