IllustrationDUE TO THE DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE DRUM, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS 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
What owners actually said
146 reportsLOCKED UP TORQUE CONVERTER IN TRANSMISSION WILLNOT DISENGAGE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, RESULTING IN POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK
VACUUM LINE BROKE, HEARD A "POP" NOISE, AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO BE IN A OPEN POSITION WHILE IN THE REVERSE POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY,AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I HAD TO GET A NEW HORN. IT LOST CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MADE A CONTIUOUS HONKING NOISE, AND WOULDNT STOP. *AK
DRIVER SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING A DENT IN THE FRONT ON THE BUMPER AND TIRE HAD TREAD ON. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WON'T FIX THE CONSUMER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEIR IS A PATCH ON THE TIRE. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLY 35 MPH, MAKING NORMAL STOPS, ABS BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK
CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION, BACKED THE VEHICLE UP APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 FEET, PULLED IT BACK UP AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, GOT OUT AND SAW SMOKE. OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE HIGH FLAMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTION.
HORN BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL POPS OUT AND GETS JAMMED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE TURN SIGNAL. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL 96I-001000.GM/COMMUNCATIONS: HORN ASSEMBLY AND VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED FREE OF CHARGE. *AK
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.