CHEVROLET CAPRICE · model year

1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE

63 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993CHEVROLETCAPRICE carries 63 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries, and 2 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 1993 CAPRICE is electrical system:horn with 11 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10) and seat belts:front:retractor (5). 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 1993 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.

63
Complaints
9
Crashes
4
Fires
5
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

63 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
TIRES1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)1

Recent Complaints

20070830FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

1993 CHEVROLET STATION WAGON CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASHBOARD COMPARTMENT. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB

20041104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

INTERMITTENTLY HORN FAILED TO WORK. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS.*AK THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HORN SWITCH REPLACED. *TC

Mileage: 87,688

20040106SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

LOCATION: FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE. PROBLEM: NUT CAME OFF THE BOLT HOLDING THE SUSPENSION TOGETHER CAUSING A 2" RIP IN THE FRAME. *AK COMPLAINT: VEHICLE CAN NOT BE REPAIRED THROUGH WELDING WITH OUT SOME LIABILITY AND RISK. QUESTION: HOW CAN THIS ISSUE BE RESOLVED?

Mileage: 96,000

20030818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURE MELTING THE MECHANISMS. *AK *SCC *JB

Mileage: 25,000

20021003ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE WIRES THAT RAN FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK ALONG THE FRAME HAD SHORTED OUT CIRCUIT. THIS SHORT WAS DUE TO THE CIRCUIT RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME. NLM

20020822ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

THE HORN BUTTONS ARE LOCATED AT EACH SIDE OF THE AIRBAG. THEY ARE 2 SMALL BUTTONS THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. THE LEFT HORN BUTTON WILL SLIP OUT OF PLACE AND GO SOMEWHERE INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE HORN BUTTONS ARE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKAGE EVEN W/LITTLE USAGE.I RECENTLY CONTACTED THE MANUF. BUT THEY ATTRIBUTED TO WEAR AND TEAR/AGE OF VEHICLE. WE HAVE REPLACED THE HORN BUTTONS 1996, 1997,1999, 2000, AND THEY JUST WENT OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS BECOME AN EXPENSIVE & FRUSTRATING SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO USE THE HORN IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. YOU ARE UNABLE TO DEPEND ON THE RELIABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO PUSH THE HORN BUTTONS. THE WINDOW GUIDES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. THEY BREAK VERY EASILY. THE SERVICE DEPT. HAS ACKNOWLEDGED POOR CRAFTMANSHIP FOR BOTH OF THESE ITEMS BUT HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN EITHER MATTER. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

20020812SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ABS BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 21000 MILES AND FRONT DISCS REPLACED AT 27000 MILES. ALSO THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSOR FAILED AT 23000 MILES. *YH

20020716SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

FRONT END SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS FAULTY. BOLT THAT HOLDS FRAME IS HANGING OFF AND THE SELF LOCKING NUT CAME OFF.

20020715ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN DOES NOT WORK WHILE DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR A PEDESTRIAN TO GET HURT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE HORN BUTTONS ARE LOOSE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HORN HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY INOPERATIVE. NOW IT IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. CONSUMER UNPLUGGED THE HORN BECAUSE IT WOULD GO OFF WHEN TURNING A CORNER IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND HORN CONTACTS LOOSE AND THEY WERE BROKEN CAUSING INTERMITTENT OPERATION. THE CONTACTS WERE REPLACED. *JG

20020408CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH HIT FIRE HYDRANT HEAD-ON AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE TOTALED.*AK

20010614STRUCTURE

AT AN AUCTION, CONSUMER BID ON A CAR, HOWEVER WAS NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK IN IT BEFORE BUYING IT, WHEN THE CONSUMER FINALLY LOOKED AT IT, IT WAS FILTHY AND HAD HIGH MILEAGE, THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD A HOLE IN ITS FLOORBOARD, CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK AND WAS DENIED. NLM

20010521ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN IS VERY DIFFCULT TO PRESS. HORN HAS 2 BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL AND LEFT BUTTON FAILED FIRST. THEN, BOTH BUTTONS WENT OUT. AIRBAG/ HORN IS ONE INTEGRATED UNIT. HORN ISN'T WORKING, AND UNLESS CONSUMER REPAIRS IT, DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING. CONSUMR HAS BEEN QUOTED BETWEEN $400-$600 FOR REPAIR OF UNIT.*AK CONSUMER STATES LEFT HORN BUTTON WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FINALLY IT FAILED AND HAD USE OF RIGHT HORN HAND BUTTON AND THEN THAT FAILED AFTER THE WARRANTY ENEDED.*JB

20001219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN BUTTONS ARE SO SMALL, DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE/FIND TO DEPRESS IN AN EMERGENCY. THE BUTTONS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED/REPLACED 6(SIX) TIMES. *CJ

20001101TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND BULGES IN THE TREAD ON OTHER TIRES, REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES ON 9-30-00. (CONTINENTAL GENERAL 225/R15 1025) *MJS

20001017TIRES:TREAD/BELT

COSTCO/PRICE CLUB'S KIRKLAND TIRE (225 75 R15) EXPERIENCED A PLY SEPARATION. *SLC

20000324SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

WHILE DAUGTHER WAS PUTTING SEAT BELT ON THE SPRING THAT RETRACTS BELT BROKE, CAUSING SEAT BELT NOT TO RETRACT. OWNER BELIEVES THE COST OF REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED. *AK *ML

19991203SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

IF THE FRONT WHEELS ARE ON DIFFERENT PAVEMENT THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUS EOF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991129STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

PAINT IS PEELING, PAINT FEELS VERY ROUGH INSTEAD OF SMOOTH. DRIVERS DOOR IS SLIGHLY DARKER COLOR THAN REST OF CAR. ENTIRE FRAME HAS RUST ON IT, INCLUDING THE REAR AXLE.

19990804ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ENGINE SHUT DOWN. HAD AIR CONDITIONER ON AT TIME. HAPPENS IN SUMMER ONLY. TOOK TO DEALER. CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, SOMETIMES. WAS INFORMED OF A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

19990712SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT AND THE SPRING BROKE. *AK

Compare 1993CHEVROLETCAPRICE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE have?
The 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE has 63 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE?
The most-complained component for the 1993 CHEVROLET CAPRICE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1993 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.