1987 Chevrolet CAPRICE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Seats: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 12 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
1995: 7; 1996: 2; 2000: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 481814 · 1995-02-28 (February 28, 1995)
WATER PUMP REPLACED TWICE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482631 · 1995-03-25 (March 25, 1995)
VEHICLE HAS SEVERE SWAYING PROBLEM. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500884 · 1996-01-24 (January 24, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN REVERSE GEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500884 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 502315 · 1996-03-11 (March 11, 1996)
BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 736704 · 2000-11-21 (November 21, 2000)
MY FATHER'S 1987 CAPRICE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED ALONG WITH ITS GARAGE. FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER HOOD AS ENGINE WAS BEING STARTED. HE WAS FORTUNATE TO ESCAPE. I, HIS SON, HAVE A 1988 CAPRICE WITH THE SAME 305 CID ENGINE AND THE SAME 4-BARREL CARB; AND I HAVE BEEN NOTICING GAS FUMES DURING OPERATION OF THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. MY QUESTION: IS THERE SOME PROBLEM WITH ENGINE FIRES IN CAPRICES WITH THIS ENGINE/CARB COMBINATION? HAVE THERE BEEN ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737329 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)
THROTTLE JAMMED INTO HIGH-REV. AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO HIGH SPEED BEFORE NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 861873 · 2000-05-15 (May 15, 2000)
UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 861873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962043 · 1995-03-16 (March 16, 1995)
ELECTRIC SEAT PANEL FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962043 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V168000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
Reported: 1987-10-26 (October 26, 1987)
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
Consequence: THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
Remedy: REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1989-06-16 (June 16, 1989)
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗