The Lemon Index
2012Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 7,038 in the U.S. in 2011 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 1 complaint in its first 3 years.
1 owner complaint, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2011 Nissan Armada2011 Dodge Nitro 1142011 Mazda CX-7 31
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 11V591000 (steering) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Chevy sent dealers 484 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Harsh 2-3 Shift”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Chevy's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 1 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
In owners' words
Driving along slowly and vehicle froze up and refused to move. The vehicle had to be taken to the garage by tow truck.
2011 Chevrolet Captiva owner · NHTSA complaint 10483826
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 484 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Harsh 2-3 Shift
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Steering · recall issued 2011
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Captiva SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Captiva SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Every Chevrolet Captiva year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 3 Chevrolet Captiva years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2011 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/chevrolet-captiva/?y=2011" title="Chevrolet Captiva reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/chevrolet-captiva/2011/">Lemon Index</a> (2011 Chevrolet Captiva reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva reliable?
We can't score it: only 7,038 were sold in the U.S. in 2011 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 1 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2011 Chevrolet Captiva problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (100%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva have?
1 safety recall (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Captiva have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 100% of its owner complaints.
What Chevrolet Captiva year is better than the 2011?
Nearby, the 2013 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (a bit under half as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works