1993 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 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 15 of 81 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 34.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 5 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 5; Electrical System:Horn: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 78 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 | 30 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
1995: 30; 1996: 16; 2000: 13; 2001: 8; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2006: 1; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10028562 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)
NOT A COMPLAINT, EXACTLY, AN INQUIRY: HAS ANYONE LOOKED AT RIGHT KNEE INJURIES, SINCE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS BECAME MANDATORY? I NOTE THAT IT FEELS AS IF, IN AN 'IMPACT', MY KNEE WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE KEYS.... (OR VICE VERSA) THIS INQUIRY APPLIES TO ANY VEHICLE TYPE/MODEL, THOUGH INTERNAL ERGONOMICS MAY AFFECT OCCURRENCE, IF ANY. VEHICLE DETAILS PROVIDED ONLY TO SATISFY WEB SITE REQUIREMENTS. FEEL FREE TO IGNORE THIS ENQUIRY, IF NON ISSUE... BEST DAVE PIERSON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046139 · 2003-10-31 (October 31, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE REGULATOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071278 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
MAJOR FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S WATER-RESISTANT ENVELOPE: SERIOUS WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FIREWALL, RESULTING IN RUST AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO CARPET, MOLD AND MILDEW IN CARPET AND UNDERLAY, AND UNPLEASANT ODOURS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072308 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
SIDEWALL TIRE SEPARATION. UNIROYAL P185/70R14. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 196,836 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082054 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE FALLING APART. RUST WAS EVIDENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOWER PART OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY, FROM FRONT WHEEL TO REAR WHEEL. FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY ESOECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK STARTED TO COLLAPSE AND EVENT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087599 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO D INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM COLLAPSED AND WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HOSE NON METALLIC RECALL 93V121000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 46,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152120 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ROLLING DOWN THE MANUAL WINDOW, IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568147 · 2014-03-10 (March 10, 2014)
IGNITION SWITCH SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10568147 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1993-07-21 (July 21, 1993)
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗