IllustrationCONSUMER TRIED TO START VEHICLE UP AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AN HOUR. VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER LEFT TO MAKE A CALL, CAME BACK, AND FOUND SMOKE COMING FROM DASHBOARD. ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNED. CONSUMER DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING PRIOR TO LAST TIME WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN.*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 reportsBRAKE PEDAL GOES SOFT AND TO THE FLOOR,LOSS OF BRAKES,(ABS) ENGAGES BUT NO INDICATOR LIGHT. *AK
WHILE TEST DRIVING VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SALESMAN THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON WHICH WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGE…
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WHILE TEST DRIVING VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SALESMAN THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON WHICH WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BEEN REMOVED, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, WHO THEN TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT HIS PROBLEM AND TO CONTACT THE SAFETY PATROL OR CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP.*JB
HEAD GASKETS/TEMPERATURE GAUGE JUMPING LEFT TO RIGHT,ADD COOLANT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH I BRAKED HARD TO MISS A DEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SONS SEATBELT IN THE REAR LEFT FAILED TO LOCK AND HE FLEW FORWARD INTO MY SEAT (DRIVERS) AND MY SEAT DOESNT LOCK DOWN THEREFORE I WAS FLUNG INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT 65 MPH AND LOST CONTROL...MY SONS WAS HURT AND WE ALL COULDVE BEEN KILLED. THE FLIP FLOP N…
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WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH I BRAKED HARD TO MISS A DEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SONS SEATBELT IN THE REAR LEFT FAILED TO LOCK AND HE FLEW FORWARD INTO MY SEAT (DRIVERS) AND MY SEAT DOESNT LOCK DOWN THEREFORE I WAS FLUNG INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT 65 MPH AND LOST CONTROL...MY SONS WAS HURT AND WE ALL COULDVE BEEN KILLED. THE FLIP FLOP NON LOCKING DRIVER SEATS NEED TO BE RECALLED! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGERSOUS AND WITH THE REAR PASSENGERS WEIGHT AND THE SEAT PUSHING ON THE DRIVER THERE IS NO WAY TO OPERATE THE CAR THEREFORE I COULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR AND KILLED EVERYONE! PLEASE INVESTIGATE!*AK
HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED WITH 71,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS 150,000 MILES AND WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM OF LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE WHEN GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO REMEDY PROBLEM WITH CUSTOMER'S SATISFACTION. *AK *SLC
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET COOLANT LEAKS FROM CYL. HEADGASET TO ENGENBLOCK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK WHILE ON FREEWAY VEHICLE STALLED.*JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.