IllustrationCONSUMER NOTICED NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND GENERAL AMERIWAY XT TIRE, P205/70R15, HAD A 9 INCH LONG AND 4 INCH WIDE STRIP OF TREAD MISSING FROM TIRE. *SLC
1985 Chevrolet Caprice
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Caprice years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsTHE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE FR721, SIZE 225/70 R15, DOT HYUUF75084, TIRE SEPARATED COMPLETELY AT THE TREAD, CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE 2 OTHER FAULTY TIRES ON VEHICLE, FIRESTONE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED TO INSPECT THE SEPARATED TIRE, CONSUMER YET TO COMPLY WITH FIRESTONE DEALER. *TT
PE00020; TIRES BOUGHT FROM A FIRESTONE STORE AND WERE NOT ORIGINAL TIRES, 22570R15, DOTHYUUF75084, AN 10/31/94. CHEVROLET CAPRICE 1985. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 3 MILES, COMPLETE TREAD CAME OFF LEFT REAR WHEEL.*AK 2 OTHER TIRES ARE FAULTY, THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
WHEN TRYING TO START UP THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WON'T START. WHEN STARTING UP AND PULLING OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP CUTTING OFF. AND THE CONSUMER STATES THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, AND THE FUEL FILTER /BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED THREE TIMES. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
389V102000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jun 16, 1989
A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
85V151000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Nov 19, 1985
THE FUEL FEED AND FUEL RETURN PIPE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDES A HOSE WHICH MAY CONTACT THE POINTED END OF THE RADIATOR SHROUD ATTACHING SCREW. THIS COULD CAUSE A GASOLINE LEAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF FUEL LEAK DEVELOPS IT COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE AND BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPOSITION FUEL LINES TO PRECLUDE CONTACT WITH RADIATOR SHROUD ATTACHING SCREW.
85V153000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Nov 19, 1985
THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY CONTACT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM OR EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHIELD AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE INSULATION AND GROUND THE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL A POSITIVE BATTERY SERVICE KIT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4C89001 · Throttle NON-RETURN
Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jan 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE88027 · Headlamp Switch Failure
Opened Feb 9, 1988 · Closed May 11, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
===
EA88019 · Hydro Boost
Opened Jan 28, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE87038 · Hydroboost Failure
Opened Jul 9, 1987 · Closed Jan 28, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING FLUID PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO BOKE BOOSTER.THE EFFECT OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE A LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND/OR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.STATUS:THE VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA SUPPLIED BY GM IS PRESENTLY BEING CODED BY A CONTRACTOR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 12/30/87. GM DATA INDICATED A 50% WEIBULL DISTRIBUTION FAILURE AT 50K MILES FOR THE PISTON PUSH-ROD SEAL. THIS PE LOOKS TO HAVE AN EXTRODINARILY HIGH FREQUENCY, ALTHOUGH THE SEVERITY APEARS TO BE LOW.SHOULD BE INTERESTING DISCUSSING THIS FOR UPGRADE/CLOSURE.===