IllustrationI STARTED MY 1994 CHEVY CAPRICE CLASSIC AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT INTO GEAR, MY CAR TOOK OFF AND SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF A HONDA.
1994 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: 9 of 146 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
13 crash reports7 fire reports5 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
12 reportsDIGITAL SPEEDOMETER WAS 35 MPH OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED. DIGITAL GAS GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE READ HALF OF TANK. THE CAUSE OF BOTH FAILURES WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ACCELLERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK . THE CONSUMER APPLIED BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE ANDTHE VEHICLE WAS STILL GOING. CONSUMER GOT THE SPEED DOWN TO TWENTY, AND SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF.*AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND THEN SHIFTING INTO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND RAN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 57 MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE WHEN DRIVER TURNED OFF THE SWITCH OR HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE AND THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A WALL. *AK
GOODYEAR ACHIVA TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. *DSH
SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SD
ACCELERATOR STICKS OCCASIONALLY, REPAIRED UNDER RECALL, NOW VEHICLE PERFORMS ERRATICALLY.
Official recalls
696V020000 · 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.
96V019000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Jan 30, 1996
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT LOOSENS, FATIGUES AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
95V082000 · Vehicle Speed Control:springs
Apr 24, 1995
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE TROTTLE RETURN SPRING, IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE FRICTION IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
94V210000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Oct 25, 1994
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL TANK LEAK AND FIRE IF THE LEAKING FUEL IS EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FUEL TANK STRAP FASTENERS.
94V076000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Apr 16, 1994
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ONCE CLAMP LOAD IS LOST, ALL TIRE LOADS ARE TAKEN BY THE WHEEL STUDS RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLES CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
94V049000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Mar 21, 1994
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: Not supplied
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
4EA99003 · Coolant Fires
Opened Jan 13, 1999 · Closed Aug 17, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
PE98049 · Coolant Fires
Opened Sep 4, 1998 · Closed Jan 13, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
EA96022 · Steering Wheel Breakage
Opened Sep 24, 1996 · Closed Apr 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE96037 · Sterring Wheel Breakage
Opened May 16, 1996 · Closed Sep 24, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available