Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1996 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 ↗GENERAL MOTORS/WHEEL LUG NUTS
- Summary
- THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
GM/SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR:CONTROL ARM
- Summary
- THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN BE AGGRAVATED BY THE SEVERE DUTY CYCLE OF THESE VEHICLES AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
GM/LOWER CONTROL ARM
- Summary
- DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
- Consequence
- THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG
- Summary
- THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL AND A ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
- Consequence
- CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABELS.
- Remedy
- A NEW ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL, WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. OWNERS WILL INSTALL THE LABEL OR HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
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 (65)
65 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 65 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12 | 18.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 16.9% |
| Power train | 9 | 13.8% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 10.8% |
| Steering | 6 | 9.2% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 7.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 7.7% |
| Tires | 4 | 6.2% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 6.2% |
| Visibility | 4 | 6.2% |
How 1996 compares with other Caprice years
Best and worst Caprice years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 89 | 6 |
| 1993 | 61 | 1 |
| 1994 | 146 | 6 |
| 1995 | 88 | 7 |
| 1996 | 65 | 4 |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 3 |
| 2013 | 6 | 4 |
| 2014 | 12 | 3 |
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.
Looking at a 1996 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
1996 Chevrolet Caprice FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 96V245000 (wheel), 96V020000 (suspension), 96V018000 (suspension), 95V215000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Chevrolet Caprice problems?
Owners filed 65 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (12), Engine and engine cooling (11), Power train (9) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1996 Caprice compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2014 Chevrolet Caprice model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1994 the most (146). The 1996 drew 65. 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.