Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic19
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Tires3
- Seat belts2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Steering1
- Electrical system1
- Seats1
- Structure1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 79,020 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
53 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 68% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm13
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde12
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Band onvoldoende profiel5
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet goed4
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld3
- Dim-, grootlicht werkt niet (goed)3
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
5 of these cars first registered in 1986 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 55,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
2 1986 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice.
| 1989092 4 Jul 1989 | Engine A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL (BRACKET) MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INTERMITTENT INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING… |
| 1987066 23 Jun 1987 | Emissions THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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).
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1986 Chevrolet Caprice: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 616349 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER A GM GOODWRENCH REMANUFACTURED 4.3L V6 ENGINE IS INSTALLED. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
THROTTLE NON-RETURN
HYDRO BOOST
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
HYDROBOOST FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation