Family SUV · 2006–2018 cars
Chevrolet Captiva reliability
The Chevrolet Captiva fails 46.9% of first MOT tests, 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 24,509 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Chevrolet Captiva before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 46.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 23% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 24,509
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 8,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Chevrolet Captiva ages
Each point is the share of Chevrolet Captivas of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Chevrolet Captiva | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 37.6% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 41.6% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 39.6% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 46.2% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 48.2% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 51.3% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 51.2% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 48.3% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 51.6% | 42.9% |
By year
The best and worst Chevrolet Captiva years
2008 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 625 | 32.6% | 10% more fails | 79,990 |
| 2013 Captiva | 3,755 | 40.3% | 25% more fails | 83,538 |
| 2012 Captiva | 3,575 | 40.8% | 17% more fails | 89,171 |
| 2011 Captiva | 4,183 | 48.2% | 27% more fails | 96,069 |
| 2010 Captiva | 6,166 | 51.8% | 28% more fails | 104,376 |
| 2009 Captiva | 2,731 | 50.9% | 21% more fails | 107,021 |
| 2008 Captiva | 2,629 | 50.2% | 15% more fails | 112,259 |
| 2007 | 840 | 46.5% | 6% more fails | 110,064 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Chevrolet Captiva
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 153% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics24.5%44% above avg
- Suspension17.4%20% above avg
- Brakes16.6%79% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure9.5%83% above avg
- Tyres9.4%23% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors8.2%46% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks7.9%73% above avg
- Steering4%32% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.3%153% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Stop lamp not working 5.77% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 2
Position lamp not working 4.83% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Dipped beam headlamp not working 4.81% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 4.36% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 5
Coil spring fractured or broken 4.13% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 6
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 3.94% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 7
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 3.77% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 8
Exhaust has major gas leak 3.46% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Chevrolet Captiva's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit19.79%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive18.23%
- Brake pads wearing thin11.59%
- Brake disc pitted or scored11.38%
- Shock absorber light oil misting8.92%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear8.33%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Chevrolet Captiva
- 1
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 4
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Chevrolet Captiva covers about 8,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel98.3%
- Petrol1.7%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Black, Silver, Grey, White, Blue
Average engine size: 2.1 litres.
Compare
How the Chevrolet Captiva compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Jaguar I-Pace | 7.1% | 47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi e-tron | 7.9% | 41% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Ford Edge | 13.8% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 12.6% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Tarraco | 14.2% | about average for its age |
| Chevrolet Captiva | 46.9% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SsangYong Korando | 31.8% | 44% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family suv ranked in the family suv reliability index, or all Chevrolet models.
Questions
Chevrolet Captiva questions, answered
Is the Chevrolet Captiva reliable?
On MOT results, the Chevrolet Captiva is below average: it fails 46.9% of first MOT tests, 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 55 of 59 family suv models in our index.
What fails most on a Chevrolet Captiva MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Chevrolet Captiva are stop lamp not working (5.77% of tests), position lamp not working (4.83% of tests), dipped beam headlamp not working (4.81% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 24.5% of its tests.
Which Chevrolet Captiva year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2008 cars do best (15% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (28% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Chevrolet Captiva do a year?
A typical Chevrolet Captiva covers about 8,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Chevrolet Captiva before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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