Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Chevrolet Caprice, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system3
- Seat belts2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Power train1
- Suspension1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Seats1
- Engine and engine cooling1
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
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1988 Chevrolet Caprice failed the safety check 0.36% of the time — 65% less often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 72,840 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
24 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 8% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast6
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm5
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen3
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt3
- As of wielgeleidingselement ondeugdelijk2
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet goed2
- Remverschil op 1 as te groot2
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In New Zealand
5 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% 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 1988 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… |
| 1989034 13 Mar 1989 | Electrical NOTE: -VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POLICE CAR OPTION, 5.7 LITRE ENGINE AND HEATER ONLY- THE UNUSED AIR CONDITIONING WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE PROPERLY 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).
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 1988 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
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation