There are 37 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Captivain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This car is know for engine consumption issues it is the motor and it is know has has been recalled due to issues in prior years. My engine is consuming a half a quart every 40 miles.
The engine light was on and i went to dealership to have it checked out. They told me that it was a computer glich and not to worry about it. Was driving on the highway when the engine exploded and the car stopped. I was able to glide to the side of the road. After talking to dealership again they said that this model had something wrong with a part in the engine that normally would cause the car to stop without warning when reaching around 125,000 miles on it. I made it to 150,00+.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving, and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an auto body repair shop, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the manufacturing of the vehicle was discontinued due to engine failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
These vehicles are known to use an excess of oil in the engine, when the engine oil is low there is no warning light/system to notify operator of this, I have talked with many other owners and it is the same story. Mechanics report this engine uses oil burnt by the catalytic convertor, they say it can only be fixed if you have a major engine repair, then it will be normal in oil usage. This seems to fit under the lemon law. Chevy knows about this problem, both the usage of excessive oil and also no low warning when oil is low. This can lead to a major cost or damage to the engine. Again this is a known issue. Let me know if questions. [XXX] [XXX] thanks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 103,416.
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.
MY CAPTIVA LEAVES NO TRACE OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR BUT BURNS THROUGH OIL FAST ENOUGH I MUST ADD OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. VEHICLE DOES NOT SMOKE SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH CAPTIVAS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE HAD THEIR MOTORS REPLACED. I CANT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE OIL ISSUE AS I KNOW OF AT LEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE THAT PROBLEM. NOW I AM DEALING WITH A LEAKY RADIATOR AND HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THAT FIXED. A 7 YEAR OLD CAR WITH JUST OVER 100K ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. IF I HADN'T CHECKED THE OIL, THE MOTOR NO DOUBT WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE THAT WE FINALLY HAD TO START ADDING OIL BUT IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR. I AM FINALLY TIRED OF HAVING TO CHECK OIL LIKE I OWN A 200K CAR.
LAST YEAR IT KEPT GOING DEAD, I HAD JUST HAD OIL CHANGED HAD IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC IT WAS OUT OF OIL, HE REPLACED SENSORS BECAUSE THEY WENT OUT BECAUSE NO OIL, I FAILED COMPLAINT WITH COMPANY I USED FOR OIL CHANGE THINKING THEY DID NOT PUT OIL BACK IN IT, THEY PD FOR REPAIR. IN JUNE HAD OIL CHANGED 2 WKS LATER IT STARTED MAKING CLATTERING SOUND, OUT OF OIL AGAIN AND STILL HAD 3000 MILES LEFT BEFORE ANOTHER CHANGE. TOOK IT TO COMPANY HE INFORMED ME 2.4 ECO MOTOR HAD A LAW SUIT LAST YR FOR OIL USAGE THRU ENGINE PISTONS, I WAS NEVER SENT A NOTICE OF RECALL OR ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THIS HAS BEEN PROBLEM ALL ALONG.NOW I'M STUCK WITH A VEHICLE I'M WORRIED WILL STOP ON ME.AND GM WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT OR NOTHING. I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR, AND THIS ONE HAS BEEN SERVICED AND TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF. ANY SUGGESTIONS . CAR WAS IN MOTION
THE CAR IS CUTTING OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING JUSTT. STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC RPM IS NOT REGISTERING THE RIGHT WAY WHERE THE CAR IS CUTTING OFF
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 50. CAR JUST DIES OUT IF NO WHERE. PULLED OVER AND IT WOULD START. WAITED 15 MINUTES AND IT WOULD THEN START. CAR ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACT CHEVY. THEY TELL ME TO GET IT LOOKED AT BY CHEVY DEALER. TOWED CAR TO DEALER. THEY HAVE NOW INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED AND THEY BELIEVE NO LONGER GOOD. NEW ENGINE WILL COST 8000. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I SEE ONLINE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM N WITH THE ENGINE IN THIS MODEL. AND THIS ENGINE IS USED IN A FEW OTHER MODELS AND EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC VERIFIED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. REPRESENTATIVE AT CHEVY ALSO VERIFIED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. HIS NAME IS [XXX] WITH FRIENDLY CHEVROLET IN SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS. SHOULD THESE ENGINES BE FAILING? SHOULD CONSUMERS BE FACED WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
OIL JUST BURNS OUT OF IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT EVERY WEEK TO EVERY OTHER WEEK. I GOT MY REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND IT DIDN'T MATTER STILL NEEDED OIL CONSTANTLY. TILL MY MOTOR FINALLY WAS BLOWN WITH NO OIL EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST PUT SOME IN. WASN'T LEAKING I HAD IT LOOKED AT TO SEE IF WAS.
STARTING ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND THAT IT WOULD START SHAKING WHEN I WAS SITTING IDEL. I TOOK MY CAPTIVA TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT HE BELIEVED IT DEALT WITH OIL CONSUMPTION. I DRIVE ONLY SHORT DISTANCES TO MY WORK, SO I SHOULD NOT BE USING VERY MUCH OIL. EVERY TIME I HAVE HAD THE LIGHT COME ON, I TAKE IT IN AND THEY BASICALLY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MAJORITY OF MY OIL. THE VEHICLE IS BURNING IT MUCH FASTER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL. SO MUCH THAT I NEED TO SET A REMINDER ON MY CALENDAR TO CHECK EVERY 2 WEEKS. IT DID NOT LEAK OIL. ON 12/19/2019 AT 134K, I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED THE CAR'S POWER WEAKENED. IT STALLED, I STARTED AND WENT ON THE HIGHWAY. STABILITY TRACTION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS DECREASED ENGINE POWER. I HAD MY HAZARDS ON AND COASTED TO A GAS STATION OFF THE HIGHWAY. I CHECK MY OIL. I NEARLY HAD ANY. MIND YOU ON 12/9 I HAD TO HAVE MY HEAT FIXED AND PAID FOR A NEW BLEND DOOR HEAT ACTUATOR. THEY ALSO ADDED 2 QUARTS OF OIL ON 12/9. I HARDLY HAD ANY 10 DAYS LATER. A FTER ADDING 2 QTS THE VEHICLE SOUNDED OKAY AND OFF I WENT. WITHIN 5 MINUTES, ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN.THE CAR WAS DECREASING ENGINE POWER. IT WAS TERRIFYING. I MADE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO ANOTHER HIGHWAY AND BROKE DOWN IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE DURING RUSH HOUR.. ENGINE WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC SAID THE REAR MAIN SEAL COME OUT AND LOST ALL THE OIL. THERE IS A BULLETIN ABOUT THIS HAPPENING DURING COLD WEATHER. I TOOK GOOD CARE OF THE VEHICLE AND AM ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED IN CHEVY FOR BEING AWARE OF ISSUES AND NOT HAVING A RECALL. I HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER CAR NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT TWO QUARTS OF OIL NEEDED TO BE ADDED EACH WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KUNES COUNTRY FORD LINCOLN OF STERLING (2811 N LOCUST ST, STERLING, IL 61081, (815) 625-6300) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BENT VALVE CYLINDER HEAD AND COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CYLINDER "JUMPED TIME". THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO A CHEVY DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS CONSUMING OIL MUCH QUICKER THAN NORMAL. I WAS HAVING TO PUT ROUGHLY 2 QUARTS IN EVERY WEEK. I DO MOSTLY SMALL TOWN DRIVING SO NOTHING TOO EXTENSIVE. THE DEALER SHOWED NO EXTERNAL LEAKS AND SUGGESTED DOING A DIAGNOSTIC TO SEE IF THERE WAS INTERNAL CONSUMPTION. CAME TO FIND THAT THE PISTON RINGS INSIDE THE ENGINE ARE BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THEM, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR CHEVY SUVS MADE DURING THIS TIME. TO REPLACE WOULD MEAN TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND COSTS AROUND $3,200 IF YOU CAN FIND A SHOP WILLING TO MESS WITH IT. VERY DISAPPOINTED. MY SISTER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN AN EQUINOX. HER RINGS WERE RECALLED AND CHEVY REPLACED FOR FREE. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM LOOK INTO THIS AS IT SEEMS LIKE MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE IDLING ISSUES. SUCKS FOR A CAR TO BE LESS THAN 7 YEARS OLD AND BE UNDRIVEABLE. WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE PURCHASING ANOTHER CHEVY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. ALSO, WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOBILE CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2900 GOVERNMENT BLVD, MOBILE, AL 36606, (251) 545-4291), BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT TWO VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
I HAD MY OIL CHANGED 3 DAYS AGO, STARTED MY CAR AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETE AND PARKED IT LESS THAN 2 MINUTES LATER AFTER TRAVELING 1/4 MILE TO THE GROCERY STORE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AFTER MY SHOPPING WAS COMPLETE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES LATER AND WAS UNABLE TO AS THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START. I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THAT, I HAVE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES AND I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL A CAR. DESPITE HAVING HAD MY VEHICLE REGULARLY SERVICED AS RECOMMENDED, I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO ADD OIL IN BETWEEN SERVICING. THIS VEHICLE HAS MAJOR OIL CONSUMPTION AND ENGINE FAILURE ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY. HAD I KNOWN THESE PROBLEMS WOULD BE IN MY FUTURE, I WOULD NEVER HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND PUT MY FAMILY AT RISK. THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED IS A MAJOR OVERSIGHT AND RIDICULOUSLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
REGARDING PLUGGED PCV ORIFICE LEADING TO REAR CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL BLOWOUT. GM BULLETIN 14882 REPORTS SAME ISSUE, SAME ENGINE, SAME YEAR, UNDER 100K MILES ON VEHICLE AND GM REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR SAYING VIN NOT ON FILE FOR REPAIR. SEEMS AS THOUGH VEHICLE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AS WELL.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION LED TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 130,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WERE CURRENT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS CAMSHAFT SOLENOID. WHEN REPLACED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THEN REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAME ON. CHEVY KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSES TO INCLUDE THE CAPTIVA IN THE SAME SPECIAL COVERAGE ANNOUNCEMENT AS THE EQUINOX AND GMC TERRAIN EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINES ARE IDENTICAL. REDUCED ENGINE POWER CAME IN WHILE IN MOTION, NEARLY LEADING TO ACCIDENT DUE TO SUDDEN SLOWNESS
REAR MAIN SEAL BROKE AND SPEWED OIL EVERYWHERE. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. IT COST $944 TO REPAIR AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF I COULD BE REIMBURSED.
Showing 1–20 of 37 complaints
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