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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

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

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

What owners actually said

212 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2001
Steering

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & HAD HEARD NOISES.AXLE SPINDLE NUT WENT OUT. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO MECHANIC TO CHECK. WAS INFORMED THAT AXLE SPINDLE NUT HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. HAD BROKEN TEETH IN SPINDLE NUT. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS LOOSE DUE TO DAMAGE OF SPINDLE. MECHANIC REPLACED AXLE SPINDLE NUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884152

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON COMING TO A STOP ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883066

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

NON METALLIC FUEL LINE 8 INCHES FROM FUEL FILTER NEAR REAR END OF FUEL TANK HAS EXPERIENCED A FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882950

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2001
Seat Belts

WHILE TAKING OFF SEAT BELT NOTICED BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #882854

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Seat Belts

DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR GETS STUCK INSIDE AND MAL FUNCTIONS, AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881059

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SIDE, THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN. CJ

NHTSA ODI #559615

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE PISTONS WERE 2K UNDERSIZED, CAUSING ENGINE TO KNOCK. DEALER HAS REPLACED PISTONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879311

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN TWICE. CHEVROLET HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 1995-1998 CAVALIERS AND 1994 IN CANDA ONLY. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878488

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

3 TEETH OF FLYWHEEL BROKE OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOUSING OF STARTER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878122

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785231

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