BestCarRank
Chevrolet

2013 Chevrolet CAPRICE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet CAPRICE has 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 14. The most common issue is electrical problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 chevrolet caprice. while driving at 35 mph, the emergency equipment fractured. the equipment consisted of lights, siren, radio, and mounting system which was the overall relay switch. the failure occurred over six times. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, w. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

9

Total Complaints

4

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints
22%
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO, AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, W
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V54000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFA
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO, AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (4)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)09/09/2014

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."

Risk: If the transmission can be moved from "Park" without depressing the brake pedal, unintended motion may occur increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, if the ignition key can be removed without the transmission being in "Park," the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift lever roll pin, replace the base pivot pin and attach a Brake Transmission Shift Interlock retention enhancement clip, free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14549.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Chevrolet CAPRICE

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,478
Full coverage / month
$123
Liability only / year
$611
vs US avg
-12%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1478

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet CAPRICE Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
45K mi
Engine coolant
150K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
23K mi
Engine air filter
45K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
6 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2013 CAPRICE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
VISIBILITY(~50K mi)
$500
SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 9 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTED OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO, AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, W

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: DRIVING VEHICLE ON DIRT ROAD, ROAD ABRUPTLY TURNED TO SOFT SAND. VEHICLE WAS LAGGING IN THE SAND. ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TURNED AROUND TO GET BACK TO SOLID ROAD. SWITCHING BETWEEN AUTOMATIC & MANUAL MODE ON THE TRANSMISSION TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED AROUND, SMELLED SOMETHING

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ENGINE: DRIVING VEHICLE ON DIRT ROAD, ROAD ABRUPTLY TURNED TO SOFT SAND. VEHICLE WAS LAGGING IN THE SAND. ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TURNED AROUND TO GET BACK TO SOLID ROAD. SWITCHING BETWEEN AUTOMATIC & MANUAL MODE ON THE TRANSMISSION TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED AROUND, SMELLED SOMETHING

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SENT TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, DEALER SAYS THE MOTOR GEARS STRIPPED. WE REFERENCE THE CURRENT RECALL ISSUED BY GM FOR THIS PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD IT'S NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT BEFORE JUNE 2013. THE WIPER MOTOR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 44,000 MILES. *TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Chevrolet CAPRICE — Year Comparison

How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2014
14Below Average
2013
9Above Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
9
Recalls
4
Fire reports
2
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
14

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2013 Chevrolet CAPRICE

Compare With

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