IllustrationWHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. BRAKES LOCKED UP AND VEHICLE SHIMMIED. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
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 →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: 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 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRA…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB SINCE THEY INSTALLED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE FRONT AND VICE VERSA. *JB
VEHICLE FIREWALL WHICH SEPARATES THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT HAS HOLES IN IT DUE TO RUST THROUGH WHICH CAUSES WATER TO LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DUE TO THE VEHICLES UNIBODY DESIGN, IS PASSANGER SAFETY COMPROMISED? REPAIR OF SAID ITEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO REQUIRED REMOVAL OF DASH COMPONE…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE FIREWALL WHICH SEPARATES THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT HAS HOLES IN IT DUE TO RUST THROUGH WHICH CAUSES WATER TO LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DUE TO THE VEHICLES UNIBODY DESIGN, IS PASSANGER SAFETY COMPROMISED? REPAIR OF SAID ITEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO REQUIRED REMOVAL OF DASH COMPONENTS AND VARIOUS ENGINE COMPONETS WHICH ARE ATTACHED TO THE FIREWALL. *AK
I WAS SLOWING DOWN IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE, ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE, AND AS I APPROACHED A STOPPING POINT, THE CAR LURCHED/JERKED HEAVILY THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE I WAS IN DRIVE, I THEN PLACED IT IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED EASILY. I THEN PLACED THE CAR INTO DRIVE, RELEA…
Read full complaint
I WAS SLOWING DOWN IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE, ON A SLIGHT UPHILL GRADE, AND AS I APPROACHED A STOPPING POINT, THE CAR LURCHED/JERKED HEAVILY THEN STALLED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AND WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE I WAS IN DRIVE, I THEN PLACED IT IN PARK, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED EASILY. I THEN PLACED THE CAR INTO DRIVE, RELEASED THE BRAKE, APPLIED THE GAS AND IT STALLED AGAIN. PLACED THE CAR BACK IN PARK, STARTED IT, PLACED IT BACK IN DRIVE, RELEASED THE BRAKE, APPLIED THE GAS, AND THE CAR STALLED. WENT THROUGH THE SAME STEPS AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME, THE CAR MOVED AND DROVE NORMALLY AND DID NOT STALL. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, THIS LOOKS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE, SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT DOWN SHIFTING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEGUN MY LEFT TURN AS IT STALLED.*AK
LINKAGE AT CLUTCH PEDAL CAME LOOSE, CAUSING CLUTCH TO BE INOPERABLE. CONSUMER COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. CONSUMER STATES IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING BRAKES WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. THIS IS UNSAFE. *AK *SLC
EACH TIME THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM AND THEY GIVE A "DISCOUNT" I FEEL THEY NEED TO PAY I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE HELP I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HELP.*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE. *JB
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. *…
Read full complaint
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
LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING ON 2.2L ENGINE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
194V115000 · 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
2EA94033 · 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