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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.

About this comparison →
55Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
24
198712
198843
198955
199055
1991134
1992146
1993
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
20Visibility
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Power Train
5Fuel System, Gasoline
4
All reported categories
Seat Belts
4Steering
4Tires
3Exterior Lighting
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Wheels
1

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

What owners actually said

55 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE SET ON FIRE. PLEASE DISCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #976701

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1995
Electrical System

THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN ARE SMOKING. TT

NHTSA ODI #976478

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1995
Power Train

ODOMETER FRAUD. *SD

NHTSA ODI #488782

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1995
Seat BeltsInjury

SEAT BELT FAILED. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #483943

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1995
Power TrainSuspension

CONTROL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. TT

NHTSA ODI #963658

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1995
Seats

FRONT DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE SEATBACK BENCH DOES NOT LOCK INTO POSITION, CAUSING SEAT(S) TO FALL FORWARD. TT

NHTSA ODI #963232

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER PARKED 20 MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HODD. TT

NHTSA ODI #962430

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 1995
Power Train

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AFTER SURGING A FEW INCHES FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #962273

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

VEHICLE ROLLED, PASSENGER HAD ON SEAT BELT, ATTACHED TO DOOR, PASSENGER WAS EJECTED. TT

NHTSA ODI #962244

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1995
Structure

REAR HATCH BACK FAILURE . TT

NHTSA ODI #962232

Official recalls

0

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

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