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1987 Chevrolet Caprice

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
17Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2.5

2Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
19844
198530
198617
198712
198818
19896
1990
Compare all Caprice years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Seats
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2
All reported categories
Electrical System
1Suspension
1Visibility
1

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 17 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 3 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 reports3 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

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.…

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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

NHTSA ODI #736704

Official recalls

2

89V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jun 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 & remedy

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.

87V168000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Oct 26, 1987

MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE88010 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Dec 10, 1987 · Closed Apr 19, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:BEING ANALYZED AS OF 16 MAR 88.ANALYSIS:IR BEING ANALYZED.PROPOSED ACTION:===