RoadVitals

2013 Chevrolet Caprice

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
6
Latest Dec 19, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Jun 23, 2015
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Caprice, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1,224 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical222.2%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Fuel system111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%
  • Steering111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Visibility111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
15V399000

SEAT BELTS

Jun 23, 2015
47,042 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
The risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge. These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 15206.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 15206View on NHTSA.gov
14V540000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Sep 9, 2014
47,043 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to December 6, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.
The risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and cut and fit a revised key blade and housing assembly, in which the blade has been indexed by 90 degrees, to the original RKE transmitter assembly. GM issued an interim notification to owners on December 31, 2014. The recall began on February 4, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14445. Note: Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that drivers adjust their seat and steering column to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 14445View on NHTSA.gov
14V544000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL); POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Sep 9, 2014
7,598 units potentially affected
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured March 24, 2011, to December 6, 2013. The affected vehicles are Police Patrol Vehicles (PPV), equipped with a specific transmission selector lever that contains two pins that can become displaced. If the pins get displaced, the driver may be able to shift the vehicle from "Park" without depressing the brake pedal or remove the ignition key without the transmission being in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, And Transmission Braking Effect", and No. 114, "Theft Protection And Rollaway Prevention."
The risk: If the transmission can be moved from "Park" without depressing the brake pedal, unintended motion may occur increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the ignition key can be removed without the transmission being in "Park," the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
The remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift lever roll pin, replace the base pivot pin and attach a Brake Transmission Shift Interlock retention enhancement clip, free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14549.
General Motors LLCManufacturer number 14549View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Dec 19, 2015

THIS IS ONLY A 2013 CAPTIVA, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FUEL PUMP CONTROL SYSTEM IS ON ITS WAY OUT. THINK WE BOUGHT A LEMON AS WE JUST HAD THE SHIFTING SENSOR CHIP GO OUT A MONTH AGO, NOT GOOD ON A WELL TAKEN CARE OF VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ID
10811253
Incident
Dec 18, 2015
Mileage
40,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 3, 2015

A CRUNCHING OR GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE ABS LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FLASHES WHEN THE GRINDING NOISE HAPPENS. THE PROBLEM HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIME ONE DAY THEN MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A WEEK

NHTSA ID
10761386
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
Mileage
55,364 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V54000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10724202
Incident
Feb 16, 2015
Electrical
Filed Mar 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO, AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10701757
Incident
Mar 2, 2015
Visibility
Filed Nov 24, 2014

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, DEALER SAYS THE MOTOR GEARS STRIPPED. WE REFERENCE THE CURRENT RECALL ISSUED BY GM FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT BEFORE JUNE 2013. THE WIPER MOTOR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 44,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10660550
Incident
Nov 23, 2014
Mileage
44,519 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 3, 2014
Fire reported

DRIVING VEHICLE ON DIRT ROAD, ROAD ABRUPTLY TURNED TO SOFT SAND. VEHICLE WAS LAGGING IN THE SAND. ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TURNED AROUND TO GET BACK TO SOLID ROAD. SWITCHING BETWEEN AUTOMATIC & MANUAL MODE ON THE TRANSMISSION TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED AROUND, SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING & SAW SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD. STOPPED VEHICLE TO LOOK UNDER HOOD. UNDER HOOD SMOKE COMING FROM DOWN BELOW ENGINE AREA ON FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AREA. SMOKE WAS THICK WHITE & CHEMICAL SMELLING. ENGINE AREA IGNITED TO FLAMES. ATTEMPTED TO PUT FIRE OUT WITH WATER WITH NO LUCK. VEHICLE COMPLETELY BURNED UP. VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10577013
Incident
Feb 14, 2014
Mileage
26,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIT3271Q

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

PIP6104

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

PIP4902V

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIP4902U

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

PIT5214G

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Chevrolet Caprice by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018000—
2017000—
2016000—
2015000—
2014123145.5
2013Viewing640—
2012030—
2011130—
2004000—
2003100—
1997300—
1996658353.6
19958811561.6
199414610463.7
1993616056.7
19928911263.6
199113110466.8
1990622—
1989182260.0
1988123152.7
1987174261.7
1986303464.6
1985454—
1984724—
1983811—
1982020—
1981020—
1980030—
1979340—
1978030—
1977240—
1976020—
1974030—
1973010—
1972020—
1971030—
1969040—
1968020—
1967020—
1966020—
1965030—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.