RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Caprice Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
13
Latest May 19, 2023
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.
20%
of 65 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed May 19, 2023

The vats system is the problem on my 96 Impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos

NHTSA ID
11522932
Incident
Jan 1, 2023
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2012

SAFETY EMISSIONS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10452378
Incident
Mar 19, 2012
Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2001

SERPENTENE BELT CHIRPING WHEN UNDER WARRANTY BELT REPLACED 4+ TIMES PROBLEM NEVER SOLVED , CALLED GMC HOTLINE (I QUOTE) LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT (UNQUOTE) WHAT DO I DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
750655
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
Engine
Filed Jun 13, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
561577
Incident
May 24, 2001
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2001

CONSUMER WENT TO MECHANIC FOR OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT OIL COOLANT LINE WAS LEAKING, AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF GEAR BOX. NEW OIL COOLANT LINE WAS INSTALLED, AND INSTALLTION WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM BEFORE. TSB WAS ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
886359
Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2001

ENGINE OIL LINE THAT RUNS FROM ADAPTOR TO RADIATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED NEAR STEERING COLUMN GEAR BOX. THE RUBBER HOSE HAD A DEEP CUT DUE TO STEERING COLUM VIBRATIONS AND NEEDS REPLACING. *YH

NHTSA ID
884925
EngineSteering
Filed Dec 13, 1999

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

NHTSA ID
715984
Incident
Mar 3, 1998
Engine
Filed Apr 21, 1999

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND PUT INTO REVERSE THE ENGINE DIES. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
836956
EnginePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Mar 29, 1999

ENGINE DIED TWICE WITHOUT WARNING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR, DEALER REPLACED SENSOR ON TRANSAXLE THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC

NHTSA ID
544670
Incident
Dec 2, 1998
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Jan 11, 1999

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: )

NHTSA ID
701371
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 9, 1998

HEARD TICKING NOISE, FOUND BROKEN FLYWHEEL AND BROKEN BOLTS IN TORQUE CONVERTER, REPLACED FLYWHEEL 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ID
516116
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 31, 1997

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

NHTSA ID
816818
Incident
Sep 11, 1997
EngineSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 11, 1996

SUSPENSION PROBLEM, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ID
508566
Incident
Sep 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Suspension12

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .