1988 Chevrolet Caprice Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 25%of 12 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the electrical system of the 1988 Chevrolet Caprice, 25% of the 12 complaints for this model year. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My wife was driving home at 9:30p.m. And the alternator light kept coming on and off the lights got very dim and she pulled off the road. My son happened to be behind her and got out to see what the problem was. He noticed smoke and fire coming from the car. He pulled her out of the car and they got approximately 5 feet from the car and it exploded in a ball of fire. The car was completely destroyed.”
NHTSA complaint #731118, filed 2000-09“The vehicle consistently stalls when warming up, and the vehicle has no acceleration, the vehicle works fine after service for a while and then back to the same”
NHTSA complaint #967232, filed 1995-06Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 | 17% |
| 2013 | 2 | 33% |
| 1996 | 5 | 8% |
| 1995 | 12 | 14% |
| 1994 | 32 | 22% |
| 1993 | 15 | 25% |
| 1992 | 15 | 17% |
| 1991 | 16 | 12% |
| 1990 | 1 | 17% |
| 1988 | 3 | 25% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 3% |
| 1983 | 2 | 25% |
Other parts of the 1988 Chevrolet Caprice
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Chevrolet Caprice
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology