RoadVitals

1994 Chevrolet Caprice Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Oct 9, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 146 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2009

GM HAS PUT THE PROBLEM UNDER TSB 94-C-59 OR 94V049 IT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT NO COST REGARDLESS OF AGE, OWNERSHIP, OR MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT FALL UNDER A RECALL LISTING. THE CAR CONSTANTLY STALLS BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I AM UNABLE TO USE ANY OF THE ELECTRICAL DEVICES ON THE CAR INCLUDING HEADLIGHTS OR IT IMMEDIATELY STALLS. AS A RESULT OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE HAD THE PARTS REPLACED DESCRIBED IN 94-C-59. I WILL TRY TO SEE IF I CAN KEEP THE OLD PARTS. CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR COULD RESULT IN CRASH, FIRE, OF FAILURE OF CAR TO START. GM HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM OR HONOR THEIR OWN OFFICIAL STATEMENTS. I HAVE PAID FOR THE NEW PARTS AND LABOR INVOLVED IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE KEPT THE RECEIPTS AND COPIES OF TSB 94-C-59 FOR RECORD.*TR

NHTSA ID
10286940
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Electrical
Filed Mar 21, 2007

DIGITAL DASH SPEEDOMETER GOES AWAY, DOES NOT SHOW SPEED OF TRAVEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS OPPERATOR DOES NOT KNOW THE RATE OF SPEED BEING TRAVELED. I HAVE REPLACED THE UNIT ONCE BEFORE AT 99,000 MILES WITH A RECONDITIONED UNIT AT A COST OF $300.00. RECENTLY AT 140,000 MILES THIS UNIT HAS FAILED ALSO. THIS RECONDITIONED UNIT IS THE ORIGIONAL UNIT FROM THE CAR THAT HAD BEEN SENT IN FOR REPAIR THE FIRST TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
10185873
Incident
Jun 10, 2004
Mileage
99,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 2005
Fire reported

DT: CABLE FROM BATTERY TO JUNCTION BOX OVERHEATED AND STARTED A FIRE. IT MELTED THE STUD THAT BATTERY CABLE WAS CONNECTED TO, THE JUNCTION BOX AND THE AREA AROUND THE JUNCTION BOX. CALLER WAS AT A CAR WASH AND THE ATTENDENT SAW SMOKE AND ALERTED CONSUMER. THEY OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY HAD NO RECALL. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10130785
Incident
Jul 31, 2005
Mileage
62,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 28, 2005

DT: GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO HONOR A RECALL 94-C-59 ON 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC. CAR OVERHEATED IN THE ELECTRICAL CENTER, THE COVER MELTED. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, AND NO INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE CAR STALLING. THE CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY THE CAR WILL NOT START BACK UNTIL THE ELECTRICAL HOUSING HAS BEEN MANIPULATED IN SOME WAY. THE CAR WILL START BACK THEN. GENERAL MOTORS SAID CAR WAS NOT UNDER THIS RECALL. THEY SAY THIS RECALL IS NOT IN THERE SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER WITH 2 REPRESENTATIVES A GM. THE CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE THE AND HE SAID THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 12-15 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10130406
Incident
Jul 28, 2005
Mileage
94,600 mi
Electrical
Filed May 3, 2005

VEHICLE PURCAHSED USED FROM A CHEVY DEALER. EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER, EVEN HAZARD LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. MECHANIC THOUGHT IT WAS ALTERNATOR, PROBLEM EXPERIENCED AGAIN. MECHANIC FOUND "BATTERY STUD" LOCATED AT "ELECTRICAL CENTER" WAS LOOSE. HE "PATCHED" IT UP. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH "ALLDATA" THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM INDENTIFIED IN "CAMPAIGN 94-C-59" & A RECALL WAS ORDERED. CHEVROLET CLAIMS THERE ARE "NO OPEN RECALLS" FOR MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10119427
Incident
Sep 13, 2004
Mileage
91,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 6, 2004

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED DUE TO BATTERY CABLE CONNECTION OVERHEATING AT THE UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL CENTER STUD. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BATTERY CABLE PLASTIC COVER, T PLASTIC STUD HOUSING, AND/OR THE STUD ITSELF MELTED. THERE WAS GENERAL RECALL 94C59 FOR THE ELECTRICAL CENTER BATTERY STUD. THE VIN NUMBER WAS WITHIN THE RECALL, BUT MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL, INDICATING THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A POLICE CAR, TAXI , OR A SPECIAL SERVICE WAGON.*AK

NHTSA ID
10087344
Incident
Jun 29, 2004
Mileage
84,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 20, 2003

FUEL PUMP FAILURE. WIRE CONNECTED TO FUEL PUMP MELTED BARE. WIRE CONNECTOR MELTED ONTO FUEL PUMP. WIRE HARNESS MELTED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016228
Incident
Apr 19, 2003
Mileage
86,804 mi
Electrical
Filed May 8, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, BATTERY GAUGE GOES DOWN. CONNECTOR TO FUSE PANEL UP AGAINST FIREWALL HAS MELTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8009438
Electrical
Filed Feb 25, 2000

HORN ASSEMBLY IS HARD TO USE, AND DOSEN'T WORK WHEN NEEDED. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED..SAFETY HAZARD ,MANY MORE WILL REPORT IN DUE TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
719241
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Nov 20, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING--DETERMINED IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK FROM A 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE POLICE PACKAGE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SEVERE OVERHEATING/MINOR FIRE WHICH CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE INSULATION OF THE GRAY POWER WIRE AND CHAFING OF THE BLACK GROUND WIRE WHICH FEED THE FUEL PUMP. THESE TWO WIRES CAME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SHORT OUT. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. LUCKILY, THERE WAS ADEQUATE FUEL WITHIN THE TANK TO KEEP THE PUMP SUBMERGED AND PREVENT IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
715083
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 1999
Fire reported1 injury reported

A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHILE INSPECTING THE PROBLEM CONSUMER'S FINGER WAS SUFFERELY BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
849598
Incident
Sep 15, 1999
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 1999

CONSUMER WANTS TO REPORT THE DESIGN AND POOR MATERIALS USED ON THE CONNECTOR FROM BATTERY CABLE TO THE FUSE BOX. BELIEVED THIS CONDITION CAUSED POOR CIRCUIT FLOW AND POOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. (CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
845063
Incident
Jun 15, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 29, 1999

ALTERNATOR: VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA, DRIVER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT START TO RAIN (DOWN POOR), SAT NAD WAITED FOR RAIN TO STOP ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHILE VEHICLE WAS SHUT-0FF AT THE KEY. RAIN STOPPED AND VEHICLE WAS REASTARTED WITH NO NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD, NO FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL A WEEK LATER, WHEN DRIVER PULLED INTO A RELATIVES DRIVEWAY WHEN NOISE STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH POINT VEHICLE WAS SHUT-OFF AT KEY AGAIN AND ALLOWED TO COOL FOR TEN MINUTES, WHEN RELATIVE OPENED HOOD TO CHECK ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HE NOTICED EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED NEXT DAY BY MYSELF WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT FROM A PARTS SUPPLIER IN MY AREA. PITMAN ARM: PITMAN ARM WAS NOTICED TO BE WORN AND ALLOWED PLAY WITHIN STEERING ASSEMBLY. PITMAN ARM WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP OF MY CHOICE UPON INSPECTION OF IT AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CHASSIS PER MY REQUEST.

NHTSA ID
709398
Incident
Jul 20, 1999
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 1, 1999

HORN DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO USE THE HORN. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID
838659
Incident
Apr 18, 1998
Electrical
Filed May 12, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM BATTERY CABLE TO MAIN FUSE BLOCK OVERHEATING WHICH COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE AS WELL AS STALLING. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID
837796
Incident
May 4, 1999
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 24, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, GIVING THE DRIVER NO INDICATION . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
827108
Incident
Aug 24, 1998
Electrical
Filed Apr 6, 1998

HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE DUE TO DESIGN WITH THE AIR BAG PLACED IN HORN BUTTON AREA.

NHTSA ID
533592
Electrical
Filed Dec 15, 1997

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 10MPH, MAKING A TURN, ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TURNED OFF, LOST ALL BRAKING POWER/ STEERING AND LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN UP ON CURB UNTIL ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. UPON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, DISCOVERED THAT A POSITIVE CABBLE FROM THE BATTERY LEADING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSE BOX WAS LOOSE. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
818591
Incident
Nov 5, 1997
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 15, 1997

STARTER FAILED, EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO WARPING, PCM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
526157
Incident
Dec 2, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jul 9, 1997

THE MAIN POWER FUSE UNDER THE HOOD BURNED UP. DEALER TOLD OWNER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CAR, BUT ONLY ON TAXI CABS AND POLICE VEHICLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
813975
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 1997

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, THE SPEEDOMETER READING WENT FROM 70 TO ZERO, THEREFORE, THE ENGINE CUT OFF DUE TO THE AMP FUSE BLOW OUT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AMP FUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
813362
Incident
Jun 21, 1997
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 13, 1997

THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
515314
Incident
Sep 7, 1996
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 1996
Fire reported

WIFE DROVE VEHICLE, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED, UNDER HOOD WIRES MELTED, TERMINAL LEADING TO BATTERY HAD OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK FUSE BOX TERMINAL CRACKED INTO PIECES WHILE TRYING TO DISCONNECT IT, PLASTIC PROTECTIVE CAP HAD MELTED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO DISASSEMBLE, CONSUMER FOUND THAT NO ANTI-VIBRATION DEVICE WAS EMPLOYED IN THE CONNECTION. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ECU. REAR MAIN SEAL WAS INSTALLED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
806038
Incident
Dec 7, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 13, 1995

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
974892
Incident
Nov 5, 1995
Body & structureElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Oct 17, 1995

FRONT WINDSHIELD REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
487185
Incident
Oct 17, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data on this page last refreshed .