IllustrationEXCESSIVE WEAR ON ALL FOUR SETS OF BRAKE PADS. *DSH
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
53 reportsTHE REAR BRAKE DRUMS ARE OUT OF ROUND AFTER 39K MILES, CHEVROLET ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS. *AK
ABS SYSTEM PULSES EXTREMELY SLOWLY/LEFT REAR BRAKE LOCKS UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. *DSH
BOTH WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKING, CAUSING LEFT REAR BRAKE TO GRAB. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKE NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. TT
ANTILOCK BRAKES DEFECTIVE.
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES. *SD
WHEN APPLY THE BRAKE IT GOES BACK/FORTH MAKES NOISE HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE . TT
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT BRAKE GRABS AND RELEASE, WHEN HEAR GRINDING NOISE AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON UNDER NORMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS. TT
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.