The 1996 Chevrolet Caprice has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 287,145 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
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.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH BOTH THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT CAUTION LABEL AND A ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN VISOR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: OPERATORS COULD FAIL TO NOTICE AND HEED THE WARNING LABELS.
A NEW ROOF RACK CAUTION LABEL, WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE SENT DIRECTLY TO OWNERS. OWNERS WILL INSTALL THE LABEL OR HAVE THEIR DEALER INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“The vats system is the problem on my 96 impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos”
“The vats system is the problem on my 96 impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos”
“The vats system is the problem on my 96 impala it just shut my car off for the past 3 mos”
“Safety emissions. *kb”
“Safety emissions. *kb”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet caprice. The contact was driving 45 mph when he heard a dragging noise coming from under the vehicle. The vehicle was maneuvered to the shoulder and the contact noticed that the straps which held the fuel tank in place were fractured due to corrosion. The…”
“During maintenance of my vehicle it was found to be missing the bolts, guides, washers, bushings and nuts that connect the radiator support to the frame. This 1996 chevrolet caprice classic may be only one of many wherein these critical bolts and assemblies were never installed at the factory. *jb”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet caprice. While driving 45 mph, the instrument panel cluster lights began blinking on and off. The failure continued for approximately six months until it completely shut off. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the panel cluster was…”
GM NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY ARE CONDUCTING A RECALL TO RETORQUE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER OF 1995.IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MOST VEHICLES WILL REQUIRE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS TO BE RETORQUED TO 135 N.M(100 LB. FT.).CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD ALL FOUR OF THEIR TIRES AND WHEELS ROTATED SHOULD…
There is no summary currently available
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WHEEL SEPARATION.INVESTIGATION AS TO THE…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Chevrolet Caprice as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.