CHEVROLET CAPRICE · model year

1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE

170 NHTSA complaints, 30 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991CHEVROLETCAPRICE carries 170 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 30 crashes, 3 fires, 16 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 1991 CAPRICE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 21 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (18) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (11). 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 1991 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.

170
Complaints
30
Crashes
3
Fires
16
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

170 filings

Crashes Reported

30 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP21
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
SEATS4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT4
AIR BAGS3
TIRES3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE3

Recent Complaints

20171012UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CPSC: THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL HORN BUTTONS ON THE 91-93 CHEVY CAPRICE, HORN BUTTONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DON'T WORK! *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS

20171012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CPSC: THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL HORN BUTTONS ON THE 91-93 CHEVY CAPRICE, HORN BUTTONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND DON'T WORK! *BF UPDATED 10/16/2017*JS

20131228EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I AM TIRED OF PASSING VEHICLES ON A TWO LANE BLACKTOP IN THE RAIN THAT HAVE HEADLIGHTS BADLY POSITIONED OR TOO BRIGHT. ARE YOU NOT SUPPOSE TO TEST NEW VEHICLES FOR COMPLIANCE. ALL THIS NEW STUFF ONLY HELPS THAT VEHICLES DRIVER AND BLINDS THE REST OF US. ALSO YOU SHOULD MAKE THESE VEHICLES WITH TRUCK SIZE TIRES THAT SIT THREE FEET OFF THE GROUND ILLEGAL. THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL LARGE VEHICLES THAT HAVE AN OTHERWISE GOOD SAFETY RATING IN SERIOUS CRASHES. TWENTY TWO INCH BLINGS KILL! *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20100413FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING IT HOME. HE FURTHER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND HE STOPPED TO LET IT COOL DOWN PRIOR TO THE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0151-90) *JB UPDATED 05/13/10 *BF

20090827ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

WHITE SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE EX SYSTEM. I RECENTLY HAD A OIL CHANGE AND TUNE-UP. *TR

Mileage: 167

20070706ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE MADE A TAPPING NOISE. AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CREAM COLORED FOAM ON THE GAUGE STICK. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS NOT POSITIONED PROPERLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. AFTER CHANGING THE TYPE OF FUEL HE PUT IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 93,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Mileage: 48,000

20070313CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND HEARD A LOUD ROAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, AND BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD APPLY THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUILDING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN . THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. *AK ALABAMA INCIDENT REPORT PROVIDED. UPDATED 08/03/07 *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20050709FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAPRICE CLASSIC WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN MOVED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR. AFTER AN HOUR FROM MY CAR BEING MOVED, MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DASH WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY CAR WAS EVEN ON FIRE FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD KID. I QUICKLY TRIED TO PUT IT OUT AND DID SO. BY THE TIME IT HAD DIED OUT AND THE SMOKE WAS GONE, THE ENTIRE MIDDLE AND PARTIAL LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH HAD MELTED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. MY CAR DID NOT HAVE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND NOTHING WAS LEFT ON. MY CAR JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE BY ITSELF. MY MOTHER HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER NEW AND I BOUGHT IT FROM HER. NO MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN MADE TO IT AND EVERYTHING IS ORIGINAL FROM THE MAKER/DEALER/CCHEVROLET. I NOTICED THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN MADE REGARDING CARS CATCHING ON FIRE FREOM A SHORT. WHY WASN'T MY MOTHER MADE AWARE OF THIS IN ORDER TO CORRECT YOUR PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED? PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. SINCERLY, KATHLEEN BAGLEY

Mileage: 300,000

20040831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN VEHICLE HESITATED. BUT WHEN LETTING UP ON THE GAS VEHICLE ZOOMED FORWARD. CONSUMER MENTIONED THIS TO DEALER, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.*AK

20040723ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

1) A VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGH FROM A SIDE STREET AND CUT ME OFF. I ATTEMPTED TO USE MY HORN BUT THE AREAS ONE MUST PRESS ARE SO SMALL AND SPECIFIC THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO QUICKLY LOCATE THE SPOT. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER VEHICLE BUT THIS INCIDNET REMINDED ME THERE THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE HORN LOCATION. 2) DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY LOCATING THE HORN I HAVE BEEN UNABLE, IN THIS INSTANCE AND MANY PREVIOUSLY, TO ALERT OTHER MOTORISTS OF MY PRESENCE. 3) I HAVE NOT YET VISITED A CHEVROLET DEALER BUT INTEND TO .*AK

20040520SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

20040315CrashAIR BAGS

1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE CLASSIC/AUTO ACCIDENT/ AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

20031029SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH. CONSUMER HAS TO USE THE MIDDLE BUCKLE TO FASTEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. *AK

Mileage: 154,000

20030909ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

THE DRIVER HAD TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS ,AND HAD NO INTERIOR LIGHTING DUE TO A FUSE THAT BLEW OUT. *AK

20030624FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS TANK IS LEAKING FUEL. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

20030617FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. TANK IS MANUFACTURED WITH TWO CONE SHAPED DEPRESSIONS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. STRAPS HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE. THESE STRAPS ALMOST COVER THESE DEPRESSIONS, THE TANK LEAKS AT THE DEPRESSION ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ALLOWING FUEL TO ESCAPE. CONTACTED GM, FILE NUMBER 1-109-911-920, BUT WAS TOLD THAT GM WOULD NOT COVER THE COST TO REPLACE AT THIS TIME SINCE INSUFFICIENT COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE. *JB

Mileage: 153,054

20021022CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT PEELING ON VEHICLE. MR

20021022CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT PEELING ON VEHICLE. MR

20021022CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

PAINT PEELING ON VEHICLE

20021022CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

PAINT PEELING ON VEHICLE

Compare 1991CHEVROLETCAPRICE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE have?
The 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE has 170 NHTSA complaints, 30 crashes, 3 fires, 16 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE?
The most-complained component for the 1991 CHEVROLET CAPRICE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 21 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1991 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.