IllustrationAFTER RECALL O1V070000 REPAIRS WERE DONE AND WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM DASHBOARD AREA, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. CAUSE OF SMOKE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*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 reportsVEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY PERSONAL MECHANIC. HOWEVER, GM REFUSES TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER. *TT
PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE ENGINE AND STEERING WHEEL WERE SMOKING AND IT WOULD NOT START, DEALER REPLACED STARTER AND BATTERY. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND, RECALL #02008-S, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 02V070000. *YD
THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ON 5/1/97, 11/13/98, AND 3/23/00, AS DIRECTED BY NHTSA, HOWEVER THE WORK HAS NOT YET SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR REPAIR UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL POLICY # 98054A, COVERING THE ADMITTEDLY FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD/GASKET. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I MUST NOW PAY FO…
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THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED ON 5/1/97, 11/13/98, AND 3/23/00, AS DIRECTED BY NHTSA, HOWEVER THE WORK HAS NOT YET SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I AM TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR REPAIR UNDER CHEVROLET SPECIAL POLICY # 98054A, COVERING THE ADMITTEDLY FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD/GASKET. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I MUST NOW PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHICH MUST INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS WORK BUT APPARENTLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.*AK
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V07000), VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED, ON THE SECOND OCCASION CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD CLICK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TURNING OVER, THEN ON JULY 20, 2001 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE W…
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PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V07000), VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED, ON THE SECOND OCCASION CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD CLICK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TURNING OVER, THEN ON JULY 20, 2001 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE, CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING RESTITUTION FOR THE DAMAGES INCURRED.(ATTORNEY TIMOTHY HILL ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)*JB
FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. TO GET TURN SIGNAL TO WORK, CONSUMER HAS TO TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS FIRST.*AK POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TT
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER WENT IN FOR A TUNE UP, AFTER THE TUNE UP THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS THOUGH IT DID NOT WANT TO START, HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING DAY AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING FROM WORK, SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT RESPOND, SHE WAITED AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AG…
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PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER WENT IN FOR A TUNE UP, AFTER THE TUNE UP THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS THOUGH IT DID NOT WANT TO START, HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING DAY AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING FROM WORK, SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT RESPOND, SHE WAITED AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN SMOKING AND WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, CONSUMER THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE.*JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 070 000 IN MAIL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL LETTER. CHEVROLET DID NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER THE MONEY SPENT ON THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, THICK HEAVY SMOKE CAME FROM HEAD GASKET, ALSO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS MATTER HAD OCCURRED. TOOK TO DEALER. IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, AND IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK *YH
DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE VEHICLE HAD STALLED. *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.