Reliability
Chevrolet

Caprice (PPV)

2011-2017 · Full-Size Sedan · 1 engine
23 NHTSA Complaints
14 Recalls
1 Fire Reports
0 Crash Reports
Data covers 2 NHTSA model names
CAPRICECAPRICE PPV
Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

8.9 / 10

Reliability score

Fewer owner complaints than similar full-size sedans

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 4 powertrain complaints. A typical full-size sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 17.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.2 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall4 complaints against about 17 for similar vehicles
8.9
Last three years
n/aNot enough data
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

By model year
  • 2011n/a
  • 2012n/a
  • 2013n/a
  • 2014n/a
  • 2015n/a
  • 2016n/a
  • 2017n/a

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

L77

6.0L 8-cyl
14 complaints 4.7 per year Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)
View details

Complaint Breakdown

steering
11
suspension
1
body
1
electrical
1
other
1

Same engine used in

Show 3 additional engine variants with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

LEA - Flex Fuel (Gas/Alc), Aluminum, High Output

2.4L 4-cyl
4 complaints 1.5 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

engine
3
fuel system
1
transmission
1
electrical
1

Chevrolet Caprice Unidentified Engine

3 complaints 1.5 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
2
other
1

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Caprice, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Steering: 12 owner complaints
Electrical System: 5 owner complaints

Recalls (14)

20V638000Oct 15, 2020serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet SS and Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 16V-518. The repair may not have been performed properly. The driver's seat belt tensioner cable may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.

20V515000Aug 27, 2020serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV), that did not get a replacement steering gear under recalls 17V-265 or 16V-160. The connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor may fail, possibly resulting in a loss of electric power steering assist.

20V254000May 7, 2020serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV) and SS vehicles. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

17V437000Jul 10, 2017serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

17V265000Apr 20, 2017serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles (PPV), previously remedied under recall 16V-160. The connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor may fail, possibly resulting in a loss of electric power steering assist.

Show 9 older recalls
16V651000Sep 8, 2016serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.

16V518000Jul 8, 2016serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles manufactured May 14, 2013 through June 14, 2016, and Chevrolet SS vehicles manufactured May 15, 2013 through April 27, 2016. The driver's seat belt tensioner cable may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.

16V160000Mar 18, 2016serious
Steering

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles manufactured May 15, 2013, to March 3, 2016. Corrosion of the connector between the electric power steering module and the torque sensor connector may cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

15V636000Oct 9, 2015serious
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured August 14, 2013, to February 3, 2014, and Chevrolet SS vehicles manufactured August 15, 2013, to February 16, 2014. The affected vehicles received replacement seat base assemblies during repair service, but during the work, the seat position target bracket may not have been transferred from the old seat to the new one. Without the seat position target bracket, the air bag may deploy at a higher intensity than necessary.

15V399000Jun 23, 2015serious
Seat Belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

14V544000Sep 9, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured March 24, 2011, to December 6, 2013. The affected vehicles are Police Patrol Vehicles (PPV), equipped with a specific transmission selector lever that contains two pins that can become displaced. If the pins get displaced, the driver may be able to shift the vehicle from "Park" without depressing the brake pedal or remove the ignition key without the transmission being in "Park." As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, And Transmission Braking Effect", and No. 114, "Theft Protection And Rollaway Prevention."

14V540000Sep 9, 2014serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to December 6, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

14V446000Jul 23, 2014serious
Seats

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Buick Encore and Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS, ELR, Chevrolet Caprice and SS vehicles; and 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks. Due to an incomplete weld on the seat hook bracket assembly, the front seats in the affected vehicles may not stay secured in place during a high load condition such as a crash.

14V375000Jun 27, 2014serious
Visibility

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured June 7, 2013, to May 29, 2014, and 2014 Chevrolet SS vehicles manufactured September 13, 2013, to March 4, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper motor gear teeth may strip causing the windshield wipers to become inoperative.

Alternatives in Full-Size Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice complaints?

Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice. The systems they name most often are the steering, the electrical system and the engine.

Is the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice have?

NHTSA has 23 owner complaints on file for the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice?

NHTSA lists 14 recalls covering some 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Caprice?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the steering, the electrical system and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the Caprice have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2011-2017 Chevrolet Caprice. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 23 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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