IllustrationENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH PANEL, IT WILL NOT GO OUT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT PROBLEM CAN'T BE FOUND. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PBOBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. LAW SUIT PENDING AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. *YH
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 reportsAQUA GRIP RADIAL UNIROYAL TUBELESS, E4,0210175,M+S,PZ15175R15100S, STEEL WIRES STICKING OUT OF TIRE 2 INCHES AND LONGER WHEN WE GOT THE CAR TO A FULL STOP ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE. WE MOVED HERE 1 YR. AGO, WE WERE TOLD THE TIRE HAD A "PLUG" THAT WAS ALL THE WAY INSIDE THE TIRE AND HAD PULLED THE WIRES OUT TO THE FRONT/ HOWEVER I CAN'T…
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AQUA GRIP RADIAL UNIROYAL TUBELESS, E4,0210175,M+S,PZ15175R15100S, STEEL WIRES STICKING OUT OF TIRE 2 INCHES AND LONGER WHEN WE GOT THE CAR TO A FULL STOP ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE. WE MOVED HERE 1 YR. AGO, WE WERE TOLD THE TIRE HAD A "PLUG" THAT WAS ALL THE WAY INSIDE THE TIRE AND HAD PULLED THE WIRES OUT TO THE FRONT/ HOWEVER I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WIRES TO COME THROUGH THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE EXPOSING ALL THE WIRES/ WE HAD ONE HAIRY TIRE, THE WIRES STUCK OUT 2 INCHES AND LONGER. THE STEEL BELTING HAD COME APART FROM THE TIRE ON THE INSIDE AND WAS FLOPPING AROUND, YOU COULD HEAR IT AS YOU ROLLED THE TIRE AROUND UPRIGHT ON THE GROUND/WE PURCHASED TWO NEW BACK TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: PZ15175R15 )
THE PROBLEM IS GAS FUMES, THE FUMES ENTER THRU THE VENTS A) WHEN IDLING B)AT STOP AND DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD OR REDUCING THE SPEED. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM.*ET
CAR LOSES POWER STEERING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY USUALLY AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO OR OUT OF DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACES. HAVE BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SERPENTINE BELTS IN LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND HAVE SPENT OVER $3400 IN MAINTENANC…
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CAR LOSES POWER STEERING WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY USUALLY AT LOW SPEED WHILE TURNING INTO OR OUT OF DRIVEWAY OR PARKING SPACES. HAVE BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH 4 SERPENTINE BELTS IN LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AND HAVE SPENT OVER $3400 IN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SINCE PURCHASED. *AK
CONSUMERS CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS INTO NEUTRAL. CHILD JUMPED OUT AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ALL CARS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OFF.
UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SNAPPED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BACKING UP AND ONCE WHEN MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING A LEFT TURN CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY. NLM
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF VEHICLE IS IDLING HIGH AND SHUT CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE AT REPAIR SHOP FOR TWO WEEKS, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE STALLS AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PORBLEM. *AK
THE ENGINE HAD DIED OUT WITH WARNING. HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A LONG TIME. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEABLE UNTIL IT STALLED OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM FIRST TIME. THE NEXT IT HAPPENED & WAS AT DEALER , CONSUMER WAS INFORMED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING STALLI…
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THE ENGINE HAD DIED OUT WITH WARNING. HAD HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A LONG TIME. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEABLE UNTIL IT STALLED OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM FIRST TIME. THE NEXT IT HAPPENED & WAS AT DEALER , CONSUMER WAS INFORMED DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING STALLING. HAD REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *AK
VEHICLE JERKED/BACKFIRED IN MOTION LIKE FUEL NOT GETTING INTO ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACING. *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 . . .