1995 Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
198 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
82,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 198 complaints (20.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 25 | 12.6% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 10.1% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 40 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 16 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 7 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 40; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 16; Electrical System:Ignition: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 7
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 177 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 | 37 |
| 1996 | 26 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 37; 1996: 26; 2000: 30; 2001: 28; 2002: 44; 2003: 18; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 16 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 10006290 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014678 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE IGNITION FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN AND KEY TO GET HOT WHILE IN USE. *JB..*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063935 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)
LEFT TURN AND BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS. POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. CAR SHAKES BADLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196202 · 2007-07-12 (July 12, 2007)
I BOUGHT A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER NEW, IN JULY 1995. I HAD THE FOLLOWING MAJOR REPAIRS DONE ON THE CAR. ON 8/97 -ENTIRE EXHAUST FROM CONVERTER BACK BAD BAFFLED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 10/97-SERPENTINE BELT/ROTORS/ALTERNATOR & RECALL ON HAZARD LIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY. 4/00-HEAD GASKET,SEAL,OIL,FILTER,COOLANT;RECALL ON COVER,SHIELD,RETAINER,SEALANT (DEALER COVERED COSTS UNDER A SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT. 4/00-EGR VALVE 10/00-ADJUST SERPENTINE BELT;REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT 10/01-REPLACE BACK BRAKE PADS,CLEAN FRONT PADS 05/02-REPLACE FAN BELT…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,012 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017658 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
THE ENGINE STALLED, THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247351 · 2008-10-31 (October 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. LATER THAT DAY, THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND MADE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024029 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501212 · 1996-02-01 (February 1, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721237 · 2000-04-09 (April 9, 2000)
I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTOR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. CAMPAIGN # 99-0-88. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191386 · 2007-05-21 (May 21, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE GAS GAUGE IDLED BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL THE GAUGE IDLED FROM FULL TO A QUARTER THEN BACK TO FULL. IT ALSO IDLED FROM A HALF TANK, QUARTER TANK THEN TO EMPTY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TRUNK, IT FAILED TO CLOSE DUE TO THE LINK AND LATCH MOVING OUT OF PLACE (NOT ALIGNED). THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED HER TRUNK TO OPEN RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 179,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 888581 · 2001-05-18 (May 18, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK WHILE ON FREEWAY VEHICLE STALLED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 888581 at NHTSA ↗