IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON ITS OWN UNEXPECTEDLY. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. *JB
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cavalier years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than 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: 56 of 503 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 117 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
58 crash reports10 fire reports44 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
73 reportsFUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN…
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FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB
THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG FOR ALMOST A YEAR. (RECALL #98V146000)*JB
IN APRIL 2002 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TEH RECALL INFORMATION PROCESSING CENTER, ROYAL OAK, MI IN REGARDS TO A DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET "NHTSA" I FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY RECALL ON MY CAR. THE IS ALSO AN AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MUD FLIP KIT RECALL. I CONTACTED THE …
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IN APRIL 2002 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TEH RECALL INFORMATION PROCESSING CENTER, ROYAL OAK, MI IN REGARDS TO A DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET "NHTSA" I FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY RECALL ON MY CAR. THE IS ALSO AN AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MUD FLIP KIT RECALL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO REPAIR ALL THESE DEFECTS. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL FOR THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS FIXED THE DAY BEFORE AND I HAVE TO PAY IF I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THAT LIGHT TO COME ON. I AM NOT SATISFIED AT ALL. FIRST OF ALL, I WAS NEVER CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO ALL THESE OTHER RECALLS. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR EVERYSINCE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF 2002. WHEN I DRIVE AND TAKE MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR KEEPS GOING THE SAME SPEED WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN, SOMETIMES IT EVEN SPEEDS UP. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS REAL ROUGH. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE CAR KEEPS JERKING, LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING THE BRAKES AND THEN SPEEDS UPS RIGHT AFTERWARDS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED. PLEASE BE SO KIND AND ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER OR ADVISE ME WHO I HAVE TO CONTACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEST REGARDS, MANUELA M. LENO. *AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER BEING UNUSED FOR 1-2 WEEKS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD OF A RECALL FOR INADVERTANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT , SO I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO DO THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS A CODE IN THE COMPUTER TELLING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND THE COMP…
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THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER BEING UNUSED FOR 1-2 WEEKS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD OF A RECALL FOR INADVERTANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT , SO I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO DO THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS A CODE IN THE COMPUTER TELLING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE CAR SHOULD BE DRIVEN TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS FIT THE RECALL FOR INADVERTANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM AND WOULD COST AROUND $400 TO REPAIR. I THEN ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO TRY AND GET THIS FIXED BY CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT I WAS GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER FOR CHEVROLET TO TALK TO THEM MYSELF. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO STEVE LEFCOURT WHO AGREED THAT MY COMPLAINT SEEMED TO BE WHAT WAS RECALLED, BUT WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT MY PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE RECALL BECAUSE IN THE RECALL THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER,BUT SINCE MY CARS COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE REPROGRAMING IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. *AK
BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE PARKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WAS DRIVING 25MPH AND WAS STARTING TO TURN INTO DRIVEWAY, WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED WITH A LOT OF SMOKE & CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER BURNS ON CHEST. NLM TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THEN EXPLODED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED BURNS ON FACE AND CHEST.*AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENT DEPLOYED WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH,.VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL OVER. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
702V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 4, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
02V070000 · 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.
98V319000 · Suspension:rear
Dec 15, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FASTENERS.
98V146000 · Air Bags
Jun 29, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
98V027000 · Interior Lighting
Feb 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
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.
95V201000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 23, 1995
THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE STICKS OR BREAKS, UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND/OR LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.
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
4DP03007 · Unintended Vehicle Acceleration
Opened Oct 14, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other:delivery
ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2003, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 FROM MR. DONALD FRIEDMAN, PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INVOLVING [MODEL YEAR] 1996 AND 1997 GENERAL MOTORS J-CARS.IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION, MR. FRIEDMAN CITED A REPORT HE RECEIVED FOR GM SHOWING IT HAD RECEIVED FAR MORE REPORTS OF ALLEGED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR THESE MODELS THAN FOR OTHERS.AFTER ASSESSING THE DATA CLAIMED BY THE PETITIONER TO JUSTIFY HIS REQUEST, ODI FOUND NO INDICATION THAT DEFECT TREND RELATED TO THE PETITIONER'S ALLEGATIONS EXISTS AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASONABLE POSIBILITY THAT AN ORDER CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WOULD BE ISSUED AS A RESULT OF GRANTING MR. FRIEDMAN'S PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ANALYSIS, PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE.
PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
EA98001 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Jan 23, 1998 · Closed Jul 31, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
PE97041 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployments
Opened Sep 9, 1997 · Closed Jan 23, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available