IllustrationTHE HEAD GASKET FAILED PRIOR TO THE END OF 100,000 MILE SPECIAL COVERAGE WARRANTY, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
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
What owners actually said
270 reportsTHE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. NLM
THIS UNIT FAILED AGAIN AT 75216 MILES. LETTERS WERE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF GM NORTH AMERICA AND THE CEO OF GM ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE FAILURE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. GM HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON CALL. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD COPIES OF ALL THE BILLS, SHE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILUR…
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THIS UNIT FAILED AGAIN AT 75216 MILES. LETTERS WERE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF GM NORTH AMERICA AND THE CEO OF GM ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE FAILURE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. GM HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON CALL. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD COPIES OF ALL THE BILLS, SHE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURES. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE CEO. IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY ARE HIDING. OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE INDICATED THEY HAVE ALSO HAD THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEIR MIGHT BE A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. JULIE IS MY DAUGHTER. I AM LYLE POTTEBAUM, 4996 STONECASTLE DR., VENICE, FL., 34293. PHONE 941-408-0815. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DOING 60MPH CAR SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART & HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 OTHER TIMES BEFORE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR QUIT. I TRAVELED ABOUT 10FT WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A HALT AND WOULD NOT GO ANY MORE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I TRIED TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. I TRAVELED ABOUT 15 MILES WITH THE CAR ALMOST STALLING 2 TO 3 TIMES ALONG THE WAY. IT STAR…
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I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR QUIT. I TRAVELED ABOUT 10FT WHEN THE CAR CAME TO A HALT AND WOULD NOT GO ANY MORE. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I TRIED TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR STARTED. I TRAVELED ABOUT 15 MILES WITH THE CAR ALMOST STALLING 2 TO 3 TIMES ALONG THE WAY. IT STARTED FINE FOR THE NEXT 4 DAYS AND ALMOST STALLED ANOTHER 5 TIMES. DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLICKER. AFTER 5 DAYS THE CAR WOULDN'T START, AT ALL. IT HAD TO BE TOWED AND FIXED. THIS IS RELATED TO THE MODULATOR AND CRANK SENSOR. IN REGARDS TO THE SERPENTINE TENSIONERS AND BELT, THE FIRST BELT WAS REPLACED AFTER IT WAS SQUEKING. WHILE DRIVING, AT ABOUT 40 MPH, I FORGET WHICH LIGHT CAME ON, BUT I HAD TO PULL INTO A MIDAS STATION AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE TENSIONERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PREVIOUS BELT WAS ALSO SQUEEKING BEFORE THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACED.*AK
WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND THEN DROPPED TO CITY SPEED. CAME UPON A STOP LIGHT AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TOOK TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED FOR STALLING. *AK
ENGINE EXPERIENCING COOLANT LEAKAGE AND OVER HEATING. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
SUBFRAME HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FEEL HARD WHEN BRAKING, FRAME IS MOVING. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/ MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE SUDDEN SURGE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES WAS APPLIED RESULTED IN ACCIDENT AND INJURY OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER'S NEGLIGENCE TO SECURE THE CRUISE C…
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INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATES SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION/ MINOR INJURIES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE SUDDEN SURGE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES WAS APPLIED RESULTED IN ACCIDENT AND INJURY OF THE DRIVER. THE DEALER'S NEGLIGENCE TO SECURE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE PRIOR TO SELLING THE VEHICLE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SURGE, ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. *YH
I HAVE REPLACED 5 HEAD GASKETS NOW ON MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER. COMPANY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BY ONLY UP TO 92,000 MILES. DUE TO THE PAST HISTORY I KNOW THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET IN THE FUTURE.*AK
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.