IllustrationCPSC: THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL HORN BUTTONS ON THE 91-93 CHEVY CAPRICE, HORN BUTTONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DON'T WORK! *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS
1991 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
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 131 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
16 reportsMY CAPRICE CLASSIC WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. AFTER AN HOUR FROM MY CAR BEING MOVED, MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DASH WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY CAR WAS EVEN ON FIRE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD KID. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PUT IT OUT AND DID SO. BY THE TIME IT HAD DIED OUT AND THE SM…
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MY CAPRICE CLASSIC WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. AFTER AN HOUR FROM MY CAR BEING MOVED, MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DASH WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY CAR WAS EVEN ON FIRE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD KID. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PUT IT OUT AND DID SO. BY THE TIME IT HAD DIED OUT AND THE SMOKE WAS GONE, THE ENTIRE MIDDLE AND PARTIAL LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH HAD MELTED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. MY CAR DID NOT HAVE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND NOTHING WAS LEFT ON. MY CAR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE BY ITSELF. MY MOTHER HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER NEW AND I BOUGHT IT FROM HER. NO MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO IT AND EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL FROM THE MAKER/DEALER/CCHEVROLET. I NOTICED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE REGARDING CARS CATCHING ON FIRE FREOM A SHORT. WHY WASN'T MY MOTHER MADE AWARE OF THIS IN ORDER TO CORRECT YOUR PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED? PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. SINCERLY, KATHLEEN BAGLEY KKB PENDING CONTACT.... 07/08/05...
1) A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGH FROM A SIDE STREET AND CUT ME OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY HORN BUT THE AREAS ONE MUST PRESS ARE SO SMALL AND SPECIFIC THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO QUICKLY LOCATE THE SPOT. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT THIS INCIDNET REMINDED ME THERE THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE HORN LOCA…
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1) A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGH FROM A SIDE STREET AND CUT ME OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY HORN BUT THE AREAS ONE MUST PRESS ARE SO SMALL AND SPECIFIC THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO QUICKLY LOCATE THE SPOT. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT THIS INCIDNET REMINDED ME THERE THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE HORN LOCATION. 2) DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE HORN I HAVE BEEN UNABLE, IN THIS INSTANCE AND MANY PREVIOUSLY, TO ALERT OTHER MOTORISTS OF MY PRESENCE. 3) I HAVE NOT YET VISITED A CHEVROLET DEALER BUT INTEND TO .*AK
THE DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ,AND HAD NO INTERIOR LIGHTING DUE TO A FUSE THAT BLEW OUT. *AK
CONSUMER STATES HORN IS INOPERATIVE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. *TT
ON THREE OCCASIONS MECHANISM WITHIN HORN ASSEMBLY FELL OUT, EXPOSING WIRES. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE ONCE.*AK CONSUMER HAS REPAIRED PART TWICE, SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS GM PART #17990636. *SLC
THE HORN HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES. NLM
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 12 HOURS AND A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT'S DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
CONVERTIBLE TOP/PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR AND SWITCH/DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PULL HANDLES/ALTERNATOR, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG FAILED.
THE ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY.
Official recalls
596V020000 · Suspension:rear
Jan 31, 1996
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN BE AGGRAVATED BY THE SEVERE DUTY CYCLE OF THESE VEHICLES AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
93V018000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers
Feb 9, 1993
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEQ 9C1 POLICE CARS IN CORROSION AREAS OF THE US AND CANADA ONLY. NOTE: VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEWJERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. A ELECTRICAL GROUND-OUT CONDITION MAY EXIST BETWEEN THE 12 VOLT JUNCTION BLOCK AND THE METAL INNER FENDER SKIRT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A MELTED JUNCTION BLOCK, SMOKE,AND BURNED UNDERHOOD WIRING RESULTING IN A DISABLED VEHICLE OR A VEHICLE FIRE.THIS CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION OR WHILE THE VEHICLEIS PARKED AND THE IGNITION IS IN THE "OFF" POSITION.
Remedy: INSTALL A SHIELDING INSULATOR UNDER THE JUNCTION BLOCK.
92V094000 · Seat Belts
Jul 1, 1992
THE SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOP PLASTIC COVERING MAY CRACK AND EXPOSE THE STEEL SUB-PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE EXPOSED STEELSUB-PLATE CAN CUT THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING RESULTING IN INCREASED POSSIBILITYAND/OR SEVERITY OF INJURY TO THE AFFECTED SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: INSTALL NEW SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS.
92V089000 · Wheels
Jun 24, 1992
THE STEEL WHEELS EXHIBIT FATIGUE CRACKING AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE WHEEL LUG NUT MOUNTING SURFACE DUE TO WHEEL BENDING CAUSED BY FREQUENT MISUSE OF TIRE MOUNTING EQUIPMENT, LUG NUT OVERTORQUING, AND THE UNUSUAL OPERATING CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY POLICE VEHICLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CRACKING CAN CAUSE WHEEL FRACTURING AND SUBSEQUENTSEPARATION FROM THE AXLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WHEELS WITH REDESIGNED STEEL WHEELS.
91V186000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Oct 29, 1991
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CORRODE, CAUSING A HIGH LATCH RELEASE EFFORT AND POSSIBLY PREVENTING THE HOOD FROM LATCHING PROPERLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED, ANDTHE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN AND CONTACT THEWINDSHIELD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OFTHE DRIVER AND RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.
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
4PE93098 · Lwr Ball Joint Assem.fails
Opened Nov 30, 1993 · Closed Mar 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE92079 · R Seat Belt Webbing Length
Opened Sep 9, 1992 · Closed Jan 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:rear/other
There is no summary currently available
PE92051 · Steel Wheel Failures
Opened Jun 4, 1992 · Closed Jul 2, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE92033 · Fuel Tank Leakage
Opened Mar 26, 1992 · Closed Jul 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available