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Chevrolet CapriceYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 710 NHTSA owner complaints across 36 model years, no Chevrolet Caprice year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1986, 1993, 1995 and 1996. The Caprice has 50 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1991, 1994Best years'86 '93 '95 '96Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints710Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls501965–2014 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Caprice years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Caprice median. Tap a year for its full report.

'65'66'67'68'69'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'03'11'12'13'14
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2014Not rated–/10012 complaints · 3 recalls2013Not rated–/1006 complaints · 4 recalls2012Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls2011Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls2003Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1996Solid63/10065 complaints · 4 recalls1995Solid50/10088 complaints · 7 recalls1994Caution37/100146 complaints · 6 recalls1993Solid54/10061 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid43/10089 complaints · 6 recalls1991Caution36/100131 complaints · 5 recalls1990Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/10018 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/10012 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/10017 complaints · 2 recalls1986Best74/10030 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1004 complaints · 3 recalls1984Not rated–/1007 complaints · 1 recall1983Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1979Not rated–/1003 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1977Not rated–/1002 complaints · 3 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1974Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 4 recalls1968Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1966Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1965Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Caprice problems

All model years combined: 710 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic12716
Electrical system11015
Vehicle speed control6931
Engine and engine cooling5610
Suspension551
Steering533
Seat belts515
Power train407
Fuel system, gasoline393
17 other systems22142
50 recalls

Chevrolet Caprice recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

96%Seats15V-636 · 2014 · Oct 9, 2015 · 23 vehicles43%Seat belts15V-399 · 2011–2013 · Jun 23, 2015 · 47,042 vehicles45%Electrical system: ignition14V-540 · 2011–2013 · Sep 9, 2014 · 47,043 vehicles81%Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)14V-544 · 2011–2013 · Sep 9, 2014 · 7,598 vehicles95%Seats14V-446 · 2014 · Jul 23, 2014 · 124,007 vehicles85%Visibility: windshield wiper/washer14V-375 · 2013–2014 · Jun 27, 2014 · 4,794 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip97V-217 · 1992 · Nov 24, 1997 · 56,701 vehicles–Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs96V-245 · 1995–1996 · Dec 10, 1996 · 21,582 vehicles–Suspension: rear96V-020 · 1991–1996 · Jan 31, 1996 · 154,214 vehicles–Control arm: lower ball joint96V-019 · 1994–1995 · Jan 30, 1996 · 308 vehicles–Control arm: lower ball joint96V-018 · 1995–1996 · Jan 30, 1996 · 102,403 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission95V-221 · 1995 · Nov 16, 1995 · 83,400 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 50 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

18 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Caprice

  1. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2014 · still open
    Open
  2. COOLANT FIRESEA99003 · 1994–1996 · closed Aug 17, 2000
    No recall
  3. COOLANT FIRESPE98049 · 1994–1995 · closed Jan 13, 1999
    No recall
  4. STEERING WHEEL BREAKAGEEA96022 · 1994–1995 · closed Apr 4, 1997
    No recall
  5. REAR WHEEL SEPARATIONEA96007 · 1995–1996 · closed Dec 24, 1996
    No recall
  6. STERRING WHEEL BREAKAGEPE96037 · 1994–1995 · closed Sep 24, 1996
    No recall
  7. REAR WHEEL SEPARATIONPE96001 · 1996 · closed May 31, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-245
  8. LWR BALL JOINT ASSEM.FAILSPE93098 · 1991–1992 · closed Mar 30, 1994
    No recall
  9. THROTTLE STICKING/BINDINGEA93012 · 1989–1990 · closed Jun 30, 1994
    No recall
  10. THROTTLE STICKING/BINDINGPE92090 · 1989 · closed May 12, 1993
    No recall