The 1994 Chevrolet Caprice has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 380,756 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 185 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the latches/locks/linkages. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION96V0200001996-01-31154,214 affected
Defect
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN BE AGGRAVATED BY THE SEVERE DUTY CYCLE OF THESE VEHICLES AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
SUSPENSION96V0190001996-01-30308 affected
Defect
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Consequence
IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT LOOSENS, FATIGUES AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Consequence
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE TROTTLE RETURN SPRING, IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE FRICTION IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
Consequence
THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL TANK LEAK AND FIRE IF THE LEAKING FUEL IS EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FUEL TANK STRAP FASTENERS.
WHEELS94V0760001994-04-16139 affected
Defect
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
Consequence
ONCE CLAMP LOAD IS LOST, ALL TIRE LOADS ARE TAKEN BY THE WHEEL STUDS RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLES CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING94V0490001994-03-218,475 affected
Defect
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Complaints by component
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
27
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
10
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
8
4crashes1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
5
1fires
SUSPENSION:FRONT
5
TIRES
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
Total complaints185
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet caprice. While driving 55 mph, the entire front end of the vehicle shook and the contact lost control. The failure occurred without warning. The contact continued to drive slowly. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1994 chevrolet caprice. While driving 55 mph, the entire front end of the vehicle shook and the contact lost control. The failure occurred without warning. The contact continued to drive slowly. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to…”
“Firestone tire fr380 ws p225/75r15 55,000 mile tire. After 12,000 miles tire s are showing steel belts through the tread. Independent mechanic and alignment verified that there is no problem with alignment or suspension. Tires purchased march 13, 2008. *tr”
“Gm has put the problem under tsb 94-c-59 or 94v049 it specifically states that they will repair the problem at no cost regardless of age, ownership, or mileage. This problem does not fall under a recall listing. The car constantly stalls because of the problem, and I am unable to use any of the…”
“Dt: cable from battery to junction box overheated and started a fire. It melted the stud that battery cable was connected to, the junction box and the area around the junction box. Caller was at a car wash and the attendent saw smoke and alerted consumer. They opened the hood and disconnected the…”
“Dt: general motors refused to honor a recall 94-c-59 on 1994 chevrolet caprice classic. Car overheated in the electrical center, the cover melted. This can happen at any time, and no indicator lights came on prior to the car stalling. The car lost power completely the car will not start back until…”
“I started my 1994 chevy caprice classic and before I could get it into gear, my car took off and slammed into the back of a honda.”
“Vehicle purcahsed used from a chevy dealer. Experienced complete loss of electrical power, even hazard lights inoperative. Mechanic thought it was alternator, problem experienced again. Mechanic found "battery stud" located at "electrical center" was loose. He "patched" it up. I have found through…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA96022 Opened 1996-09-24 · closed 1997-04-04
STEERING WHEEL BREAKAGE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA99003 Opened 1999-01-13 · closed 2000-08-17
COOLANT FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE96037 Opened 1996-05-16 · closed 1996-09-24
STERRING WHEEL BREAKAGE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE98049 Opened 1998-09-04 · closed 1999-01-13
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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