Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
421.1%
Brakes
315.8%
Median failure at 29,000 miles
Tires
210.5%
Median failure at 141,081 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
210.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
210.5%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Body & Structure
210.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Other & Unspecified
15.3%
Median failure at 70,000 miles
Seats
15.3%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Suspension
15.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15.3%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
133.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
133.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
133.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 2Feb 2017
NHTSA investigations into the 1989 Chevrolet Caprice
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA93012Opened 12 May 1993Closed 30 Jun 1994VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
THROTTLE STICKING/BINDING
PE92090Opened 22 Dec 1992Closed 12 May 1993VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
THROTTLE STICKING/BINDING
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Ellenwood, GACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY OTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #708253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Olive, MIFire
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE SEATS OVERHEATED AND THEN A FIRE STARTED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF DOOR AREA.
NHTSA complaint #808617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Johnstown, PAFire
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
BUTTONS THAT CONTROL POWER SEATS ON DRIVERS DOOR, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE UNATTENDED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #984292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olyphint, PACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE STICKING CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT PE92-090. TT
NHTSA complaint #977494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 70,000 milesShorter, AL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CUT OFF I LOSS POWER THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. I BELIEVE THIS WAS DUE TO AN IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME IN MACON COUNTY,ALABAMA. THE CAR WAS LATER STOLEN FROM MY HOME ADDRESS OF 401 BOYD ROAD SHORTER,ALABAMA 36075. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE MACON COUNTY, SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10949546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 141,081 milesBerrien Springs, MI
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED FOUR TIRES FROM A GOODYEAR TIRE COMPANY. THE TIRES HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE TIRE BRAND IS GOODYEAR INTEGRITY, SIZE P215/75R15, AND THE DOT# IS MDHF1MHR. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE TIRES FOR A NEW SET; HOWEVER, THE NEW TIRES HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS MUCH AS THE FIRST SET OF TIRES. A GOODYEAR TIRE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HIM; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A CALL. A TECHNICIAN DROVE THE VEHICLE, OBSERVED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ASKED THE TIRE DEALER TO ACCEPT THE TIRES IN EXCHANGE FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND AND WAS DENIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10285673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,000 milesWarwick, RI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE PEDAL PROCEEDED TO THE FLOOR AND BRAKE FLUID CAME OUT OF THE BRAKE LINE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE SHOULD BE MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10097106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deptford, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SEATBELT LATCH WON'T LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #761727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dimondale, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
FRONT DISC BRAKE PAD BONDING TO BRAKE PAD BACKING PLATE FAILED CAUSING PAD TO FAIL IN SHEAR.
NHTSA complaint #742648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Somerdale, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST.
NHTSA complaint #883030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicargo, IL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PEOO 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE, LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND IT TORE A HOLE THOUGH THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. TIRE WAS FLAT. FIRESTONE, BRIDGESTONE, SIZE P21575 SR15. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRSTONE, AND THEY TOLD CONSUMER TO TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE HE BOUGHT IT FROM. *AK BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE P215/75/R15
NHTSA complaint #868226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Batton Rouge, LA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
INTERMITTENTLY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL NOT CATCH , WHEN IT DOES CATCH IT BECOMES UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #845865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellenwood, GACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY OTHER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #708253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES INADEQUATE FOR THE SIZE OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #605645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Cruces, NM
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PAINT IS CRACKING OFF BODY OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #534997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Olive, MIFire
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
POWER SWITCH THAT CONTROLLED THE SEATS OVERHEATED AND THEN A FIRE STARTED ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF DOOR AREA.
NHTSA complaint #808617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montclair, NJ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHEN STOPPED AT GAS STATION INSERTED THE GAS PUMP NOZZLE NOT INTO FUEL TANK NOZZLE, BUT INSTEAD INSERTED THE GAS PUMP NOZZLE IN ONE OF THE SPACES AND PUMPED GAS ONTO THE GROUND.
NHTSA complaint #803620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Johnstown, PAFire
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
BUTTONS THAT CONTROL POWER SEATS ON DRIVERS DOOR, CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE UNATTENDED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #984292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olyphint, PACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE STICKING CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT PE92-090. TT
NHTSA complaint #977494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Avon, MA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE BUCKLE HAS FAILED W/INSERT COMPLETELY GONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA complaint #968250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lathrup VI, MI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #486146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, 00
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION REAL HARD. TT
NHTSA complaint #965186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.