Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1971 Caprice.
The 1971 Chevrolet Caprice is presented here as part of the model line whose complaint history covers 1990‑2011, with the highest number of complaints occurring in 1994 at 196 and the lowest in 2003 at just a single complaint. This pattern places the 1971 year within a broader reliability context for the Caprice nameplate, showing where it falls relative to the extremes recorded over those two decades. The overview therefore frames the vehicle not by isolated specifications but by its position in the documented complaint trend.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 213.4 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 52.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 119.7 in |
| Curb weight | 2967 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Caprice of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Coupe 7.0L V8 | 8.00 sec | 16.20 sec | 385 hp | RWD |
| 1965 | Custom Sedan 6.5L V8 | 8.90 sec | 16.70 sec | 250 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Classic Sport Coupe 5.7L V8 | 9.80 sec | 16.80 sec | 170 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Classic Sedan 5.7L V8 | 10.80 sec | 18.20 sec | 170 hp | RWD |
| 1977 | Classic Sedan 5.0L V8 | 11.80 sec | 17.90 sec | 170 hp | RWD |
| 1980 | Classic Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.90 sec | 18.10 sec | 150 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT DRIVING ON UNPAVED ROAD SURFACES, PARTICULARLY ROADS WHICH ARE HEAVILY GRAVELED AND WHICH ARE EXTREMELY WAVY OR FILLED WITH CHUCKHOLES, AT SPEEDS WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO PITCH EXCESSIVELY, THE… Remedy: INSPECT AND INSTALL SHIELD ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Remedy:
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.