1990 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

55Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1990 Chevrolet Cavalier

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 55 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Electrical System: 20 reports
Visibility: 8 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 reports
Power Train: 5 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System

20 Visibility

8 Engine And Engine Cooling

7 Power Train

5 Fuel System, Gasoline

All reported categories

2 Vehicle Speed Control

2 Latches/locks/linkages

1 Seats

1 Service Brakes

1 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

1 Structure

1 Wheels

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 55 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports12 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CAR STILL DIES AT STOPS AND WILL NOT IDLE CORRECTLY. DEALER COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER FOR THE CAUSES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760333

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2000

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE COOLANT FAN WONT RUN WHEN NEED HAVE TIO TURN THE HEATER ON TO RUN FAN AND TEMPERATURE LIGH COMES ON SOMETIMED WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR OR YOU CAN BE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT COMES ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736785

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1998

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

NOTICE ENGINE LEAKING OIL. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN WEATHER WAS WET. VEHICLE KEPT MOVING THROUGH RED LIGHT. NO ABS. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRS ARE NEEDED FOR SAFETY. (RELAYED PHONE CALL).

NHTSA ODI #826594

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1997

Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE OIL BEARINGS/PISTONS FAILED. ALSO, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK AND HIGH IDLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #523487

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 1996

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ALTERNATOR FAILURE, ALSO VERY RUSTY OIL PAN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801595

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #507928

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE SET ON FIRE. PLEASE DISCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #976701

Recall campaigns

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

PE93090 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 8, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.