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
What owners actually said
503 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2001
Steering
THE STEERING STARTED VERY GRADUALLY AND WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. IT GOT SO BAD BEFORE WE HAD TO REPAIR IT THAT YOU COULD NOT STEER AT ALL TO THE LEFT. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR THEY SAID KNOW. AFTER THE REPAIR WA COMPLETED I TALKED OT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP…
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THE STEERING STARTED VERY GRADUALLY AND WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. IT GOT SO BAD BEFORE WE HAD TO REPAIR IT THAT YOU COULD NOT STEER AT ALL TO THE LEFT. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR THEY SAID KNOW. AFTER THE REPAIR WA COMPLETED I TALKED OT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR AND HE INDICATED THAT HE REPLACES THIS ON A LOT OF GM VEHICLES INCLUDING CAVALIERS. I AM REQUESTING THAT GM BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND PUT A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO REPAIR ANY VEHICLE INCLUDING MY OWN WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #748037
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Electrical System
WHEN STATING VEHICLE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. WITH NO PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #891815
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
SeatsCrashInjury
WHEN DRIVING RAILS BROKE ON FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT DURING A CRASH ALSO, WHEN THE RAILS BROKE SEAT WAS LOOSE, AND SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. CRASH WAS LEFT FRONTAL IMPACT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #891807
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. ALSO, ENGINE IS OVERHEATING AND THE COOLANT IS LEAKING FLUID. CONSUMER NOTED THERE WAS A TSB LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #891352
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2001
Steering
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747359
Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2001
Seats
FRONT SEAT SEATBACK FAILED TO PROPERLY LOCK INTO PLACE. DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR FAILURE OF THE SEATS TO LOCK INTO PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #890995
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME FOUR-SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, AND "ETS OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE REMAINS IN LOW GEARS UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF OR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ALSO , THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VEHI…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME FOUR-SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, AND "ETS OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE REMAINS IN LOW GEARS UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF OR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ALSO , THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES AS IF THE ABS IS KICKING IN AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #890115
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
TWO TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON OUR 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED US TO REAREND OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIMES AFTER SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WOULD JUT FORWARD 2-3 TIMES AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WE…
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TWO TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON OUR 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED US TO REAREND OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIMES AFTER SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WOULD JUT FORWARD 2-3 TIMES AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD US HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WE THOUGHT THAT POSSIBLY IT WAS JUST A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AND MAYBE THERE WOULD NOT BE CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, BUT THEN IN THE LATEST ACCIDENT, OUR CAR BEHAVED IN THE SAME MANNER. THIS TIME WE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED IN EITHER ACCIDENT, PROBABLY BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE ACCIDENTS OCCURED AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS OF 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745509
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. CONSUMER PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #888402
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Electrical System
IT ALL BEGAN THE SUMMER OF 1999, THE STARTER BROKE AND KEPT BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD CHEW IT UP AND SPIT IT OUT LIKE A BAD ORGAN. MY ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT WERE WITH FIRESTONE AND SHELL. THEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THERE WAS A CHIPPED FLYWHEEL. THE CAR WAS FINE UP UNTIL RECENTLY IT WOULDN'T START O…
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IT ALL BEGAN THE SUMMER OF 1999, THE STARTER BROKE AND KEPT BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD CHEW IT UP AND SPIT IT OUT LIKE A BAD ORGAN. MY ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT WERE WITH FIRESTONE AND SHELL. THEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THERE WAS A CHIPPED FLYWHEEL. THE CAR WAS FINE UP UNTIL RECENTLY IT WOULDN'T START ON 3/10/01 SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION. ON 3/15/2001 IT HAD POOR ACCELERATION SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION WIRES. ON 4/25/01 CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE. I'VE PAID OVER $4000.00 IN REPAIRS SINCE 1999 FOR THE ISSUE OF THE CAR NOT STARTING.I HAVE BEEN USING JERRYS CHEVROLET AND HERITAGE CHEVROLET.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
4
DP03007 · 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
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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