GENERAL MOTORS LLC (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA SPORT PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 26, 2012, THROUGH MAY 17, 2012. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PARK BRAKE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "LIGHT VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE PARK BRAKE CABLE MAY NOT BE FULLY SEATED IN ITS CONNECTOR AND MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, THE PARK BRAKE WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE.
Safety risk
IF THE VEHICLE IS ON AN UNEVEN SURFACE, THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AND A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE PARK BRAKE CABLES ARE CONNECTED AND SECURE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE CHEVROLET OWNER CENTER AT 1-866-694-6546.
Steering: hydraulic power assist: power steering fluid
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS LLC
Vehicles affected
3,150
Reported to NHTSA
2011-12-19
Owners notified
2012-01-24
Defect description
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 21, 2011. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MANUAL MODE AND IN FIRST GEAR CAUSES THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING PUMP TO OPERATE AT HIGHER SPEED THAN IS TYPICAL. INCREASED PUMP SPEED GENERATES HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID AND CAN RESULT IN POWER STEERING FLUID TEMPERATURES THAT APPROACH THE POWER STEERING PUMP RESERVOIRS MELTING POINT.
Safety risk
AFTER PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ELEVATED FLUID TEMPERATURES, THE RESERVOIR MAY LEAK. LEAKING FLUID, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION, FREE OF CHARGE. AN ADVISORY LETTER TO CUSTOMERS, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE MAILED IN JANUARY 2012. WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, GM WILL SEND ANOTHER LETTER ASKING CUSTOMER TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. GM ANTICIPATES PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
45
73,000 mi
Engine
22
90,000 mi
Unknown or other
17
50,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
12
94,000 mi
Steering
10
55,000 mi
Air bags
5
55,000 mi
Service brakes
5
79,000 mi
Exterior lighting
4
95,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
4
90,000 mi
Power train
4
80,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
3
124,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition
1
80,000 mi
Parking brake
1
36,000 mi
Seats
1
—
Traction control system
1
28,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: cruise control
1
36,000 mi
Visibility
1
26,000 mi
Wheels
1
79,000 mi
The 2013 model has 10 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.