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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 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

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

Other model years Selected year
12
198843
198955
199055
1991134
1992146
1993212
1994
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
17Engine And Engine Cooling
8Seats
7Seat Belts
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5
All reported categories
Steering
5Visibility
5Power Train
3Equipment
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Air Bags
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Structure
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
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: 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

Visibility complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Visibility

THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PAR…

Read full complaint

THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PART.

NHTSA ODI #727996

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1999
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT DURING OPERATION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848316

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1998
Electrical SystemVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WITHOUT ADDING PRESSURE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, ONLY OPERATE WHEN HOLDING IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #539379

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1996
EquipmentSteeringVisibility

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #510934

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 1995
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE WINDSHEILD WIPER STOPPED WORK AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. TT

NHTSA ODI #970603

Recall campaigns

2

92V003000 · 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

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

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