Total Complaints
6 filings
CHEVROLET CAPRICE · model year
1990 CHEVROLET CAPRICE
6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990CHEVROLETCAPRICE carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 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 1990 CAPRICE is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1) and electrical system:ignition:module (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 1990 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.
6
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| WHEELS:RIM | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030310SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE ANCHORED TO THE DOOR, IF THE DOOR OPENED, THE PASSENGER WAS NOT SECURE. *JB
20030307SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE ATTACHED TO THE DOOR. CONSUMER STATED IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR AND THE DOOR OPENED, THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER MAY FALL OUT.*JB
20001221WHEELS:RIM
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH LEFT FRONT RIM, BROKEN FROM CENTER AND WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN ON ITS LEFT HUD. IT DAMAGED LEFT FENDER. UNABLE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DTAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
19990325ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WHEN DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE DIES OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. *AK
19970829CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CONSUMER WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO A CEMENT POLE, CONSUMER HAS BEEN IN PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR PAIN AND NUMBNESS IN THE NECK AND LEFT HAND, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
19970228VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE IDLES HIGH, WHEN CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. *AK
Compare 1990CHEVROLETCAPRICE 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 1990 CHEVROLET CAPRICE have?▼
The 1990 CHEVROLET CAPRICE has 6 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET CAPRICE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET CAPRICE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE.
Is the 1990 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.