IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH AND HAD REAR ENDED A STALLED OUT VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT, BUT FAILED TO INFLATE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
30–25K
1625–50K
1650–75K
1375–100K
7100–150K
10150K+
65 reports with mileage · 175 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
24 reportsCONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT AT SPEED 55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO A DITCH AT 30 MPH IMPACT HEAD-ON IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ,CAUSING DRIVER TO GO INTO STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH DID NOT KICK IN. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEAS…
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CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT AT SPEED 55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO A DITCH AT 30 MPH IMPACT HEAD-ON IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ,CAUSING DRIVER TO GO INTO STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH DID NOT KICK IN. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND VEHICLE HIT A BUMP. THEN, SUDDENLY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. MOVED TO SLOW LANE & HIT CEMENT WALL & WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN. REAR BUMPER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE & CAME OFF. HORN FAILED TO WORK WHEN IT WAS USED. DRIVER RECEIVED BURNS ON RIGHT H…
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WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND VEHICLE HIT A BUMP. THEN, SUDDENLY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF VISIBILITY. MOVED TO SLOW LANE & HIT CEMENT WALL & WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN. REAR BUMPER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE & CAME OFF. HORN FAILED TO WORK WHEN IT WAS USED. DRIVER RECEIVED BURNS ON RIGHT HAND FROM PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *AK
WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, AND ROLLED UP ONTO THE VEHICLE, AND ROLLED BY DOWN TO THE GROUND. SENSOR WENT OFF AND MODULE LIGHT CAME ON. BUT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE'S FRONT WAS SMASHED IN. CONSUMER STATED THAT THAT DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
HIT BRAKES, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING ACCIDENT, GM WAS CONTACTED, UPON THEIR INVESTIGATION, NO FAULT, LACK OF EVIDENTS, EVIDENTS WAS DESTROYED AT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG
WHILE TRAVELING DID NOT NOTICE BIG TRASH VEHICLE AND HIT IT HEAD-ON . UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DRIVER INJURED. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK A PULL IN THE SHIFTS WHEN THEY CHANGE GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER DOUGHTYER IS DRIVING THE CAR IT STALL CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED HITTING THE DRIVER IN CAUSING INJURY, THE OTHER AIR BAG BROKE THE W…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK A PULL IN THE SHIFTS WHEN THEY CHANGE GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER DOUGHTYER IS DRIVING THE CAR IT STALL CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED HITTING THE DRIVER IN CAUSING INJURY, THE OTHER AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. *YH
CONSUMER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TREE AFTER AVOIDING A PICKUP TRUCK, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON. DAUGHTER WAS INJURED IN THE COLLISION. GMAC HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH OVER A WET SURFACE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, STRICKING TREES IN FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 50-55 MPH. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BUT AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT SHOW AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
204V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jan 27, 2004
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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
99V218000 · Interior Lighting
Aug 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT LIT AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.