1994 Chevrolet Caprice Problems

METAL AROUND LATCH THAT HOLDS DOOR IS CRACKED, AND IS NOT CATCHING PROPERLY, DOOR DOES NOT SHUT TIGHTLY. *AK

CONSUMER IS BEING REFUSED RECALL 94V049, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MANY PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS RECALL RELATED COMPONENT: SUDDEN AND INCREASING CHARGING SYSTEM DISCHARGE, INTERMITTENT STARTER MALFUNCTION, PERIODIC OVERHEATING, AND MELTING AT THE CENTER STUD OF THE BATTER JUNCTION BOX, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

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

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

ABS VALVE ROTTED OUT, CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45MPH IT WOULD MAKE HOWLING NOISES IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS REAREND DIFFERENTIAL. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLIED. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM WITH NAKED EYE. TIRES WERE REPLACED & VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, AND FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT OR LOCK. *AK

MY WIFE'S 1994 CAPRICE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT NON WORKING POWER STEERING SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. IT IS A TOTAL LOST OF STEERING AS IF THE BELT HAD BROKEN OR THE MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER SEVERAL LENGTHY SERVICE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, WHO ACTED LIKE WE WERE CRAZY, NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO THE CAR. RECENTLY (2 MONTHS AGO) MY WIFE STARTED SAYING THAT NOW THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN LEFT AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND SHE HAS ACTUALLY HAD TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T TURN LEFT. IT ALSO WAS FAILING QUITE OFTEN WHILE TURNING AT VERY LOW OR NO SPEED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. (REMAN FROM AC DELCO). I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FLUID WAS BROWN AND THICK. ALSO REPLACED PRESSURE HOSE, RETURN HOSE, STEERING BOX (REMAN FROM AUTOZONE) AND THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE IDLE CONTROL SWITCH AT THE SAME TIME. THE RESERVOIR WAS FLUSHED OF ALL THE BROWN FLUID. THE REMAN STEERING BOX WAS ALREADY PRIMED WITH NEW FLUID. AFTER MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR ABOUT A WEEK, SHE CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE CAR WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING!! . HERE IS MY OPINION HAS TO WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE 4.3L V-8 MOTOR WAS USED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS NOT TURNING FAST ENOUGH AT IDLE SPEED. WHEN MY WIFE TAKES HER FOOT OFF THE GAS TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN (ITS SORT OF A HALF U TURN THE WAY THE ROAD IS LAID OUT) WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TURNING THE WHEEL, THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED AT THAT POINT. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS WHEN MANEUVERING IN A PARKING LOT OR DRIVEWAY WHERE THE PROBLEM SHOWS UP MORE OFTEN AND THE ENGINE IS AT IDLE SPEED ALSO. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I CANNOT GET GM INTERESTED IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE ANSWER THIS. MY WIFE ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT THIS MORNING AND THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ON WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE? PLEASE HELP. RONNIE BELITZ. *JB

WHEN STEERING IS TILTED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION A FUSE WOULD BLOW OUT. *AK THE FUSE THAT BLOWS IS FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CONSUMER THINKS IT A PINCHED WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN THE WHEEL IS TITLED AND THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON. A LIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE TILTED WHEEL WILL BLOW THE FUSE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE. *PH *NLM

I STARTED MY 1994 CHEVY CAPRICE CLASSIC AND BEFORE I COULD GET IT INTO GEAR, MY CAR TOOK OFF AND SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF A HONDA.

DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER WAS 35 MPH OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED. DIGITAL GAS GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE READ HALF OF TANK. THE CAUSE OF BOTH FAILURES WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW USING THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLLER AND HEARD A LOUD CRACK. THE WINDOW HAD TWISTED AND WAS OFF IT'S TRACK. THE WINDOW WAS TWISTED SO MUCH THAT THE UNDER LEFT CORNER OF THE WINDOW WAS TOUCHING THE OUTER DOOR SKIN, AND EVERY TIME THE CAR HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE WINDOW WOULD STRIKE THE DOOR. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDOW WAS GOING TO SHATTER SO I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES OF PUSHING AND PULLING ON THE WINDOW I FINALLY GOT IT BACK IN THE TRACK AND WAS ABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOW. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND THAT WINDOW GUIDE ALSO FAILED. I AGAIN HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE WINDOW SHATTERED. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER ONE YEAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOWS BEFORE. I CONTACTED A AUTOMOTIVE GLASS REPAIR SHOP AND STARTED TELLING HIM OF THE PROBLEM AND HE STOPPED ME AND SAID "LET ME GUESS YOU HAVE A CHEVY IMPALA OR CAPRICE" AFTER I TOLD HIM THAT YES I DID IN FACT HAVE A CAPRICE HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $100 PER DOOR TO FIX, BUT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, THE PART COULD BREAK AT ANY TIME, IT IS A PLASTIC KNUCKLE THAT HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE REASON I AM WRITING THIS IS BECAUSE THE SIDE WINDOWS COULD HAVE BROKE AND SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSE A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 6 YEARS AND HAVE DRIVEN CAPRICE'S ON-DUTY AND KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES ARE STILL IN USE AS TAXI CABS AND PATROL CARS IN THE UNTIED STATES AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

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.

THE VEHICLE DIED AT 65 MPH,AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE FR380 WS P225/75R15 55,000 MILE TIRE. AFTER 12,000 MILES TIRE S ARE SHOWING STEEL BELTS THROUGH THE TREAD. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ALIGNMENT VERIFIED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH ALIGNMENT OR SUSPENSION. TIRES PURCHASED MARCH 13, 2008. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE TIRE EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAD NEW FIRESTONE TIRE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER TIRE COMPANIES. BOTH COMPANIES CONCLUDED THAT THE THUMPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND THE THUMPING SOUND WAS GONE. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL FOUR TIRES AND THE MONEY TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED. *NM

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.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45MPH IT WOULD MAKE HOWLING NOISES IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS REAREND DIFFERENTIAL. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLIED. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM WITH NAKED EYE. TIRES WERE REPLACED & VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, AND FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT OR LOCK. *AK

PLASTIC LATCH HOUSING ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE, CAUSING THE LIGHT TO STAY ON INSIDE OF THE COMPARTMENT, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. *AK

RIGHT AND LEFT REAR DOOR STRIKER PLATE LATCH CRACKED AROUND MOUNTING AREA.

IN A SUDDEN ICE/SNOW STORM HIT A PATCH OF ICE & VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE TO LEFT TOWARDS TRAFFIC. SWERVED TO RIGHT & HIT A STUMP. NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. DRIVER HIT KNEE ON DASHBOARD. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT REMAINED INTACT. NO EMERGENCY TREATMENT. INSURANCE TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK

OTHER: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER WAS 35 MPH OFF WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS GOING FASTER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATED. DIGITAL GAS GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE READ HALF OF TANK. THE CAUSE OF BOTH FAILURES WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

AUXILLARY POSITIVE TERMINAL UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR BECAME LOOSE AND SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45MPH IT WOULD MAKE HOWLING NOISES IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS REAREND DIFFERENTIAL. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLIED. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM WITH NAKED EYE. TIRES WERE REPLACED & VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, AND FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT OR LOCK. *AK

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

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45MPH IT WOULD MAKE HOWLING NOISES IN THE REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE PROBLEM WAS REAREND DIFFERENTIAL. ALSO, BRAKES WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN APPLIED. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM WITH NAKED EYE. TIRES WERE REPLACED & VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED, AND FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD FAIL TO RETRACT OR LOCK. *AK

IN A SUDDEN ICE/SNOW STORM HIT A PATCH OF ICE & VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE TO LEFT TOWARDS TRAFFIC. SWERVED TO RIGHT & HIT A STUMP. NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. DRIVER HIT KNEE ON DASHBOARD. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT REMAINED INTACT. NO EMERGENCY TREATMENT. INSURANCE TOTALED VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE AND SHIFTING INTO PARK WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING, WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE DUE TO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

DELAY IN SHIFTING GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE.

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF DUE TO BALL JOINT NUT FALLING OFF. THIS CAUSED FRONT WHEEL TO THEN FALL OFF .IT WAS A LUCKY THING THAT I WASNT GOING FAST . A 615.33 REPAIR BILL. NOW IM AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN TO THE OTHER SIDE. I DON'T TRUST IT. CHEVROLET SAID NO RECALL FOR IT, AND WOULDN'T HELP. SO AT LEAST I CAN COMPLAIN TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW HOW UNSAFE THIS VEHICLE IS. THANK YOU. *AK

IN AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE A TIRE THE JACK BROKE.

CHROME AROUND THE BACK LIGHTS CORRODED. *SD