64 of the
912 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Caprice
are about the suspension —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
The contact owns a 1979 Chevrolet Caprice. The contact stated that the vehicle was equipped with an after-market suspension ball joint by Driveworks, Part Number: DWK208. The contact stated that while in reverse there was a banging sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the driver's side front end had lowered significantly. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that the steering lever had detached from the upper control arm. The contact stated that the separation was due to the ball joint failure. The contact replaced the ball joints with the same part and part number however, the design was different. The dealer had not been contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was 258,000. The Driveworks suspension ball joint DWK208 failure was 33,000.
NHTSA complaint #11622323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WENT UNDER THE CAR, JUST PURCHASED FROM CITY OF WALNUT CREEK AUCTIONS, A 54K MILE EX-PATROL CAR...TO CHANGE THE DIFFERENTIAL OIL. FOUND TWO CRACKS ON WHAT IS A TENSION HOLDING BRACE IN THE LOWER SUSPENSION SUB-FRAME. SIMILAR ON EACH SIDE. OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT COMPOUNDED ON HOW THE WELDMENT WAS DONE. I PHOTO'D THE TWO SIMILAR CRACKS, THEN DRILLED AT THE END OF THE CRACK TO RADIUS THE STRESS POINT IT UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. THE CAR HAS BEEN UNUSED SINCE JAN 18' AND IS NOT RELIABLE UNTIL THE ENGINE NOISE IS REMEDIED, ANOTHER DEFECT I AM NOT SURE OF WHAT PART YET. IT IS A SCRAPING TICKING SOUND, LIKELY PISTON SLAP OR VALVE LIFTER. THE CITY WOULD HAVE CHANGED/ MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE TILL THE LAST 5K MILES BEFORE IT WAS "RETIRED." IT IS MOST NOISY WHEN COLD, AND MORE PREVALENT THAN NOT. LIKELY THE CRACKS STARTED MANY THOUSAND MILES BEFORE ITS 54K I BOUGHT IT AT.
NHTSA complaint #11163324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLOWLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11055362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A LEFT HAND U-TURN, HE CAN FEEL THE RIGHT TIRE ROLLING OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10240590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 1995 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. MY REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM (PASSENGER SIDE) BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THANKFULLY, IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED AND NEAR MY HOME. THE CONTROL ARM BROKE ALL THE WAY THROUGH, RIGHT AT THE STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT... EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 96V020000. THE PART THAT BROKE IS UNDER RECALL, ID 96V020000. I GAVE THE CHEVROLET DEALER THIS INFORMATION AND THEY "COULD NOT FIND" THE RECALL. I ALSO CALLED AND EMAILED CHEVROLET, ESSENTIALLY GETTING THE SAME RESPONSE --IGNORANCE. MY COMPLAINT IS I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF, DESPITE THIS BEING A REPAIR OF A RECALLED PART. HERE IS THE RECALL INFO, AS FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE: MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: CHEVROLET / CAPRICE 1991-1996 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 96V020000 MFR'S REPORT DATE : JAN 25, 1996 COMPONENT: SUSPENSION:REAR POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 154214 SUMMARY: THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT. 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. NOTES: SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; SINGLE AXLE; REAR; CONTROL ARM. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: POLICE (SEO 9C1) VEHICLES AND TAXI CABS (SEO 9C6). NOTE: OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
NHTSA complaint #10198544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10081580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10081580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOCATION: FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE. PROBLEM: NUT CAME OFF THE BOLT HOLDING THE SUSPENSION TOGETHER CAUSING A 2" RIP IN THE FRAME. *AK COMPLAINT: VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REPAIRED THROUGH WELDING WITH OUT SOME LIABILITY AND RISK. QUESTION: HOW CAN THIS ISSUE BE RESOLVED?
NHTSA complaint #10052494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT "SNAPPED" AT THE NUT, RESULTING IN THE BALL JOINT SEPARATING FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.
NHTSA complaint #10045234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECALL #96 V 018 000/ GM LOWER CONTROL ARM: WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND MAKING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE WOULD BE A KNOCKING OR BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON ONE OCCASION AND THEY TIGHTEN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUT. NOW THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AGAIN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL AT THAT TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND FILL OUT THE REMAINING QUESTIONNAIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10032436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN A SHOPPING CENTER MAKING A RIGHT 90 DEGREE TURN AT ESTIMATED SPEED OF 15MPH WHEN LEFT FRONT OF CAR COLLAPSED DROPPING THE LEFT FRONT FENDER DOWN ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. MECHANIC REPAIRING THE CAR STATED THAT THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE OFF. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE LET LOWER BALL JOINT (PART #K6145) AND THE LEFT OUTER TIEROD (PART# ES2019RL. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE OR OTHER ROUGH PLACE IN THE ROADWAY AND THE AUTOMOBILE HAD NO PREVIOUS HISTORY OF ACCIDENT. MY CONCERN FOR ENTERING THIS REPORT IS THAT I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE BEFORE THOUGH THE MECHANIC SAYS IT OCCASIONALLY OCCURS. IN MY MIND THIS PRESENTS A VERY REAL SAFETY HAZARD. HAD THIS AUTOMBILE BEEN TRAVELING AT 60MPH ON AND OPEN ROAD AND THIS HAD OCCURED THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN SUDDENLY FLIPPING AND ROLLING OF THE CAR WITH THE VERY REAL PROBABILITY OF LOSS OF LIFE.
NHTSA complaint #744195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #881862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.