U.S. public vehicle records

1992 Chevrolet CAPRICE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

89 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

118,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1992 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 5 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 89 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	31	34.8%
Engine operation	4	4.5%
Steering behavior	3	3.4%
Fuel system concerns	2	2.2%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Horn

Vehicle Speed Control

Electrical System:Ignition

Air Bags

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	25
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	10
Air Bags:Frontal	9
Electrical System:Horn	7
Vehicle Speed Control	6
Electrical System:Ignition	5
Air Bags	4
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 25; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Electrical System:Horn: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Electrical System:Ignition: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 84 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2005

2006

2008

2017

1995: 16; 1996: 16; 1997: 11; 1998: 13; 1999: 11; 2000: 9; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.

Owner report 10037649 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)

ABS MODULE IS NOT PUMPING BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037649 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10132329 · 2005-08-11 (August 11, 2005)

AIRBAG AND BRAKES FAILED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. TWO PEOPLE WERE THROWN INTO DASHBOARD,WINDSHIELD, WHEN SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD, DRIVER NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKES, AIRBAG (DEPLOY SENSOR) ON GROUND, CAR IS IN BACKYARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE! I NOW FIND OUT THERE WAS 9 (PROBLEMS), RECALLS, TWO ON ABS!. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 543841 · 1999-01-27 (January 27, 1999)

FUEL PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN STALLING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 543841 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802484 · 1996-10-09 (October 9, 1996)

INTERMITTENT STALLING, DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802484 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 819769 · 1997-11-10 (November 10, 1997)

BACKING OUT; STEERING WOULD NOT TURN LEFT/RIGHT. WENT UP ON CURB. ACCELERATED TO GET OFF. CALLED DEALER & SOMEONE PICKED VEHICLE UP. BALL JOINTS DISCONNECTED. BOLTS/NUTS MISSING THAT ARE ATTACHED TO BALL JOINTS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 819769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 871739 · 2000-09-28 (September 28, 2000)

HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WOULD MOVE AROUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND OBSTRUCT THE OPERATION OF THE HORN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 871739 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 986497 · 1996-07-05 (July 5, 1996)

THERE IS A SHORT IN THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 986497 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

89 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

5.6%Usable mileage5 / 89 records

82.0%Valid incident date73 / 89 records

100.0%Valid filing date89 / 89 records

82.0%Ordered incident and filing dates73 / 89 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.

From model yearThrough model year

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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Too few reports for a range	110,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10132329 · 110,000 mi AIRBAG AND BRAKES FAILED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. TWO PEOPLE WERE THROWN INTO DASHBOARD,WINDSHIELD, WHEN SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD, DRIVER NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKES, AIRBAG (DEPLOY SENSOR) ON GROUND, CAR IS IN BACKYARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE! I NOW FIND OUT THERE WAS 9 (PROBLEMS), RECALLS, TWO ON ABS!. *JB Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags	Too few reports for a range	110,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10132329 · 110,000 mi AIRBAG AND BRAKES FAILED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. TWO PEOPLE WERE THROWN INTO DASHBOARD,WINDSHIELD, WHEN SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD, DRIVER NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKES, AIRBAG (DEPLOY SENSOR) ON GROUND, CAR IS IN BACKYARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE! I NOW FIND OUT THERE WAS 9 (PROBLEMS), RECALLS, TWO ON ABS!. *JB Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

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	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

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	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	Air Bags:Frontal	Electrical System:Horn	Vehicle Speed Control	Electrical System:Ignition	Air Bags	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	—	0	1 ODI 482085 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. *AK Look up ODI 482085 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 974233 VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TT DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COIL, VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. ROUGH IDLE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL BURNED OUT 2 TIMES. BOLT COVERS ON WHEELS SNAP OFF EASILY. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED WIPERS, NOT CLEANING WINDSHIELD. CLUNK NOISE UNDERNEATH CAR, RETORQUED REAR CONTROL ARMS, CROSS MEMBERS, AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. MAP LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES SQUEAK, DEALE REPLACED ROTORS. REAR VIEW MIRROR REPLACED… Look up ODI 974233 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10132329 · 110,000 mi AIRBAG AND BRAKES FAILED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. TWO PEOPLE WERE THROWN INTO DASHBOARD,WINDSHIELD, WHEN SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD, DRIVER NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKES, AIRBAG (DEPLOY SENSOR) ON GROUND, CAR IS IN BACKYARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE! I NOW FIND OUT THERE WAS 9 (PROBLEMS), RECALLS, TWO ON ABS!. *JB Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗	0
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Air Bags:Frontal	1 ODI 482085 NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT. *AK Look up ODI 482085 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	1 ODI 974449 THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG THE HORN BUTTON IS BROKEN PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. TT Look up ODI 974449 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 960661 UPON STARTING, BEARLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED THEN SURGED AND ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH GARAGE, AT APPROX. 25MPH, ALSO AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY. Look up ODI 960661 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Electrical System:Horn	0	0	1 ODI 974449 THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG THE HORN BUTTON IS BROKEN PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. TT Look up ODI 974449 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	1 ODI 871739 HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WOULD MOVE AROUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND OBSTRUCT THE OPERATION OF THE HORN. *AK Look up ODI 871739 at NHTSA ↗	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	1 ODI 960661 UPON STARTING, BEARLY TOUCHING GAS PEDAL, ENGINE ROARED THEN SURGED AND ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL THROUGH GARAGE, AT APPROX. 25MPH, ALSO AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY. Look up ODI 960661 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	0	1 ODI 714562 NO SUMMARY Look up ODI 714562 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Ignition	1 ODI 974233 VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TT DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COIL, VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. ROUGH IDLE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL BURNED OUT 2 TIMES. BOLT COVERS ON WHEELS SNAP OFF EASILY. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED WIPERS, NOT CLEANING WINDSHIELD. CLUNK NOISE UNDERNEATH CAR, RETORQUED REAR CONTROL ARMS, CROSS MEMBERS, AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. MAP LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES SQUEAK, DEALE REPLACED ROTORS. REAR VIEW MIRROR REPLACED… Look up ODI 974233 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Air Bags	1 ODI 10132329 · 110,000 mi AIRBAG AND BRAKES FAILED, AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES. TWO PEOPLE WERE THROWN INTO DASHBOARD,WINDSHIELD, WHEN SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD, DRIVER NEVER TOOK FOOT OFF OF BRAKES, AIRBAG (DEPLOY SENSOR) ON GROUND, CAR IS IN BACKYARD IF YOU WANT TO SEE! I NOW FIND OUT THERE WAS 9 (PROBLEMS), RECALLS, TWO ON ABS!. *JB Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 871739 HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WOULD MOVE AROUND INSIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND OBSTRUCT THE OPERATION OF THE HORN. *AK Look up ODI 871739 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 714562 NO SUMMARY Look up ODI 714562 at NHTSA ↗	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.

Search patterns

4 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

5 mentions · 5.6% of complaints

Median mileage: 110,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10132329 · 110,000 mi

Look up ODI 10132329 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 507300

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED. *SD

Look up ODI 507300 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 744467

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF A LEAKING ABS MODULATOR, AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONSUMER CAME ACROOS A SAFETY RECALL WHICH HE NEVER RECEIVED FOR THE REPAIR OF THE MODULATOR AND REQUEST THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF A NEW MODULATOR. NLM

Look up ODI 744467 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

4 mentions · 4.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 543841

FUEL PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN STALLING.

Look up ODI 543841 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 802484

INTERMITTENT STALLING, DEALER CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

Look up ODI 802484 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 974233

VEHICLE STALLS OUT AT ANY SPEED, ALMOST RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. TT DEALER REPLACED IGNITION COIL, VEHICLE STILL STALLS, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. ROUGH IDLE. LEFT TURN SIGNAL BURNED OUT 2 TIMES. BOLT COVERS ON WHEELS SNAP OFF EASILY. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IGNITION CYLINDER LOCKS, DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. REPLACED WIPERS, NOT CLEANING WINDSHIELD. CLUNK NOISE UNDERNEATH CAR, RETORQUED REAR CONTROL ARMS, CROSS MEMBERS, AND FRONT CONTROL ARMS. MAP LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. BRAKES SQUEAK, DEALE REPLACED ROTORS. REAR VIEW MIRROR REPLACED…

Look up ODI 974233 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

3 mentions · 3.4% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 544339

CHECK ENGINE GUAGE PERFORMING POORLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE.

Look up ODI 544339 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 700058

AFTER WE TOOK OUR 92 CAPRICE IN FOR OIL CHANGE ON OCT. 22 WITH COMPLIMENTARY CHECK OF THE BRAKES AT DEALER, WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED THE BRAKES REPLACED, ESPECIALLY THE BACK ONES, WITH THE FRONT ONES NEEDING REPLACEDMENT IN A FEW MONTHS. GOING HOME THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT HAD GONE ON WHILE DRIVING. WE STOPPED THE CAR & LIGHT WENT OFF, BUT AFTER BEGAN DRIVING LIGHT WENT BACK ON & STAYED ON. WE TOOK CAPRICE TO DEALER & THEY CHECKED IT & REPORTED THAT WE NEEDED A MODULATOR VALVE AT A COST OF $…

Look up ODI 700058 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 808165

THE ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. TWO ESTIMATES SHOWED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED AN ABS MODULATOR. *AK

Look up ODI 808165 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 975488

THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND VEERS TO THE RIGHT WHEN STALLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TT THE BRAKE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL BURNED OUT TWICE. THERE WAS A BUMPING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. IGNITION COIL FAILED. *YH

Look up ODI 975488 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b