IllustrationCONSUMERS HEAR THE KNOCKING, SQUEALING SOUND IN ENGINE AREA.*ET
1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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: 21 of 270 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports10 fire reports18 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
82 reportsI WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER CAVALIER OWNER THAT A RECALL LETTER WAS SENT OUT ADVISING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR CAVALIERS BACK TO THE DEALERS TO ADDRESS HEAD GASKET DEFECTIVENESS. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO DEFECT 50% PAID BY MANUFACTURER **** DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR SHAKES RENDERING IT USELESS WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION ****** HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT SLOWLY OVER TIME/DEALER REPLACED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN. UNSURE OF OTHER DAMAGE LEAK CAUSED TO COOLING SYSTEM (I.E. WATER PUMP) ******* …
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TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO DEFECT 50% PAID BY MANUFACTURER **** DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR SHAKES RENDERING IT USELESS WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION ****** HEAD GASKET LEAKED COOLANT SLOWLY OVER TIME/DEALER REPLACED UNDER SERVICE BULLETIN. UNSURE OF OTHER DAMAGE LEAK CAUSED TO COOLING SYSTEM (I.E. WATER PUMP) ******* DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MISALIGNED AND LEAKED WATER / DEALER STOPPED WATER LEAK, BUT STILL MISALIGNED TODAY -CAR HAD HISTORY OF SAME REPAIR TWICE BY PREVIOUS OWNER, SAID DEALER ******** UNEXPLAINED RATTLING METALLIC SOUND DURING COLD STARTS FROM FRONT ENGINE COMPARTMENT/DEALER STATED NO APPARENT PROBLEM,CONTINUES TODAY
A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED. *ET
PLEASE HELP WITH INFORMATION IF POSSIBLE, THE INFORMATION I GAVE TO YOU IS ALL TRUE TO THE DATE AND NUMBER AS BEST I CAN, TOOK DELIVERY IN JUNE 1995, FACTORY ORDERED, AND NOW THE DEALER SAYS I NEED A NEW ENGINE!!!!!!!!!!! HOPE I HAVE HELPED SOME ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IF YOU CAN HELP ME I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. *AK
VEHICLE IS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER PUTTING ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE THE ANTI-FREEZE WILL LEAK OUT. IN ADDITION,TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK
HEATER CORE BROKE, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK OUT. REPLACED 3 HEATER CORES AND A HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WILLING TO PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKET, BUT STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.
STRUTS FAILED.
Official recalls
402V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
96V250000 · Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Dec 17, 1996
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
95V141000 · Structure:frame And Members
Jul 26, 1995
SOME WELDS WERE OMITTED FROM THE BODY LOCK PILLAR, OR "B" PILLAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD OCCUR, OCCUPANT PROTECTION LEVELS COULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN HAVE BEEN REPURCHASED AND REPLACED WITH A COMPARABLE VEHICLE.
95V025000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
Feb 16, 1995
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.
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
1PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.