IllustrationWHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, INITIALLY DASH AND REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT DUE TO SHORT
1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 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
2Recall campaignsView recall details →
2InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 55 owner complaints · 2 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: 17 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 8 reports
- Seats: 7 reports
- Seat Belts: 5 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
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
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 3 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. 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.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
17 reportsWHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, INTIALLY DASH AND REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT DUE TO SHORT. *AK
VEHICLE HORN CAME OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE HARNESS. TT
THE WINDSHEILD WIPER STOPPED WORK AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. TT
ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO CATCH FIRE. TT
DISTRIBUTOR BECOMES WET AND FAILS. TT
Recall campaigns
292V003000 · Seat Belts
Jan 10, 1992
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
91V165000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments
Sep 23, 1991
FRONT DOOR INTERLOCK STRIKER MAY FAIL, CAUSING DOOR FRAME COLLAPSE AND INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR FRAME WOULD COLLAPSE. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLYWITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy: REPLACE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT INTERLOCK STRIKER STUDS ON FRONT DOORS.
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
2PE93090 · 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.