Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗EQUIPMENT:SPEED CONTROL
- Summary
- A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
- Consequence
- SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:LEVER AND LINKA
- Summary
- MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
- Consequence
- THE VALVE LINK COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN A GEARSELECTION DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE DRIVER SELECTS. ALSO, CAR COULD BE STARTEDWITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR ALLOWING VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNANTICIPATEDDIRECTION.
- Remedy
- REPLACE THE MANUAL VALVE DETENT LEVER LINK.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (17)
17 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 4 | 23.5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 23.5% |
| Seats | 3 | 17.6% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 17.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 11.8% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 5.9% |
| Suspension | 1 | 5.9% |
| Visibility | 1 | 5.9% |
How 1987 compares with other Caprice years
Best and worst Caprice years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 8 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 | 1 |
| 1985 | 4 | 3 |
| 1986 | 30 | 1 |
| 1987 | 17 | 2 |
| 1988 | 12 | 1 |
| 1989 | 18 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 1 |
| 1991 | 131 | 5 |
| 1992 | 89 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 19 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 468 g/mi
- EPA class
- Large Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 19 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | $3,550 | 468 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 22 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 / 23 / 18 | $3,700 | 494 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 22 / 17 | $3,950 | 523 |
| 5.7 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 19 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1987 Caprice for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1987 Chevrolet Caprice FAQ
How many recalls does the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 89V102000 (vehicle speed control), 87V168000 (power train). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1987 Chevrolet Caprice problems?
Owners filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (4), Vehicle speed control (4), Seats (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice get?
EPA rates the 4.3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 16 city, 24 highway and 19 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1987 Caprice compare with other years?
Among the 1983–1992 Chevrolet Caprice model years at least five years old, the 1985 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 1991 the most (131). The 1987 drew 17. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.