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U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet CAPRICE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

437 owner complaints analyzed

50 distinct recall campaigns

84,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1965 to 2014 model years. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 437 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior7817.8%
Steering behavior388.7%
Transmission and shifting235.3%
Engine operation204.6%
Electrical and battery issues204.6%
Fuel system concerns194.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
37
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
35
Electrical System:Horn
24
Tires:Tread/Belt
17
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
15
Steering
15
Electrical System
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control37
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip35
Electrical System:Horn24
Tires:Tread/Belt17
Power Train:Automatic Transmission16
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components15
Steering15
Electrical System14

Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 35; Electrical System:Horn: 24; Tires:Tread/Belt: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 15; Steering: 15; Electrical System: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
11
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
13
150,000 and above
10
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00010
25,000 to 49,99911
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99913
150,000 and above10

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 10

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 374 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
144
1996
75
2000
56
2001
28
2002
34
2003
25
2004
17
2005
8
2006
1
2007
8
2008
5
2009
4
2010
2
2011
2
2012
1
2013
1
2014
10
2015
7
2017
4
2018
1
2019
1
2020
1
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995144
199675
200056
200128
200234
200325
200417
20058
20061
20078
20085
20094
20102
20112
20121
20131
201410
20157
20174
20181
20191
20201
20231
20241

1995: 144; 1996: 75; 2000: 56; 2001: 28; 2002: 34; 2003: 25; 2004: 17; 2005: 8; 2006: 1; 2007: 8; 2008: 5; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 10; 2015: 7; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 78 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 859080 · 2000-03-23 (March 23, 2000)

VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING, AND VEHICLE JUMPED INTO CRUISE CONTROL WITHOUT CONSUMER EVEN TOUCHING THE BUTTON. ALMOST REARENDED ANOTHER CAR. *AK *ML

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859080 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480143 · 1995-02-02 (February 2, 1995)

POWER BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480143 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10585911 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)

1986 CHEVY CAPRICE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION IS DAMAGED AND STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NO MORE THAN 2 MINUTES AFTER THE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. HE RETURNED THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER, AND INFORMED HIM, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO CLUE AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10585911 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 965186 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)

DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION REAL HARD. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965186 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 484301 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH FAILED. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484301 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007477 · 2002-10-10 (October 10, 2002)

PRNDL READOUT STAYS ON THE "P" (FOR PARK) POSITION. I HAVE TO COUNT THE GEARS WHEN I OPERATE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR. CABLE THAT LINKS THE PRNDL NEEDLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR HAS BROKEN (HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE). THIS MAY BE A DEVELOPING SAFETY DEFECT TREND IN THIS GREAT CAR. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768324

Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007477 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967232 · 1995-06-19 (June 19, 1995)

THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY STALLS WHEN WARMING UP, AND THE VEHICLE HAS NO ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WORKS FINE AFTER SERVICE FOR A WHILE AND THEN BACK TO THE SAME

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967232 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 980911 · 1996-03-19 (March 19, 1996)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CATCHING FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980911 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 976620 · 1995-12-14 (December 14, 1995)

ELECTRICAL MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 976620 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023217 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)

PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. TANK IS MANUFACTURED WITH TWO CONE SHAPED DEPRESSIONS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. STRAPS HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE. THESE STRAPS ALMOST COVER THESE DEPRESSIONS, THE TANK LEAKS AT THE DEPRESSION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ALLOWING FUEL TO ESCAPE. CONTACTED GM, FILE NUMBER 1-109-911-920, BUT WAS TOLD THAT GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE AT THIS TIME SINCE INSUFFICIENT COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 153,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024793 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS TANK IS LEAKING FUEL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024793 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2003
0
2011
3
2012
3
2013
4
2014
3
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20030
20113
20123
20134
20143

2003: 0; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 3

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet CAPRICE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196503Not available
196602-1
1967020
1968020
196904+2
197103Not available
197202-1
197301-1
197402+1
197601Not available
197713+2
197802-1
197923+1
198002-1
198101-1
1982010
198370-1
198471+1
198533+2
1986201-2
1987122+1
198881-1
1989120-1
199031+1
1991765+4
1992506+1
1993351-5
1994816+5
1995637+1
1996354-3
199720-4
200310Not available
201113Not available
2012030
201364+1
2014123-1