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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 →
146Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
55
199055
1991134
1992146
1993212
1994270
1995503
1996
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
53Engine And Engine Cooling
41Electrical System
26Power Train
10Seat Belts
9
All reported categories
Equipment
8Seats
8Structure
8Steering
7Vehicle Speed Control
6Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Gasoline
5Suspension
5Visibility
5Interior Lighting
3Tires
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Air Bags
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 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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE FALLING APART. RUST WAS EVIDE…

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VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE FALLING APART. RUST WAS EVIDENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOWER PART OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY, FROM FRONT WHEEL TO REAR WHEEL. FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY ESOECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK STARTED TO COLLAPSE AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY -- SEAT BACK COLLAPSED TWICE. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLE STARTING VEHICLE. WATER COMING IN TO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE FOR STATE INSPECTION FOR WHICH IT FAILED DUE TO BALL JOINT. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE OCCURRENCES OF HEADLIGHT FAILURES ON VEHICLE. RADIATOR FAILED WITH NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. LEAKING IN WIINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER FLUID TANK. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10082054

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN THE WARNING HAZRAD LIGHTS ARE ON ABS WARNING LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, DISABLING THE VEHICLES ABS BRAKES, AND ALLOWING FOR EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847761

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1996
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

REPLACED THE STARTER FIVE TIMES; ALSO, TURNED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEN TRIED TO TURN TO LOW BEAMS, BUT LOW BEAMS DID NOT GO ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806750

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1996
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED OUT, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AREA OF STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER COULD NOT TURN OFF LIGHTS, NOW, HAS NO LIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806627

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1995
EquipmentExterior Lighting

PURCHASE CAR NEW THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, THE SIGNAL LIGHT WASN'T WORKING HAD MORE PROBLEMS WILL DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #977151

Official recalls

1

93V121000 · 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

1

EA94033 · 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.