IllustrationDRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT STUD AND NUT WERE SEPARATED, R/R BALL JOINT
1996 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: 11 of 65 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.
- Suspension. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
65 reportsI CHECKED NHTSA'S WEB SIDT, MY CAR WAS ON RECALL LIST FOR THAT LOWER BALL JOINT. I CALLED GM, THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ON RECALL LIST FOR THAT PART. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
SERPENTENE BELT CHIRPING WHEN UNDER WARRANTY BELT REPLACED 4+ TIMES PROBLEM NEVER SOLVED , CALLED GMC HOTLINE (I QUOTE) LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT (UNQUOTE) WHAT DO I DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE AIR PUMP BROKE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, GM HAD A BULLETIN THAT ADVISED THE TECHNICIAN TO DISCONNECT THE PUMP BUT RATHER THAN REPLACE IT, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED. NLM *SLC *JB
WIRES FOR FUEL SENDING UNIT HAVE BURNED AND MELTED, INCLUDING ELECTRICAL FUEL CONNECTOR PLUG INSIDE GAS TANK, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED UNIT, AND NOTICED THAT NEW PART WAS REDESIGNED AND BEEN MODIFIED, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH OLD DESIGN. CONSUMER STILL HAS ORIGINAL UNIT. *AK *SLC
CONSUMER WENT TO MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT OIL COOLANT LINE WAS LEAKING, AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF GEAR BOX. NEW OIL COOLANT LINE WAS INSTALLED, AND INSTALLTION WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE. TSB WAS ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT.*AK
THE SEAT BELT ON THIS CAR HAS A BAR THAT GOES ACROSS THE BUCKLE. THIS BAR IS LOOSE. IF TWISTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION IT COMES OFF THE BRACKET. IT IS NOT A ONE PIECE UNIT LIKE OTHER BELTS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE THE BAR CAN FALL OUT AN GIVE NO RESTRAINT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER BUT …
Read full complaint
THE SEAT BELT ON THIS CAR HAS A BAR THAT GOES ACROSS THE BUCKLE. THIS BAR IS LOOSE. IF TWISTED IN A VERTICAL POSITION IT COMES OFF THE BRACKET. IT IS NOT A ONE PIECE UNIT LIKE OTHER BELTS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED BECAUSE THE BAR CAN FALL OUT AN GIVE NO RESTRAINT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER BUT THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.*AK
ENGINE OIL LINE THAT RUNS FROM ADAPTOR TO RADIATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED NEAR STEERING COLUMN GEAR BOX. THE RUBBER HOSE HAD A DEEP CUT DUE TO STEERING COLUM VIBRATIONS AND NEEDS REPLACING. *YH
CONSUMER WAS GOING 60MPH AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE JUMPED SIDEWAYS AFTER HITTING A BUMP. SHOCKS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED TO RECTIFY PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THAT HE COULD HIT SOMEONE. DEALERS DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
496V245000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Dec 10, 1996
THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
96V020000 · 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.
96V018000 · 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: THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A 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, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
95V215000 · Air Bags
Nov 3, 1995
THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL AND A ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABELS.
Remedy: A NEW ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL, WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. OWNERS WILL INSTALL THE LABEL OR HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
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
3EA99003 · 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
EA96007 · Rear Wheel Separation
Opened May 31, 1996 · Closed Dec 24, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO RETORQUE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 1995.IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MOST VEHICLES WILL REQUIRE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS TO BE RETORQUED TO 135 N.M(100 LB. FT.).CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD ALL FOUR OF THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED SHOULD HAVE PROPERLY TORQUED LUG NUTS.HOWEVER, GM IS OFFERING CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED THE OPTION OF RETURNING TO THEIR DEALER FOR THIS REPAIR OR COMPLETING AND RETURNING AN OWNER REPLY CARD INCLUDED WITH THEIR RECALL NOTICE.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE96001 · Rear Wheel Separation
Opened Jan 4, 1996 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WHEEL SEPARATION.INVESTIGATION AS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS CONTINUING.THE RESULTS OF THESE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ASSESS THE PROBABILITY OF ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS . . .