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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 →

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

Power Train complaints

17 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

IN FEB 2000 THE FRONT AXLE OF MY CAR BROKE WHILE IT WAS BING BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. PRIOR TO THAT IT HAD MADE A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE ON A FEW OCCASIONS. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD SEVERAL VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS MADE IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE CLUNKING NOISE, AND THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING . I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK…

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IN FEB 2000 THE FRONT AXLE OF MY CAR BROKE WHILE IT WAS BING BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. PRIOR TO THAT IT HAD MADE A LARGE CLUNKING NOISE ON A FEW OCCASIONS. AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD SEVERAL VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS MADE IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THE CLUNKING NOISE, AND THE FRONT END WAS SHAKING . I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO BE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOL IT WAS THE TIMING BELT, AND THAT THE WHEELS AND BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE REPLACED THE WHEELS AND BEARINGS RECOMMENDED, BUT NOT THE TIMING BELT AS WE DID NOT AGREE THAT IT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A LOUD CLINK AND SHAKING OF THE CAR. AFTER REPLACING THE WHEEL AND BEARING THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHAKE AND PULL ON THE FRONT END A ND CLUNK. WE FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO A NEW MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE SEVERLY WORN, AND THEY FELT THAT THE ENGINE MOVING AROUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CAUSING THE CLUNKING SOUND. THEY ALSO FELT THE BROKEN MOUNTS ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO STRIKE THE AXLE LEADING TO IT BREAKING IN FEB. THE MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE NEW MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THIS PART ON QUITE A FEW 95 CAVALIERS. THIS WAS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #731017

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2000
Power Train

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AAMCO, A MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION SNAPPED IN HALF. REPAIRS WERE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM AT 24,000 MILE,ON 08/11/97. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH VEHICL…

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WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AAMCO, A MECHANIC FOUND OUT THAT TRANSMISSION SNAPPED IN HALF. REPAIRS WERE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM AT 24,000 MILE,ON 08/11/97. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. *AK TOTAL LOSS OF POWER OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE STALLED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #866576

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2000
Power TrainSuspension

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END. OWNER FOUND THAT RIGHT CONTROL ARM BROKE WHICH CAUSED RIGHT AXLE AND CV BOOT TO BE DAMAGED. RIGHT AXLE WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. ALSO, CV BOOT WOULD BE REPLACED. SAME PROBLEM IS STARTING TO OCCUR ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #864691

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTOR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. CAMPAIGN # 99-0-88. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721237

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Power Train

SOLENOID VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION WARPED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857777

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1999
Power Train

THE CAR STALLS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR LOW SPEED FOR TURN AFTER HAVING DRIVEN 40 MPH OR MORE. THIS USUALLY OCCURS AFTER DRIVING 20-30 MINUTES OR MORE- IF NOT STOPPING, CAR SHAKES AND JERKS WHEN SPEEDING BACK UP

NHTSA ODI #714104

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND GOING OVER A CROSSOVER VEHICLE STALLED,, AND THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE, AND A LOSS OF POWER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849480

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility

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

NHTSA ODI #712604

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION MAKING NOISE.

NHTSA ODI #543954

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Power Train

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE LIKE THE GEARS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834186

Official recalls

4

02V070000 · 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

1

PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area

Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

No summary supplied.