Total Complaints
8 filings
CHEVROLET CAPRICE · model year
1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1985CHEVROLETCAPRICE carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1985 CAPRICE is tires:tread/belt with 4 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (1) and electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1985 CAPRICE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
8
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020514TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE FR721, SIZE 225/70 R15, DOT HYUUF75084, TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY AT THE TREAD, CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 OTHER FAULTY TIRES ON VEHICLE, FIRESTONE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED TO INSPECT THE SEPARATED TIRE, CONSUMER YET TO COMPLY WITH FIRESTONE DEALER. *TT
20020207TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE FR721, SIZE 225/70 R15, DOT HYUUF75084, TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY AT THE TREAD, CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 OTHER FAULTY TIRES ON VEHICLE, FIRESTONE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED TO INSPECT THE SEPARATED TIRE, CONSUMER YET TO COMPLY WITH FIRESTONE DEALER. *TT
20010125TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND GENERAL AMERIWAY XT TIRE, P205/70R15, HAD A 9 INCH LONG AND 4 INCH WIDE STRIP OF TREAD MISSING FROM TIRE. *SLC
20000821TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE00020; TIRES BOUGHT FROM A FIRESTONE STORE AND WERE NOT ORIGINAL TIRES, 22570R15, DOTHYUUF75084, AN 10/31/94. CHEVROLET CAPRICE 1985. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, COMPLETE TREAD CAME OFF LEFT REAR WHEEL.*AK 2 OTHER TIRES ARE FAULTY, THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
19981118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START. WHEN STARTING UP AND PULLING OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP CUTTING OFF. AND THE CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE FUEL FILTER /BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19981118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START. WHEN STARTING UP AND PULLING OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP CUTTING OFF. AND THE CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE FUEL FILTER /BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19981118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START. WHEN STARTING UP AND PULLING OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP CUTTING OFF. AND THE CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE FUEL FILTER /BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
19981118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START. WHEN STARTING UP AND PULLING OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP CUTTING OFF. AND THE CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE FUEL FILTER /BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Compare 1985CHEVROLETCAPRICE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE have?▼
The 1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY.
Is the 1985 CHEVROLET CAPRICE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.