IllustrationWHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT SPEED OF 45-55 MPH SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. SPEED SERVICE STATION CHECKED. DETERMINED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE IN RESERVE WAS LOW, AND THE RADIATOR WAS LOW. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales 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 146 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
41 reportsTHE ENGINE QUIT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.
THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.
ENGINE FAILED
WHILE DRIVING A HOLE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT. *AK
THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE ON 1/13/94 AND 9/13/94, THIS WAS DUE TO A VERY BAD VIRBRATION WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND DRIVING (65) MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOUNTS NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN.
BRAKES FAILED, REPAIRED HOWEVER CONTINUE TO FAIL.
REAR BRAKES REPLACED.
AIR CONDITIONER INOPERATIVE
Official recalls
193V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 21, 1993
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.
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
1EA94033 · Horn Pad Falls Off
Opened Sep 29, 1994 · Closed Mar 29, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:horn
THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.GM WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE DETACHMENT OF THE HORN PAD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM SEE EA94-033 ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REPORT.