IllustrationI HAVE SEEN 3 95 AND 96 CAVALIERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE OTHER 2 ARE ONLY AT 50,000 MILES. CLASSIC CHEVROLET LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS BAD AND THEN A MONTH LATER SAID THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. I NEED ANTIFREEZE ONCE A MONTH. *AK
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 reportsHAD NOTICED FLUID ON GROUND. LIFTED HOOD AND GREEN FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT & DOWN ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC INDICATED HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. REPAIRED HEAD GASKETS AND ENGINE.*AK
WHEN ON HIGHWAY CAR WENT TO THE OTHER LANE COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE .*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
HAD HEAD GASKET REPLACED FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN 1 YEAR LATER AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING IN SAME DIRECTION AS ANOTHER VEHICLE, OTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT RIGHT REAR OF OTHER VEHICLE, TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJUREIS. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT. POLICE REPOT WAS FILLED OUT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
FRONT ROTORS WERE COMPLETELY FALLING APART, THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. DISC WAS RUSTED AND COMING APART IN LAYERS. ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 21MILES AND AT 45MILES, NEEDED CHANGE AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT IT MAY HAVE BEE A MANUFACTURER'D DEFECT.*AK
SEAT BACKS DO NOT LOCK IN POSITION. MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS IS THEDESIGN, BUT SEATS ON A 1997 CAVALIER 2-DOOR DO LOCK. THE FLOPPY SEATS ARE A SAFETY CONCERN.*AK
ON 10/2/00 I HAD MY 95 CHEVY CAVALIER TOWED TO 2 DEALERS, BRYNER CHEVROLET (THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE WARRANTY) AND THEN TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, NE AUTO OUTLET BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ON 09/25/00 MY CAR BEGAN TO START WITH A HESITATION. EACH DAY THEREAFTER IT GOT WORSE. ON 09/25/00 I REPLACED THE BATTERY …
Read full complaint
ON 10/2/00 I HAD MY 95 CHEVY CAVALIER TOWED TO 2 DEALERS, BRYNER CHEVROLET (THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE WARRANTY) AND THEN TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, NE AUTO OUTLET BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START. ON 09/25/00 MY CAR BEGAN TO START WITH A HESITATION. EACH DAY THEREAFTER IT GOT WORSE. ON 09/25/00 I REPLACED THE BATTERY THINKING THAT THE BATTERY MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM. THAT DID NOT HELP. BY THURSDAY THE PROBLEM WORSENED SO I CALLED BRYNER CHEVROLET AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. I COULD NOT GET AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL 10/3/00. ON 9/30/00 THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER START AT ALL. ON 10/2/00 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO BRYNER AND THEN TO NE AUTO OUTLET AS I STATED BEFORE. I WAS TOLD THAT NE AUTO OUTLET COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR UNTIL 10/3/00. I RECEIVED A CALL AT 11:30AM FROM JOE DIDONATO AT NE THAT I NEEDED AN IGNITION SWITCH AND AN ALTERNATOR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BAD COMPONENTS WERE DRAINING THE BATTERY. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW SERPENTINE BELT. I HAD THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED TWICE BEFORE AT BRYNER CHEVROLET ON 5SEP97 AND 6FEB98. IT SEEMS TO BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE BELT ALMOST EVERY YEAR ON A 1995 VEHICLE WITH ONLY 27961 MILES ON IT. I DON'T EVEN DRIVE 5,000 MILES A YEAR. I FEEL THE SAME ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR. I HAVE HAD 3 RECALLS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HAZARD LAMP, LEAKING CYLINDER (HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), AND PCM ASSY. THE PROBLEM WITH THE BELT HAS BEEN ONGOING WITH NOISE IN THE PULLEY AREA OF THE BELT. THE NOISE BEGAN AGAIN A FEW DAYS AFTER THE RECALLS ON THE HEAD GASKET AND PCM ASSY.
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.