IllustrationTHE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
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 reportsSERVICE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE BECAUSE OF A FAULTY HEAD GASKET ON MY 1995 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS NOT COVERED BY DEALER DESPITE SERVICE BULLETIN #98054 AND #98054A AND THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD 54,771 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A SPECIAL POLICY OF ETHER SEVEN YEARS OR 100 THOUSAND MILES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. TS
PER THE DEALERSHIP BOB BELL CHEVROLET;BEL AIR MD;410-877-9800. THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH 02 V 070 000 WAS ALREADY DONE ON CONSUMERS VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN HOT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V-070 IN APRIL BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY. TWO WEEKS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WIRES HAD BURNED DESTROYING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CONSU…
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THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V-070 IN APRIL BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY. TWO WEEKS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WIRES HAD BURNED DESTROYING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *MR *NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER REPLACE TWICE. TS
THE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN BECAUSE SHE HAD THE RECALL DONE. #RECALL 98054 AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE BYPASS SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE IGNITION REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES ONLY A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, THE ENGI…
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THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE BYPASS SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE IGNITION REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES ONLY A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED AND IT INTERMITTENTLY RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE. *J'S *YH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION 02V-070, THE CONSUMR IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE. *YH
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.