FaultScore

Chevrolet Caprice electrical problems

120 of the 912 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Caprice are about the electrical system — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1994.

120

Complaints

13%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

17

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

1979 Caprice 1 0.8%
1983 Caprice 2 1.7%
1985 Caprice 1 0.8%
1986 Caprice 1 0.8%
1987 Caprice 1 0.8%
1988 Caprice 3 2.5%
1990 Caprice 1 0.8%
1991 Caprice 18 15.0%

Median failure at 300,000 miles

1992 Caprice 17 14.2%
1993 Caprice 15 12.5%

Median failure at 56,344 miles

1994 Caprice 35 29.2%

Median failure at 88,902 miles

1995 Caprice 15 12.5%
1996 Caprice 5 4.2%

Median failure at 142,000 miles

1997 Caprice 1 0.8%
2013 Caprice 2 1.7%
2014 Caprice 2 1.7%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

What owners said

1996 Chevrolet Caprice Oroville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The vats system is the problem on my 96 Impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos

NHTSA complaint #11522932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Chevrolet Caprice at 80,000 miles Victoria, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK BACK REPEATEDLY. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SOME HESITATION AND POWER TO CAR CUTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN CAUSING IT TO JERK. MOST THE TIME THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING BUT ON OCCASION IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. IT COMPLETELY CUT OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11351855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Chevrolet Caprice Ashland, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CPSC: 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

NHTSA complaint #11033748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Caprice Walhalla, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V54000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10724202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Caprice Logannville, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO, AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017

NHTSA complaint #10701757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Chevrolet Caprice Logannville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTS OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017

NHTSA complaint #10701751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1986 Chevrolet Caprice Tacoma, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1986 CHEVY CAPRICE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DIED WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION IS DAMAGED AND STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NO MORE THAN 2 MINUTES AFTER THE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. HE RETURNED THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONSUMER, AND INFORMED HIM, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THEY HAD NO CLUE AS TO WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #10585911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice Kansas City, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GM HAS PUT THE PROBLEM UNDER TSB 94-C-59 OR 94V049 IT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT NO COST REGARDLESS OF AGE, OWNERSHIP, OR MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT FALL UNDER A RECALL LISTING. THE CAR CONSTANTLY STALLS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I AM UNABLE TO USE ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES ON THE CAR INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS OR IT IMMEDIATELY STALLS. AS A RESULT OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD THE PARTS REPLACED DESCRIBED IN 94-C-59. I WILL TRY TO SEE IF I CAN KEEP THE OLD PARTS. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR COULD RESULT IN CRASH, FIRE, OF FAILURE OF CAR TO START. GM HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM OR HONOR THEIR OWN OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. I HAVE PAID FOR THE NEW PARTS AND LABOR INVOLVED IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT THE RECEIPTS AND COPIES OF TSB 94-C-59 FOR RECORD.

NHTSA complaint #10286940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Chevrolet Caprice at 59,000 miles Moore, OK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER LIGHTS BEGAN BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PANEL CLUSTER WAS A RECURRING FAILURE WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PANEL CLUSTER WITH THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER, WHICH CORRECTED THE FAILURE FOR TWO YEARS. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AGAIN. WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN BACK ON. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE CONTACT TO BE UNSURE OF THE SPEED THAT SHE IS TRAVELING OR HOW MANY MILES ARE ON HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10233643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Chevrolet Caprice Long Beach, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE AND RECENTLY WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT START. I JUMPED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO RUN BUT ONCE I TURNED IT OFF WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE CAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING AROUND THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CONNECTION. THE BATTERY WAS A AC DELCO 78-6YR BATTERY WITH SIDE-MOUNT TERMINALS. WHEN I REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE CAR I COULD SEE THAT IT HAD BEEN LEAKING AND CONTINUED TO LEAK ACID ALL OVER THE BATTERY TRAY AND MY GARAGE FLOOR. WHEN I WENT TO A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER (HARBOR CHEVROLET OF LONG BEACH) THEY OFFERED ME NOT HELP BECAUSE I NO LONGER HAD THE RECEIPT AND HAD NOT PURCHASED THE BATTERY FROM THEM. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NOT RIGHT SINCE THE BATTERY WAS LESS THAN SIX YEARS OLD AND HAD THE REGISTRATION CODES CLEARLY VISIBLE ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY CASE. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THE LEAKY BATTER AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW BATTERY (OF COURSE NOT AN AC DELCO PRODUCT) WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE BATTERY SHOULD STILL HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10228234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Chevrolet Caprice Millers Creek, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

1993 CHEVROLET STATION WAGON CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD COMPARTMENT. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10201484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice at 99,000 miles Fairbury, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

DIGITAL DASH SPEEDOMETER GOES AWAY, DOES NOT SHOW SPEED OF TRAVEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS OPPERATOR DOES NOT KNOW THE RATE OF SPEED BEING TRAVELED. I HAVE REPLACED THE UNIT ONCE BEFORE AT 99,000 MILES WITH A RECONDITIONED UNIT AT A COST OF $300.00. RECENTLY AT 140,000 MILES THIS UNIT HAS FAILED ALSO. THIS RECONDITIONED UNIT IS THE ORIGIONAL UNIT FROM THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SENT IN FOR REPAIR THE FIRST TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10185873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice at 62,000 miles Chicago, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

DT: CABLE FROM BATTERY TO JUNCTION BOX OVERHEATED AND STARTED A FIRE. IT MELTED THE STUD THAT BATTERY CABLE WAS CONNECTED TO, THE JUNCTION BOX AND THE AREA AROUND THE JUNCTION BOX. CALLER WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDENT SAW SMOKE AND ALERTED CONSUMER. THEY OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10130785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice at 94,600 miles Centerville, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

DT: GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO HONOR A RECALL 94-C-59 ON 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC. CAR OVERHEATED IN THE ELECTRICAL CENTER, THE COVER MELTED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE CAR STALLING. THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY THE CAR WILL NOT START BACK UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL HOUSING HAS BEEN MANIPULATED IN SOME WAY. THE CAR WILL START BACK THEN. GENERAL MOTORS SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER THIS RECALL. THEY SAY THIS RECALL IS NOT IN THERE SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WITH 2 REPRESENTATIVES A GM. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE THE AND HE SAID THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12-15 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10130406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Chevrolet Caprice at 300,000 miles Hesperia, CA Fire 1 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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...

NHTSA complaint #10128170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice at 91,000 miles Medford, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE PURCAHSED USED FROM A CHEVY DEALER. EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, EVEN HAZARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS ALTERNATOR, PROBLEM EXPERIENCED AGAIN. MECHANIC FOUND "BATTERY STUD" LOCATED AT "ELECTRICAL CENTER" WAS LOOSE. HE "PATCHED" IT UP. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH "ALLDATA" THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM INDENTIFIED IN "CAMPAIGN 94-C-59" & A RECALL WAS ORDERED. CHEVROLET CLAIMS THERE ARE "NO OPEN RECALLS" FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10119427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Chevrolet Caprice at 87,688 miles Alexander City, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

INTERMITTENTLY HORN FAILED TO WORK. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.*AK THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HORN SWITCH REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10099380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Chevrolet Caprice Minneapolis, MN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING,THE CONSUMER SMELLED A BURNT ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND LIFTED UP THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES HAD SHORTENED OUT FROM THE ALTERNATOR. ELECTRICAL WIRES AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB *TC

NHTSA complaint #10094240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Chevrolet Caprice at 84,000 miles Centerville, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED DUE TO BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION OVERHEATING AT THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL CENTER STUD. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BATTERY CABLE PLASTIC COVER, T PLASTIC STUD HOUSING, AND/OR THE STUD ITSELF MELTED. THERE WAS GENERAL RECALL 94C59 FOR THE ELECTRICAL CENTER BATTERY STUD. THE VIN NUMBER WAS WITHIN THE RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, INDICATING THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A POLICE CAR, TAXI , OR A SPECIAL SERVICE WAGON.

NHTSA complaint #10087344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 Chevrolet Caprice Cambridge, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

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 .

NHTSA complaint #10082517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Caprice problems