Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system32
- Latches/locks/linkages27
- Service brakes, hydraulic16
- Steering13
- Vehicle speed control12
- Visibility12
- Tires9
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Suspension8
- Power train7
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 1994 Caprice vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. 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 1994 Chevrolet Caprice failed the safety check 1.03% of the time — 22% less often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 115,100 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
7 1994 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
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice.
| 1996026 12 Feb 1996 | Suspension NOTE: POLICE SEDANS AND TAXI CABS. THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT AND EVENTUALLY COULD CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM … |
| 1995074 24 Apr 1995 | Engine Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 124 - Accelerator Control Systems. At low temperatures there may be excessive movement friction in the accelerator pe… |
| 1994170 3 Nov 1994 | Fuel System THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS ARE BELOW THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THESE LOOSE FASTENERS COULD, IN TIME, BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE… |
| 1994064 25 Mar 1994 | Engine On certain vehicles, the engine oil cooler inlet hose may contact the steering gear and wear through. This could allow engine oil to leak onto hot engine compon… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
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 1994 Chevrolet Caprice: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 603086 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE ENGINE MISS/ POOR DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS. *YC |
| 54332 | EXPERIENCING ENGINE NOISE. *YC |
| 54328 | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING. *YC |
| 52601 | ENGINE NOISE (INSTALL VALVE STEM OIL SEAL). *TW |
| 52106 | WATER IN AIR PUMP AND/OR DTC P0410, P0412, P1415, P1416, P0100, P0101, P0102 AND DTC 48 (INSTALL AIR PUMP SERVICE KIT). *TW |
| 50568 | MILD SHUTTER OR SAIL-ON BETWEEN 40 TO 60 MPH, STALL IN REVERSE. *TW |
| 45828 | HORN MAY HONK WITHOUT DRIVER ACTIVATION (REPLACING STEERING WHEEL AND SIR MODULE ASSEMBLY). *SD |
| 45823 | UNKNOWN |
| 44054 | REAR WHEEL/TIRE POSITION IN WHEEL WELL OPENING. *TW |
| 37951 | WIPER CHATTER DURING COLD WEATHER. *TW |
| 37935 | NEW CALIIBRATION TO CORRECT SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE/SPEEDOMETER INACCURACY. *TW |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10168979 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details. |
| 10165876 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. |
| 10141381 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
COOLANT FIRES
COOLANT FIRES
STEERING WHEEL BREAKAGE
STERRING WHEEL BREAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation