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Chevrolet CapriceModel year report

1995 Chevrolet Caprice Problems

Complaints
88filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
128,000miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.7L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide spread of problems on a high-mileage, older vehicle, with front and rear suspension hardware (ball joints and control arms) and fuel-pump wiring standing out in the sampled complaints. Many reports describe parts breaking at low speed or wiring and connectors melting near the fuel tank, and several owners note that repair work under past safety campaigns was not fully covered or could not be confirmed by the dealer.

  1. Electrical system

    Stalling, no-start and electrical faults

    • 11 complaints (13%)
    • median 77,000 mi at 12.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1996–2008

    Owners report sudden stalling or intermittent no-start conditions, with the engine sometimes restarting after a wait and the cause traced to a melted fuse block, a failing pass-key system, a bad alternator or a grounding fault at the EGR solenoid. Some describe the check engine light coming on with a rough idle, and one report notes the air bag light staying on along with an inoperative horn. Dealers in these complaints either replaced parts or could not duplicate the fault. Reported across the sample without a clear mileage pattern, often as intermittent faults.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Check that all warning lights behave normally on a cold start, ask about any replacement of the fuse block or ignition switch, and ask whether the radio anti-theft code is available.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice and recently when I tried to start my car noticed that it would not start. I jumped the car and was able to get it to run but once I turned it off was unable to re-start the car. Upon further inspection I found that the battery was leaking around the positive terminal connection. The battery was a AC delco 78-6yr battery with side-mount terminals. When I removed the battery from the car I could see that it had been leaking and continued to leak acid all over the battery tray and my garage floor. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10228234, filed 2008-05

    “While driving the vehicle stalled and all power steering/brakes went out which almost caused an accident. Vehicle will not start after this incident. Had problems with the cigrette lighter and radio, which she had fixed a week prior to this incident. Also had to replace the emergency parking brake handle. Currently at the dealer.”

    NHTSA complaint #826158, filed 1998-08
  2. Suspension

    Front lower ball joint and control arm separation

    • 6 complaints (7%)
    • median 136,000 mi at 12.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 1997–2007

    Complaints describe the front lower ball joint shearing or the lower control arm breaking, sometimes at very low speed, which lets the front corner of the car drop onto the wheel. Owners report hearing a loud noise, then finding the fender resting on the tire, and repairs involving replacement of the ball joint and sometimes the outer tie rod. Some owners say a dealer only re-tightened the ball joint nut and the knocking returned, and others report being told their vehicle was not covered by the campaign. Reported from low speeds and routine turns up to vehicles in the 90,000-136,000 mile range.

    Recall 96V019000Recall 96V018000

    What to check: Ask whether the lower control arm ball joint nuts were torqued or replaced under the safety campaigns, and have a shop check ball joint play and look for cracking before driving.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “In a shopping center making a right 90 degree turn at estimated speed of 15mph when left front of car collapsed dropping the left front fender down on the left front wheel. Mechanic repairing the car stated that the left lower ball joint broke off. This required replacement of the let lower ball joint (part #k6145) and the left outer tierod (part# es2019rl. There was no pothole or other rough place in the roadway and the automobile had no previous history of accident. …”

    NHTSA complaint #744195, filed 2001-04

    “Front lower control arms broke. Consumer received recall notice 96v01900 that that affected all seven of his particular vehicles. Manufacturer will only cover cost of parts and not the labor charges that go with it.”

    NHTSA complaint #812166, filed 1997-05
  3. Fuel system

    Fuel pump connector and wiring overheating

    • 6 complaints (7%)
    • typically at 6.5 yrs old
    • filed 1996–2002

    Complaints describe the fuel pump connector and wiring inside the tank overheating, melting insulation and plastic plugs, with a carbon trail or blown fuse found afterward. Owners link this to stalling at speed or failure to run, and in some cases to a fuel smell or leak at the tank where the sending unit mounts. Some reports involve vehicles used for patrol or taxi service. Reported across a range of mileages and mostly during driving, including at highway speeds.

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump and tank sending unit connector have been replaced, and have the tank area and wiring inspected for melted plugs, a fuel smell or leaks.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The fuel pump in tank appears to have overheated causing the connection plug to overheat and melt the connector and wire. This vehicle is a police patrol car and was in being driven in regualr service when it began to stall. The officer restarted tha car sveral times as he drove it back to the station. Our repair shop drove the car into the service bay and performed regular diagostic service. The fuel pressure was tested at 70 lbs. Chevrolet spec is 41 to 47 lbs. We pulled the pump and found the pump powere wire and plug melted. …”

    NHTSA complaint #714487, filed 1999-11

    “Wiring harness to fuel pump (inside fuel tank)somehow shorted out causing wiring to get hot enough to melt the wire insulation and plastic connectors,which attach to the fuel pump.”

    NHTSA complaint #742554, filed 2001-03
  4. Steering

    Steering wheel spokes breaking

    • 7 complaints (8%)
    • median 122,500 mi at 10.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1996–2007

    Complaints describe the steering wheel breaking at the horizontal spokes, in one case during ordinary turning at a stop and in another after a rear impact. Owners report being surprised that the wheel separated without a crash, and shops they consulted said they had not seen the same failure. One complaint also notes power steering fluid leaks and a shift lever that could move out of park with the key removed. Reported during turns and stops as well as in a collision; mileage not consistently given.

    Recall 95V221000

    What to check: Grip the wheel at the spokes and check for flex, cracks or looseness, and confirm the shift linkage campaign was applied so the lever does not leave park without the key.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice and was stopped while attempting to enter the highway. I was hit in the rear by a car going 50 MPH who did not see that I was stopped. The drivers seat collapsed into the reclined position and threw me into the rear seat. My seat belt was on and limited my movement. In addition, I pulled on the steering wheel and broke it at the 10 o'clock and partially seperated at the 2 o'clock positions. The failure of the seat caused injury to myself with no support to my neck and head. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10063683, filed 2004-03, 168,000 miles

    “Steering wheel collapsed (broke off) at the two horizontal points - - 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock points at a routine rocking at a stop. Not an emergency stop or sudden stop; just a routine stop at a light. I had never seen this happen in any vehicle unless involved in a crash, much less from a frail man as myself who does not possess superhuman powers. I asked mechanics if they had ever seen this occur and the answer was negative. …”

    NHTSA complaint #765704, filed 2002-08

Buying note. On a car this old, suspension hardware, fuel-pump wiring and electrical faults are the areas owners most often write about, so a pre-purchase inspection focused there, plus documentation of completed safety campaigns, is worth the cost. Parts availability and prior repair quality matter as much as mileage.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 88 consumer complaints for the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice. 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 128,000 miles. Of all complaints, 10 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 15 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (4), Tires (3), Wheels (3), Equipment (2), Seats (2), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “I have a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice. My rear lower control arm (passenger side) broke while driving. Thankfully, it happened at low speed and near my home. The control arm broke all the way through, right at the stabilizer bar attachment... Exactly as described in recall 96v020000. The part that broke is under recall, id 96v020000. I gave the Chevrolet dealer this information and they could not find the recall. I also called and emailed Chevrolet, essentially getting the same response --ignorance. My complaint is I had to pay for the repair myself, despite this being a repair of a recalled part. …”

NHTSA complaint #10198544, filed 2007-08, 136,000 miles

Electrical system: “On numerous occasions consumer would experience total engine failure in which headlights, radio, horn, and the under hood convenience light would not work, and after about 45 minutes vehicle would start up as if there was never anything wrong, consumer took vehicle in to be inspected and it was determined that the fuse block that relays plug into has melted down and the main lug, buss bars and housing needed to be replaced. …”

NHTSA complaint #560906, filed 2001-04

Steering: “The contact owns a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice. The contact stated that the automatic transmission was leaking while driving 55 MPH. Chevrolet stated that the VIN was not included in recall number 95v221000 (power train:automatic transmission). The contact also stated that the power steering was leaking and that the vehicle would shift from park to drive occasionally, without the key in the ignition. The powertrain and purchase date were unknown. The current mileage was 78,000 and failure mileage was 77,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10197855, filed 2007-07, 77,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “After wife parked automobile and got out-the vehicle began to roll backward in a semi-circle, resulting in hitting a brick wall. Driver was slightly injured.”

NHTSA complaint #831042, filed 1998-11

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 107,820 and 136,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7525%75–10050%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 128,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

16’96’98’00’02’04’08’10
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Caprice · sedan not rated4 / 2———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1995 Chevrolet Caprice version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Caprice/Impala RWD4.3L 8-cyl4-speed automatic162419$3,550
Caprice/Impala RWD5.7L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152318$3,700
Caprice/Impala Wagon RWD5.7L 8-cyl4-speed automatic152318$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 15 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 15 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Caprice

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2014127,9193———Not enough data
2013642,2604———Not enough data
19966559,0004—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199588128,0007—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199414691,0006—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19936187,6881—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199289118,0006—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1991131100,0005—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19906—1—18—Not enough data
19891870,0000—18—Stable
198812—1—18—Not enough data
198717—2—18—Stable
198630—1—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19847155,0001—16—Not enough data
19838—0———Not enough data

All Chevrolet Caprice model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice?

Owners of this model year report a wide spread of problems on a high-mileage, older vehicle, with front and rear suspension hardware (ball joints and control arms) and fuel-pump wiring standing out in the sampled complaints. The issues reported most often: Stalling, no-start and electrical faults; Front lower ball joint and control arm separation; Fuel pump connector and wiring overheating.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice have?

NHTSA recorded 88 consumer complaints for the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 13 complaints (15% of the total), followed by electrical system with 12.

Has the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice get?

The EPA rates the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice (Caprice/Impala, 5.7L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1995 Chevrolet Caprice reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 128,000 miles and the middle half falls between 107,820 and 136,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.