1994 Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
132 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 132 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 25.8% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 7.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 20 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Structure:Body:Door: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System:Horn: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 119 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 51 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 51; 1996: 21; 2000: 20; 2001: 17; 2002: 3; 2003: 4; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000963 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)
THIS PROBLEM OF THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING STARTED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT WELL OVER 800 DOLLARS ON BRAKE WORK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAKE SHOPS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE LAST PLACE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 1300 DOLLAR PROBLEM. I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS BOX. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY IN PERFECTLY CLEAR WEATHER I WAS TO FORCE TO HIT MY BRAKES AND ENDED UP SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST BEING STRUCK BY NUMEROUS CARS UNTIL I FINALLY COME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPP…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063005 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A NOISE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482480 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)
HORN BUTTON FALLS OFF STEERING WHEEL. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718009 · 2000-01-28 (January 28, 2000)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID ACCIDENTS CAR GOES INTO SKID ON DRY AND WET PAVEMENT. STEERING WHEEL WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN WHEN BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM ZIMBRICK BUICK EAST. DRUMS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. DRUMS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED DUE TO WARPING. SHOES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING ALL MOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE SLOWING CAR. PEDAL HAS SAME PULSING ACTION AS IT DID WHEN DRUMS WARPED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184406 · 2007-03-07 (March 7, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ON 01/23/07. THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, AND LOST POWER AT STOP LIGHTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TWO FUEL INJECTORS THAT WERE LEAKING. AND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE WAS A FIRE HAZARD .AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 194,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482946 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS ON UPSHIFTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482946 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720045 · 2000-03-13 (March 13, 2000)
REPLACED DRIVER-SIDE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY ONCE AND PASS.- SIDE 3 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS. ENGINE OVERHEATS VERY EASILY AND STALLS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING/BRAKING, ETC. ABS BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGING 3/4 OF THE TIME. REAR PASS.-SIDE LOCK WILL NOT ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748928 · 2001-07-22 (July 22, 2001)
I WAS SLOWING DOWN IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE, ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE, AND AS I APPROACHED A STOPPING POINT, THE CAR LURCHED/JERKED HEAVILY THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE I WAS IN DRIVE, I THEN PLACED IT IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED EASILY. I THEN PLACED THE CAR INTO DRIVE, RELEASED THE BRAKE, APPLIED THE GAS AND IT STALLED AGAIN. PLACED THE CAR BACK IN PARK, STARTED IT, PLACED IT BACK IN DRIVE, RELEASED THE BRAKE, APPLIED THE GAS, AND THE CAR STALLED. WENT THROUGH THE SAME STEPS AGAIN, BUT THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482157 · 1995-03-11 (March 11, 1995)
PROBLEM W/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSES DOOR LOCKS TO CLICK/DOME AND ABS LIGHT TO COME ON/HEATER TO FAIL, ALSO CAUSES STARTING PROBLEMS. *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 867925 · 2000-08-16 (August 16, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING BATTERY DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID FLYWHEEL BROKE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 867925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109339 · 2005-03-14 (March 14, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING FUEL GAUGE IS REGISTERING 1/8 TANK OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP,. BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE GAS GAUGE GIVING INACCURATE READINGS. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109339 at NHTSA ↗