NHTSA Complaint #11217426 — 2013 CHEVROLET CAPTIVA

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 AND DRIVER VISOR IMMEDIATELY GOT WARM TO TOUCH - CAR NOT EVEN CRANKED, JUST SITTING IN THE SHADY DRIVEWAY WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTED. SHIFTED VISOR DOWN AND THERE WAS A LOUD POP/CLICK NOISE. VISOR WOULD NOT FULLY RETURN TO STOWED POSITION. DISCONNECTED BATTERY AGAIN. NOT A SAFE SITUATION WITH OVERHEATING VISOR, NOXIOUS FUMES, AND FLUTTERING LIGHTS. CHEVY FORUMS INDICATE THIS HAS BEEN A KNOW ISSUE SINCE 2012, BUT DEALERSHIPS WILL ONLY ASSIST WHILE CAR IS STILL IN ORIGINAL PURCHASE WARRANTY PERIOD. FORUMS INDICATE THIS WAS A RECALL IN EUROPE/GREAT BRITAIN, BUT NOT HERE IN USA. RIDICULOUS. AN AMERICAN COMPANY NOT TAKING CARE OF ITS AMERICAN CUSTOMERS... FOR YEARS... MULTIPLE YEAR MODELS REPORTING SAME ISSUES.