IllustrationWHILE DRIVING FUEL REGULATOR FAILED AND GAS WENT THROUGH THE MOTOR, AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK ENGINE AND WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE THE COMPUTER WHEN OUT. *TT *NM
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
Electrical System complaints
47 reportsHEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. UNABLE TO USE HIGH-BEAMS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH-BEAMS, THE DRL ACTIVATE DUE TO NOT HAVING FULL POWER GETTING TO HEADLIGHTS.
BRAKE LIGHT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN REPLACING BULB. ALSO, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND OFF. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNDETERMINED. *AK *NM
THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LAMPS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *JB
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RELAY SWITCH. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE IT WAS MAKING A WINNING NOISE, AND THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WAS FLICKERING. DEALER STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
COMPLAINT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION CIRCUITS.*MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE RECALL SYMPTOMS 2 DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM
PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS. AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASH LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TH…
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PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS. AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASH LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $592.86 FOR THIS REPAIR. THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE WIRES BEHIND THE DASH HAD LOOSENED WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE MAY BE TOO DELICATE IF IT CANNOT STAND A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD. *NM
THE HIGH BEAMS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENLY. *MR THE WIRES RUBBED UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY TRAY. (FOUND CORRODED SPLICES IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE BATTERY TRAY) THE RUNNING LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD WAS OFF AGAIN AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS ALWAYS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS IN EITHER POSITIO…
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THE HIGH BEAMS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENLY. *MR THE WIRES RUBBED UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY TRAY. (FOUND CORRODED SPLICES IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE BATTERY TRAY) THE RUNNING LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD WAS OFF AGAIN AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS ALWAYS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS IN EITHER POSITION. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS WAS YET ANOTHER CORRODED AND SHORTED OUT A WIRE FORM THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. (FOUND WIRING C101 CORRODED AND CIRCUIT 1200 AT C101 WAS REPAIRED) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT CAUSED BY A BAD SENSOR, BUT ANOTHER BAD WIRE LEADING TO A SENSOR. (FOUND WIRING TO THE VENT SOLENOID BAD) THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN HITTING LARGE BUMPS DUE TO WORN REAR STRUT MOUNTS. *SC
APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 04V036000 REPAIRS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ANYMORE. ALSO, FUSES DO NOT WORK , AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *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.