IllustrationTHROTTLE JAMMED INTO HIGH-REV. AND ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO HIGH SPEED BEFORE NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN. THROTTLE CABLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BROKEN. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caprice years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
17 reportsMY 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.…
Read full complaint
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
UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN CAR IS PLACED INTO DRIVE IT POPS INTO GEAR. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS TRAVELLING AT 20 MPH AND THE DRIVER PRESSES THE GAS PEDAL FURTHER, THE VEHICLE AGAIN SHIFTS AND POPS.
SEAT ASSEMBLY THAT ALLOWS SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD HAS BROKEN, NOT ALLOWING THE SEAT TO LOCK IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION FOR SHORTER DRIVERS.
CRUISE CONTROL RESUMED BY ITSELF, CAUSING ACCELERATION AND AN ACCIDENT.
THE POWER ASSISTED BRAKES WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS GOING 30MPH AND HAD NO BRAKES. SHE HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO STOP IT. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
BRAKES MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. *DSH
TRANSMISSION FAILED IN REVERSE GEAR. *AK
Official recalls
289V102000 · 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
2C89001 · 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:===