vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

3,769 owner complaints analyzed

40 distinct recall campaigns

64,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1982 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,719 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 430 of 3,769 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior56715.0%
Fuel system concerns46312.3%
Steering behavior41511.0%
Engine operation3399.0%
Electrical and battery issues2356.2%
Transmission and shifting1594.2%

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.

Electrical System
430
Fuel System, Gasoline
240
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
211
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
194
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
171
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
153
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
127
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
126
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System430
Fuel System, Gasoline240
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump211
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine194
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel171
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip153
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch127
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline126

Electrical System: 430; Fuel System, Gasoline: 240; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 211; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 194; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 171; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 153; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 127; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 126

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
239
25,000 to 49,999
324
50,000 to 74,999
482
75,000 to 99,999
315
100,000 to 149,999
247
150,000 and above
112
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000239
25,000 to 49,999324
50,000 to 74,999482
75,000 to 99,999315
100,000 to 149,999247
150,000 and above112

Under 25,000: 239; 25,000 to 49,999: 324; 50,000 to 74,999: 482; 75,000 to 99,999: 315; 100,000 to 149,999: 247; 150,000 and above: 112

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (482). 2,050 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.

1995
221
1996
143
2000
309
2001
319
2002
354
2003
402
2004
358
2005
224
2006
107
2007
182
2008
284
2009
168
2010
208
2011
143
2012
71
2013
48
2014
95
2015
55
2016
31
2017
13
2018
12
2019
7
2020
4
2021
4
2022
1
2023
4
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995221
1996143
2000309
2001319
2002354
2003402
2004358
2005224
2006107
2007182
2008284
2009168
2010208
2011143
201271
201348
201495
201555
201631
201713
201812
20197
20204
20214
20221
20234
20241
20251

1995: 221; 1996: 143; 2000: 309; 2001: 319; 2002: 354; 2003: 402; 2004: 358; 2005: 224; 2006: 107; 2007: 182; 2008: 284; 2009: 168; 2010: 208; 2011: 143; 2012: 71; 2013: 48; 2014: 95; 2015: 55; 2016: 31; 2017: 13; 2018: 12; 2019: 7; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 567 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 463 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 415 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 483387 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)

ENGINE LEAKS OIL ON BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDALS. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483387 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10064146 · 2004-03-30 (March 30, 2004)

PURCHASED A 1988 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM E[ILOTOS AUTO SALES 2230 FRANKFORT AVE. PHILA. PA. THE CAR WAS SOLD WITHOUT THE DEALER INFORMING THE BUYER OF THE DEFECTS. THERE WERE MANY....TWO MAIN CRUNCHERS WERE THE BRAKES AND HUDDLED SYSTEMS. THE EMISSION STICKERS WERE DUE. THE DEALER SAID,"HE WOULD PUT STICKERS ON AFTER THE SALE," WHICH WHEN THE TIME ARRIVED FOR THE TRANSACTION,HE SAID,"WE COULD BUT THEY'RE HOT." NOW WE ARER HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING A GARAGE TO PUT STICKERS ON IT BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL DEFECTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064146 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008329 · 2003-03-02 (March 2, 2003)

WHEN I COME TO A SUDDEN STOP OR PUSH MY BRAKES TO A CERTAIN PART DOWN, THE CAR DIES. ALSO ON THE RECALL OF THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS COMPUTER DID NOT GO THAT FAR BACK ON THE MODEL THEY WOULD'NT DO IT.THE DEALER WAS KARNES IN SOMERSET KY.

Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008329 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505900 · 1996-07-02 (July 2, 1996)

REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 985020 · 1996-05-30 (May 30, 1996)

THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS CAUSING ERRATIC TURNING SITUATIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 985020 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489652 · 1995-04-29 (April 29, 1995)

STIFF POWER STEERING DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, ALSO POWER STEERING RACK/PUMP/HOSE REPLACED. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489652 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 969014 · 1995-07-18 (July 18, 1995)

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE FAILED/LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL ON HIGHWAY. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969014 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 975191 · 1995-11-20 (November 20, 1995)

TILT STEERING FAILURE, THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE TILT STEERING. TT CONSUMER STATES THE TILT STEERING IS CAUSING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 975191 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480591 · 1995-01-17 (January 17, 1995)

ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480591 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 965196 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN FRONT DASH, ELECTRICAL. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965196 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967002 · 1995-06-15 (June 15, 1995)

REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967002 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960686 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)

TRANSMISSION STICKS IN GEAR. CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960686 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1989
1
1990
0
1991
2
1992
1
1993
1
1994
1
1995
4
1996
7
1997
7
1998
4
1999
2
2000
2
2001
1
2002
0
2003
1
2004
1
2005
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19891
19900
19912
19921
19931
19941
19954
19967
19977
19984
19992
20002
20011
20020
20031
20041
20050

1989: 1; 1990: 0; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1; 1995: 4; 1996: 7; 1997: 7; 1998: 4; 1999: 2; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 0

Year-by-year records

Chevrolet CAVALIER model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
198201Not available
198325+4
198452-3
1985120
19861320
19871320
19881020
1989281-1
1990420-1
1991312+2
1992831-1
19938110
199413210
19951984+3
19962737+3
199734770
19982524-3
19992122-2
200031220
20012431-1
20021960-1
20036781+1
200433010
20052870-1