Problems · by component

2013 Chevrolet Captiva electrical system problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Captiva cite electrical system, 29% of all 106 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
31
29% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Key will lock in ignition and vehicle will not start. Happens intermittently. Battery is fine, alternator is fine, dealership replaced ignition when purchased which helped for about a year, but the problem continues to become more frequent. Rattling the battery fixes the problem, but only temporarily.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2023Electrical systemODI 11517065
“Continus electric drop causing different systems to lose power, fail, or temporarly disable including but not limited to traction control, emergency break, radio and lights. After researching the problem in various forums I noted many owners facing the same problem over various years with no clear solution.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2022Electrical systemODI 11477573
“The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Captiva. The contact stated that on multiple occasions after inserting the key into the ignition switch, the ignition switch would not turn, and the engine could not be started. Also, the key would remain stuck inside the ignition switch and could not be removed. The vehicle was towed to a local service center who replaced the ignition switch, but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2021Electrical systemODI 11441995
“UNKNOWN, several times between my husband or myself while driving down the road and on the interstate, the vehicle would just completely shut off no lights, no brakes no nothing. We purchased the vehicle used so we thought that it had something to do with some minor maintenance but this first occurred only after having the vehicle for two weeks. We've taken the vehicle back to where we purchased it, they could not find any issues with the vehicle and taken it to other locations with no luck on solving issue. The vehicle does not give any signs or warning when it will shut down while drive. Here recently when using the turn signals, switching on high beams, or even turning on the radio causes the vehicle shut down.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 26, 2021Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11418637
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHASSIS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2020Electrical system, EngineODI 11319335
“DURING THE LAST WEEK OF MAY 2019 RADIO TURNING ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY - THOUGHT IT WAS ISSUE WITH RADIO STATION, BUT ON-LINE CHEVY FORUMS INDICATE IT IS A SIGN OF LARGER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUNE 1, 2019, ENTERING VEHICLE AFTER DINNER OUT, INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING; DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT NIGHT WITH AC & CRUISE CONTROL ON THERE WAS A SUDDEN NOXIOUS ODOR IRRITATING TO EYES, NOSE, AND THROAT (2 PEOPLE ILL); HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING; OPENED WINDOWS TO VENTILATE; MADE IT HOME (~12 MILES); ALL LIGHTS - EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR - STILL FLICKERING UPON ARRIVAL HOME; STILL A STRONG NOXIOUS ODOR - STRONGER ON INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE OF VEHICLE; INTERNET SEARCH OF SYMPTOMS INDICATED DRIVER VISOR MIGHT BE EXTREMELY HOT - WENT OUT TO CHECK AND IT WAS VERY HOT - EVEN AFTER SITTING WHILE WE DID INTERNET SEARCH; FURTHER INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES MANY CHEVY CAPTIVA OWNERS COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS; FORUMS INDICATE KNOWN BATTERY CABLES VOLTAGE DROP ISSUE LEADING TO EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (~$1000) NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL, SO WE DISCONNECTED BATTERY OVERNIGHT UNTIL WE COULD CHECK THINGS IN THE DAYLIGHT. 6/2/19 - AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE BATTERY DISCONNECTED OVERNIGHT, RECONNECTED…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11217426

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2013 Captiva problem areas