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1994 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →
212Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
55
1991134
1992146
1993212
1994270
1995503
1996540
1997
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
60Engine And Engine Cooling
56Electrical System
23Seat Belts
22Power Train
16
All reported categories
Visibility
16Structure
13Seats
11Steering
8Suspension
8Unknown Or Other
7Vehicle Speed Control
7Equipment
6Fuel System, Gasoline
6Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
4Service Brakes, Air
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
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: 13 of 212 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AT EXCESSIVE SPEED. WHEN CONSUMER CUT WHEEL VEHICLE IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE ON RIGHT FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 55 MPH. TELEPHONE POLE SPLIT AND CAUSED WIRES TO FALL. UNKNOWN IF THE WIRES WERE ON CAR.*AK CONSUMER STATES WIRES WERE NOT ON VEHICLE. *…

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AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN AT EXCESSIVE SPEED. WHEN CONSUMER CUT WHEEL VEHICLE IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE ON RIGHT FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 55 MPH. TELEPHONE POLE SPLIT AND CAUSED WIRES TO FALL. UNKNOWN IF THE WIRES WERE ON CAR.*AK CONSUMER STATES WIRES WERE NOT ON VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #885523

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999
Air Bags

VEHICLE DESIGNED WITHOUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. *YC

NHTSA ODI #545439

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 1998
Air BagsCrash

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER IN THE CAVALIER WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ILLEGAL TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821422

Mileage unknown · May 30, 1996
Air BagsCrash

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 20MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985065

Official recalls

1

94V115000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Jun 24, 1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

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

2

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.

PE94042 · Horn Button Falling Off

Opened May 23, 1994 · Closed Sep 29, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available