55 of the 912 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Caprice are about the steering — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1994.
55
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
STEERING
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE 2014 CAPRICE PPV VEHICLES THAT HAVE POWER STEERING ISSUES. OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING. THREE OF THE FOUR CAPRICE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND MILEAGE BETWEEN 47K-52K.
NHTSA complaint #10810628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
A CRUNCHING OR GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FLASHES WHEN THE GRINDING NOISE HAPPENS. THE PROBLEM HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIME ONE DAY THEN MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WEEK
NHTSA complaint #10761386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF A FLEET OF SEVEN VEHICLES FOR THE LA GRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF THIS FLEET (NOW 6 OF THE 7 CARS) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION (WHILE MOVING). THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER AND THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT WHICH TIME A CRASH WILL OCCUR AND WILL INJURE THE OFFICER AND INNOCENT PERSONS.
NHTSA complaint #10653551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
AS THE BARTONVILLE ILLINOIS POLICE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO THIS VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING AND BEGINNING A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT WHICH TIME HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. HE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE OFFICER THEN "DEAD-LINED" THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO RAY DENNISON CHEVROLET, PEKIN, ILLINOIS ON OCTOBER 8, 2014 FOR REPAIR WITHOUT INCIDENT WHERE IT HAS BEEN UP TO AND INCLUDING THIS DATE DUE "PARTS" BEING SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #10653404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS: JUNE 24, 2014 AND AGAIN AFTER BEING REPAIRED ON NOVEMBER 4, 2014.
NHTSA complaint #10652621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS.
NHTSA complaint #10652619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS.
NHTSA complaint #10652620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS.
NHTSA complaint #10652622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS.
NHTSA complaint #10652623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. CHEVROLET STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 95V221000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OCCASIONALLY, WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE POWERTRAIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
NHTSA complaint #10197855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
I'M NOT TRYING TO DO DUAL COMPLAINTS. WHILE BRAKING ,PRIOR TO IMPACT, THERE WAS A LOUD CLICKING COMING FROM THE ABS CONTROL UNIT UNDER THE HOOD, ALSO THE COMPUTER ECM, SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, SERIOUS LIFETIME INJURIES, I'M GOING INTO A POWERCHAIR, AT 42 THERE IS NO SURGERY THAT WILL HELP ME, AND LESLIE IS GOING TO NEED BACK SURGERY, AND A HIP,AND KNEE REPLACEMENT!
NHTSA complaint #10132331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
MY WIFE'S 1994 CAPRICE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT NON WORKING POWER STEERING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. IT IS A TOTAL LOST OF STEERING AS IF THE BELT HAD BROKEN OR THE MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER SEVERAL LENGTHY SERVICE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, WHO ACTED LIKE WE WERE CRAZY, NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO THE CAR. RECENTLY (2 MONTHS AGO) MY WIFE STARTED SAYING THAT NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND SHE HAS ACTUALLY HAD TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TURN LEFT. IT ALSO WAS FAILING QUITE OFTEN WHILE TURNING AT VERY LOW OR NO SPEED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. (REMAN FROM AC DELCO). I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FLUID WAS BROWN AND THICK. ALSO REPLACED PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, STEERING BOX (REMAN FROM AUTOZONE) AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE IDLE CONTROL SWITCH AT THE SAME TIME. THE RESERVOIR WAS FLUSHED OF ALL THE BROWN FLUID. THE REMAN STEERING BOX WAS ALREADY PRIMED WITH NEW FLUID. AFTER MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK, SHE CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE CAR WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING!! . HERE IS MY OPINION HAS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE 4.3L V-8 MOTOR WAS USED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT TURNING FAST ENOUGH AT IDLE SPEED. WHEN MY WIFE TAKES HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN (ITS SORT OF A HALF U TURN THE WAY THE ROAD IS LAID OUT) WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TURNING THE WHEEL, THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED AT THAT POINT. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WHEN MANEUVERING IN A PARKING LOT OR DRIVEWAY WHERE THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP MORE OFTEN AND THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I CANNOT GET GM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ANSWER THIS. MY WIFE ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE? PLEASE HELP. RONNIE BELITZ.
NHTSA complaint #10065945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
I WAS DRIVING A 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE AND WAS STOPPED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A CAR GOING 50 MPH WHO DID NOT SEE THAT I WAS STOPPED. THE DRIVERS SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE RECLINED POSITION AND THREW ME INTO THE REAR SEAT. MY SEAT BELT WAS ON AND LIMITED MY MOVEMENT. IN ADDITION, I PULLED ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND BROKE IT AT THE 10 O'CLOCK AND PARTIALLY SEPERATED AT THE 2 O'CLOCK POSITIONS. THE FAILURE OF THE SEAT CAUSED INJURY TO MYSELF WITH NO SUPPORT TO MY NECK AND HEAD. MY QUESTION IS: IS THE SEAT DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MY WEIGHT (6'0, 194 LBS.) UNDER THESE CONDITIONS OR IS IT DESIGNED TO COLLASPE AS IT DID ALLOWING ME TO COME UNSECURRED FROM THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM? SECONDLY, WAS THERE A SAFETY RECALL, SERVICE BULLETIN, OR DEFECT INVESTIGATION ON THIS VEHICLE? I EXAMINED YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND NO INDICATION OR REPORT ON THIS SITUATION. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10063683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
WHEN STEERING IS TILTED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION A FUSE WOULD BLOW OUT. *AK THE FUSE THAT BLOWS IS FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CONSUMER THINKS IT A PINCHED WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TITLED AND THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON. A LIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE TILTED WHEEL WILL BLOW THE FUSE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *PH *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE WITH ONLY 28, 000 MILES ON IT. SEVERAL OCCURANCES OF STEERING LOOCKUP WHEN GOING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS AND TURNING EITHER LET OR RIGHT. RACING THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CLEAR THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES. THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINES TO OCCUR OCCASIONALLY.
NHTSA complaint #10007612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA complaint #10004598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
A DESCRIPTIVE LETTER REGARDING THE STEERING COLUMN CORROSION FAILURE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURERE WITH NO REPLY. DT
NHTSA complaint #768895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED (BROKE OFF) AT THE TWO HORIZONTAL POINTS - - 3 O'CLOCK AND 9 O'CLOCK POINTS AT A ROUTINE "ROCKING" AT A STOP. NOT AN EMERGENCY STOP OR SUDDEN STOP; JUST A ROUTINE STOP AT A LIGHT. I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN ANY VEHICLE UNLESS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, MUCH LESS FROM A FRAIL MAN AS MYSELF WHO DOES NOT POSSESS SUPERHUMAN POWERS. I ASKED MECHANICS IF THEY HAD EVER SEEN THIS OCCUR AND THE ANSWER WAS NEGATIVE. I CONTACTED KELLY CHEVROLET (HALLANDALE, FL) AND THEY ALSO TOLD ME TO NEVER HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN, UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN CRASH. SINCE THEN I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING BUT RUN-AROUNDS. THEY ASSIGNED IT CASE NO. 1-21646074, THEN, THEY GOT IT MIXED UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S CASE BY THE NAME OF FENNIMORE. I REPLIED TO THEM TO CORRECT THE NAME ERROR AND PROVIDE THEM WITH FURTHER INFO AND I RECEIVED TWO REPLIES FROM TWO DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES WITHIN 3 HOURS OF EACH OTHER. THE FIRST ONE, A MS. NEJDI, WHO SAID TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE ORIGINAL REPRESENTATIVE (A MS. WEIR, WHOM HAD DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, OTHER THAN MIX ME UP WITH A MR. FENNIMORE). THE SECOND RESPONSE CAME FROM THE ORIGINAL REPRESENTATIVE (MS. WEIR, ADDRESSING ME AS MR. FENNIMORE, AGAIN). SHE SAID IN THIS EMAIL THE CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED DUE TO MY LACK OF RESPONSE. IN FACT, I HAD RESPONDED AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT HER ERROR OF THE NAME AND SAID CORRECTION WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY MS. NEJDI, AS PREVOUSLY STATED HEREIN. THE DISTURBING PART ABOUT THIS IS GM'S FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. A STEERING WHEEL SHOULD NOT COLLAPSE AT A ROUTINE STOP REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OR MILEAGE OF THE CAR WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN A CRASH. GM IS ACTING TOTALLY INCOMPETENT IN HANDLING THE COMPLAINT AS WELL AS IRRESPONSIBLE BY IGNORING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE SAVED EACH EMAIL TO AND FROM GM TO PROVE THEIR DISREGARD FOR SAFETY AND MISHANDLING OF THE MATTER. I WOULD APPRECIATE THE NTHSA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE.
NHTSA complaint #765704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #715984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.