Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Seats3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Visibility1
- Suspension1
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1987 Caprice vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1987 Chevrolet Caprice failed the safety check 0.31% of the time — 60% less often than the average 1987 passenger car (0.78%). Median odometer at inspection: 66,281 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
58 first registered in 1987 are on Dutch roads; 29% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde22
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen12
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm8
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld6
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)4
- Achteruitrijlicht werkt niet (goed)3
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende3
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In New Zealand
3 1987 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 1987 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… |
| 1987114 22 Oct 1987 | Powertrain VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 200-4R TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY FORMED MANUAL VALVE LINK. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE LINK SEPARATING, RESULTING IN A GEAR SE… |
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).
MANUAL VALVE LINK IN THE TRANSMISSION MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED.
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 1987 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
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation