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U.S. public vehicle records

1994 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3425.8%
Steering behavior107.6%
Transmission and shifting96.8%
Engine operation43.0%
Electrical and battery issues32.3%
Fuel system concerns32.3%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip24
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components8
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System7
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Structure:Body:Door5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Electrical System:Horn4

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above3

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199551
199621
200020
200117
20023
20034
20046
20055
20061
20071
20081
20101
20121

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10025204 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)

LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RUBBED ON MOTOR MOUNT AND WORE THROUGH THE METAL ON THE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ENGINE COOLING FAILURE. HOSE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS. NEW HOSE IS STILL RUBBING. NO APPARENT WAY TO MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY. *AK SECOND COMPLAINT. AIR CONDITIONING EXTERNAL RUNOFF OFTEN RUNS INTO CAR UNDER PASSENGER MAT INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 184,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025204 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034491 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 94V115000 CONCENING AXLES. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039409 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

HEAD GASKET LEAKING NEEDED REPLACED IN1998 AT 43445, THEN STARTED LEAKING IN 2002 AT 74847.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039409 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059871 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)

CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER A POT HOLE, AND IT FELT LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO COME APART. CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND HE REPLACED THE SHOCK TOWERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER FELT SOMETHING DRAGGING. TOOK BACK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE SHOCK TOWERS ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER WAS ALSO REPAIRED. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059871 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 10068443 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM EVER SINCE I GOT IT. IT CONSISTENTLY OVER- HEATS, LEAKS COOLANT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FAN. MY CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN FROM IT AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF MORE DOLLARS TOGET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM SO SICK OF TAKING THIS CAR IN FOR PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN BELT AND PARALLEL PULLIES, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY AAA. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 83,334 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068443 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070284 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKEN ON MY 1994 CAVALIER. THE THIRD TIME THE CHAIN BROKE I HAD TO HAVE THE RODS/PISTONS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN THE CHAIN BROKE IT BENT THEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070284 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.

94V115000 · Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:Arm

Reported: 1994-06-24 (June 24, 1994)

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

NHTSA campaign record ↗