1996 Chevrolet CAPRICE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 65 complaints (6.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Steering behavior
7
10.8%
Fuel system concerns
7
10.8%
Engine operation
5
7.7%
Transmission and shifting
3
4.6%
Braking behavior
3
4.6%
Electrical and battery issues
2
3.1%
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
4
Suspension:Front
4
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
4
Tires
4
Unknown Or Other
4
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
3
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
4
Suspension:Front
4
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
4
Tires
4
Unknown Or Other
4
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 4; Tires: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 54 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000.
WHEN DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR/SPARK PLUGS AND SOMETHING ON THE DRIVESHAFT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP WAS REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN SCREW ON THE CAP AND ROTOR. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, IN WET CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTS AND THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DIFFERENTIAL SLAM INTO GEAR CREATING A "CLUNKING NOISE". PROBLEM BEGAN WITH 1,000 MILES ON VEHICLE.
SUSPENSION CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR---REPLACED TIRES AT 18,000 AND NOW AT 29000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMS I NEED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST FIXED IT. TWO TSBS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. STEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOSE AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP COMPLETELY. SUSPENSION HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT FRONT. BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED SINCE AROUND 10000 MILES. ENGINE HAS SEVERE HESITATION, BUT DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE.( DOT NUMBER: )
WIRES FOR FUEL SENDING UNIT HAVE BURNED AND MELTED, INCLUDING ELECTRICAL FUEL CONNECTOR PLUG INSIDE GAS TANK, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED UNIT, AND NOTICED THAT NEW PART WAS REDESIGNED AND BEEN MODIFIED, INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH OLD DESIGN. CONSUMER STILL HAS ORIGINAL UNIT. *AK *SLC
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
65 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
16.9%Usable mileage11 / 65 records
73.8%Valid incident date48 / 65 records
100.0%Valid filing date65 / 65 records
73.8%Ordered incident and filing dates48 / 65 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
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Too few reports for a range
6,200 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 8023678 · 6,200 mi
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING FUEL PUMP BURNED OUT, AND LUCKILY IT DID NOT EXPLODE. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDING MODULE WERE REPLACED. *TS *TT *NLM.*AK
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.
SUSPENSION CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR---REPLACED TIRES AT 18,000 AND NOW AT 29000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMS I NEED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST FIXED IT. TWO TSBS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. STEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOSE AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP COMPLETELY. SUSPENSION HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT FRONT. BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED SINCE AROUND 10000 MILES. ENGINE HAS SEVERE HESITATION, BUT DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE.( DOT NUMBER: )
SUSPENSION CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR---REPLACED TIRES AT 18,000 AND NOW AT 29000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMS I NEED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT EVEN THOUGH THEY JUST FIXED IT. TWO TSBS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION. STEERING HAS ALWAYS BEEN LOOSE AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP COMPLETELY. SUSPENSION HAS ALWAYS PULLED TO THE RIGHT FRONT. BRAKES HAVE SQUEALED SINCE AROUND 10000 MILES. ENGINE HAS SEVERE HESITATION, BUT DEALER CANNOT REPRODUCE.( DOT NUMBER: )
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.
4 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
5 mentions · 7.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 225,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10042324 · 225,000 mi
WHEN DRIVING BELOW 20 MPH VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE DISTRIBUTOR/SPARK PLUGS AND SOMETHING ON THE DRIVESHAFT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP WAS REPLACED DUE TO A BROKEN SCREW ON THE CAP AND ROTOR. *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, IN WET CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING/ INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED AND MADE SOME REPAIRS. REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK
Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b
Hard or delayed shifting
3 mentions · 4.6% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 10081580
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. *AK
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. *AK
DRIVING, HEARD CLICKING NOISE, WAS REPAIRED, VERY HARD STEERING; STEERING LOCKED, WILL NOT TURN LEFT/RIGHT; DEALER SAID PARTS NEED OILING; VEHICLE BACK IN SHOP. WILL PROVIDE INVOICES. *AK
THE AIR PUMP BROKE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, GM HAD A BULLETIN THAT ADVISED THE TECHNICIAN TO DISCONNECT THE PUMP BUT RATHER THAN REPLACE IT, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PUMP SHOULD BE REPLACED. NLM *SLC *JB
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON DASH PANEL, IT WILL NOT GO OUT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD BY GMC THAT PROBLEM CAN'T BE FOUND. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PBOBLEM THAT CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. LAW SUIT PENDING AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. *YH