IllustrationVALVE COVER GASKETS LEAKED OIL ON EXHAUST CAUSING FIRE. REQUIRED 10 # DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. VERY DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH.*AK
1983 Chevrolet Caprice
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →8Owner complaints
Model-year median: 2.5
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
1InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1983 Chevrolet Caprice
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 8 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 1 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Equipment: 1 reports
- Structure: 1 reports
- Visibility: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caprice years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports4 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reportsTHE PLASTIC HVAC UNIT MOUNTED TO THE FIREWALL IS POORLY DESIGN WHICH ALLOWED A FIRE TO SPREAD INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, DIRECTLY THROUGH THE PLASTIC HVAC UNIT. NLM
HAD CHANGED FROM GAS ENGINE TO DIESEL. THIS CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT TO CRACK AND BREAK. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE FIRE. *DSH
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CATCHING FIRE. *AK
PLASTIC LUGGAGE HAS LIMITED STRENGTH, THEREFORE WILL NOT HOLD UP UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. *SD
VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TWICE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. TT
FIBERGLASS BLOWING THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, CAUSING SEVERE IRRITATION (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. *DSH
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
1EA88019 · Hydro Boost
Opened Jan 28, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.