1995 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001249 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001642 · 2002-12-30 (December 30, 2002)
PER THE DEALERSHIP BOB BELL CHEVROLET;BEL AIR MD;[phone removed]. THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH 02 V 070 000 WAS ALREADY DONE ON CONSUMERS VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005109 · 2003-02-02 (February 2, 2003)
SERVICE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON MY 1995 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS NOT COVERED BY DEALER DESPITE SERVICE BULLETIN #98054 AND #98054A AND THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD 54,771 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 54,771 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005973 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY OF ETHER SEVEN YEARS OR 100 THOUSAND MILES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005973 at NHTSA ↗
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 10007659 · 2003-02-17 (February 17, 2003)
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN FRONTAL IMPACT AT SPEED OF 45 MPH. AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH INDICATED AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 115,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007952 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
LEAKING COOLANT TOOK TO DEALER AFTER RECIEVING A LITTER FORM CHEVY, THEY REPLACED HEAD GASKET. ONE YEAR LATER COOLANT IS LEAKING AGAIN. DEALER WILL NOT FIX THIS TIME DUE TO MILLIAGE BEING OVER 100,000 MILES. WILL CHEVY FIX THIM PROBLEM OR NOT THEY DID NOT FIX IT THE FIRST TIME SHOULD THEY NOT BE MADE TO FIX THERE MISTAKE.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008901 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
THE HORN WENT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF THE PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 77,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008901 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V070000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2002-03-06 (March 6, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V025000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm
Reported: 1995-02-16 (February 16, 1995)
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V141000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 1995-07-26 (July 26, 1995)
SOME WELDS WERE OMITTED FROM THE BODY LOCK PILLAR, OR "B" PILLAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD OCCUR, OCCUPANT PROTECTION LEVELS COULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED AND REPLACED WITH A COMPARABLE VEHICLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Reported: 1996-12-17 (December 17, 1996)
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗