1987 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
86,394 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 30.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 4; Seat Belts: 2; Tires: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 11 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 4; 2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004018 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONSTANT BLOWOUTS AND FLATS WITH THE TIRES. ONE INCIDENT LED TO THE VEHICLE SLAMMING INTO A STREET CURB. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 19,925 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075164 · 2004-06-10 (June 10, 2004)
I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY EVENING. I WAS DOING BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY TIRES FOR A FLAT OR SEE IF SOMETHING WAS HANGING BELOW MY CAR. NO FLAT, NOTHING HANGING. BUT MY TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE. I PURCHASED THOSE TIRES BRAND NEW FROM FIRESTONE ON 05/24/2002. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 152,863 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501934 · 1996-02-25 (February 25, 1996)
POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 801322 · 1996-08-27 (August 27, 1996)
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9001509 · 2000-09-20 (September 20, 2000)
BELT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE SOMETIMES WILL NOT PULL OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9001509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960590 · 1995-02-23 (February 23, 1995)
RACK AND PINION WENT BAD. PLEASE EXPLAIN FURTHER. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960590 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 ↗
Owner report 965163 · 1995-05-10 (May 10, 1995)
STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO LEFT DURING LOW RPM ORV AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965163 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V128000 · Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical
Reported: 1986-09-15 (September 15, 1986)
PARKING BRAKE LEVER MECHANISMS MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL AWAY UNCONTROLLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V011000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1987-02-09 (February 9, 1987)
ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY CONTAIN WATER WHICH COULD FREEZE WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED CAUSING TRAVEL OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE TO BECOME RESTRICTED WHEN THROTTLE IS INITIALLY OPENED.
Consequence: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSSOF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗