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
What owners actually said
212 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2012
Seat BeltsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED THERE WAS NO PIN IN THE SEAT BELT THAT PROPERLY SECURED IT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURED AROUND THE DRIVER'S ARM AND WAS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH, BUT NOT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10478332
154,200 miles · Sep 6, 2010
Power Train
THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE CABLE FELL APART WHILE DRIVING AND YOUR NOT ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353978
106,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNAL/HORN PAD FAILURE. CALLED CHEVROLET HOTLINE ON 12/30/2008, AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. REFERRED ME TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253269
194,700 miles · Mar 7, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*- THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ON 01/23/07. THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, AND LOST POWER AT STOP LIGHTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICL…
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TL*- THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ON 01/23/07. THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, AND LOST POWER AT STOP LIGHTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TWO FUEL INJECTORS THAT WERE LEAKING. AND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE WAS A FIRE HAZARD .AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE OWNER OF DAVE'S DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE OWNER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT THE VEHICLE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRING THE INJECTORS WHICH WAS $442.00 ,AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPAIR FOR $600.00. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,500, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19, 4700. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10184406
95,000 miles · Apr 11, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND THE MANUAL RELEASE WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
NHTSA ODI #10155056
103,725 miles · Oct 4, 2005
SeatsInjury
DRIVER SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AND HAS TO BE HELD UP BY SOME THING SO IT DON'T FALL BACK. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138510
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2005
Power TrainService Brakes, Air
I HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY 2 WEEK AND FOR SOME REASON NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH MY CAR
NHTSA ODI #10122036
40,000 miles · Mar 14, 2005
Fuel System, Other
WHILE DRIVING FUEL GAUGE IS REGISTERING 1/8 TANK OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP,. BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS AND THE…
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WHILE DRIVING FUEL GAUGE IS REGISTERING 1/8 TANK OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP,. BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE GAS GAUGE GIVING INACCURATE READINGS. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10109339
78,000 miles · Mar 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting
THE SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE REAR SIGNALS WORK PROPERLY, EVEN WHEN A BULB WAS BLOWN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT SIGNAL WORKED PROPERLY, BUT IT NOT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK *TC
NHTSA ODI #10111420
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension
THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT A FEW DAYS LATER ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT. *NM THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THE STABILIZER WAS FOUND BROKE, THERE WAS ANOTHER NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN …
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THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT A FEW DAYS LATER ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT. *NM THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THE STABILIZER WAS FOUND BROKE, THERE WAS ANOTHER NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. *SC THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVE AXLE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE INCIDENT HE/SHE EXPERIENCED. *JB
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
1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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