1989 Chevrolet CAPRICE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
3
16.7%
Transmission and shifting
1
5.6%
Steering behavior
1
5.6%
Fuel system concerns
1
5.6%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
4
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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. *JB
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. *AK
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
18 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
16.7%Usable mileage3 / 18 records
72.2%Valid incident date13 / 18 records
100.0%Valid filing date18 / 18 records
72.2%Ordered incident and filing dates13 / 18 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2003
2011
2012
2013
2014
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Horn
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
No usable records for this analysis.
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2013: 6 complaints · 2014: 10 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2013
0
2
6
2014
7
10
10
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2013
6
0
0
2014
12
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Vehicle Speed Control
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 5.6% of complaints
Median mileage: 29,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10097106 · 29,000 mi
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. *JB