RecallMyCar

1996 Chevrolet Caprice Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, and owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
65
owner complaints to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)

    NHTSA 96V245000 Reported 21,582 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The wheel lug nuts were not tightened to the proper specification during assembly.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the vehicle's wheel lug nuts to the proper specification.

  2. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 96V020000 Reported 154,214 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The rear lower control arm can crack at the rear stabilizer bar attachment.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace both rear lower control arms and rear stabilizer bar attachments.

  3. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 96V018000 Reported 102,403 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Defective lower control arm ball joint attachment nuts were not properly torqued and can loosen.

    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.

  4. Air bags

    NHTSA 95V215000 Reported 8,946 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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."

    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.

65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 82,370 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 15 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The vats system is the problem on my 96 Impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 19, 2023 · Structure

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet caprice. The contact was driving 45 MPH when he heard a dragging noise coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was maneuvered to the shoulder and the contact n”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 14, 2011 · Fuel system, gasoline

Compare Chevrolet Caprice model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Caprice model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1965 Chevrolet Caprice30
1966 Chevrolet Caprice20
1967 Chevrolet Caprice20
1968 Chevrolet Caprice20
1969 Chevrolet Caprice40
1971 Chevrolet Caprice30
1972 Chevrolet Caprice20
1973 Chevrolet Caprice10
1974 Chevrolet Caprice20
1976 Chevrolet Caprice10
1977 Chevrolet Caprice32
1978 Chevrolet Caprice20
1979 Chevrolet Caprice33
1980 Chevrolet Caprice20
1981 Chevrolet Caprice10
1982 Chevrolet Caprice10
1983 Chevrolet Caprice08
1984 Chevrolet Caprice17
1985 Chevrolet Caprice34
1986 Chevrolet Caprice130
1987 Chevrolet Caprice217
1988 Chevrolet Caprice112
1989 Chevrolet Caprice018
1990 Chevrolet Caprice16
1991 Chevrolet Caprice5131
1992 Chevrolet Caprice689
1993 Chevrolet Caprice161
1994 Chevrolet Caprice6146
1995 Chevrolet Caprice788
1996 Chevrolet Caprice465
1997 Chevrolet Caprice03
2003 Chevrolet Caprice01
2011 Chevrolet Caprice31
2012 Chevrolet Caprice30
2013 Chevrolet Caprice46
2014 Chevrolet Caprice312

Checking a specific 1996 Chevrolet Caprice

How do I know if my 1996 Chevrolet Caprice has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 95V215000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Chevrolet models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.