1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE SOMETIMES EMITS WHITE SMOKE THROUGH THE VENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. ALSO, A SERPENTINE BELT AND FUEL PAN WAS NEEDED.
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
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
10 reportsMY 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER'S FUEL GAUGE JUST STOPPED WORKING OUT OF THE BLUE. IT READS THAT THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND DOESN'T DROP. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED UNTIL MY CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. WE WERE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY APPROACHING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC MULTIPLE TIMES, AND W…
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MY 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER'S FUEL GAUGE JUST STOPPED WORKING OUT OF THE BLUE. IT READS THAT THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND DOESN'T DROP. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED UNTIL MY CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. WE WERE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY APPROACHING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC MULTIPLE TIMES, AND WE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TO SAFETY. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE DANGED CAR OFF OF THE ROADWAY/INTERSECTION ONCE A PASSERBY STOPPED BEHIND US AND TURNED HIS HAZARD FLASHERS ON. THE NICE GENTLEMAN ALSO GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND HELPED MY HUSBAND PUSH THE CAR OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THANK GOD FOR GOOD SAMARITANS! THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER LEAVES "FULL". AFTER TALKING TO A DEALER AND SEVERAL AUTO SHOPS, WE DECIDED IT MADE MORE SENSE TO GO BY THE ODOMETER FROM NOW ON, WHICH IS A GIGANTIC INCONVENIENCE. THIS DECISION WAS MADE BASED UPON THE RIDICULOUSLY HIGH COST FOR REPAIR, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT MOST MECHANIC'S TOLD US THAT THE FIX WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY, AS FUEL GAUGE FAILURES ACROSS THE BOARD IS A WELL-KNOWN COMMON GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT PROBLEM, AND THAT A FUEL GAUGE FAILURE WILL LIKELY REAR IT'S UGLY HEAD AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. *TR
FUEL TANK RUST THROUGH FROM OUTSIDE. *JB
GAS ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, CAUSED BY THE STRAPS AROUND THE TANK. STRAPS AND LEAK WERE REPAIRED. *NM NEW GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED. *BF
RUSTED OUT FUEL LINES THAT ARE LEAKING BAD
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LINKED TO THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING, IN A STEADY DRIP, FUEL. EITHER O RINGS WERE FAILING OR REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY.
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SPRINGFIELD MO., I ONLY HAD 8 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I LIVE IN ROLLA WHICH IS ONLY 110 MILES AT THE MOST. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND THE MILEAGE SHOWED 265 MILES, TWICE THE MILEAGE. ALSO, THE CAR SHAKES AND GRINDS WHEN STARTING. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THAT WAS WHEN IT H…
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WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SPRINGFIELD MO., I ONLY HAD 8 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I LIVE IN ROLLA WHICH IS ONLY 110 MILES AT THE MOST. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND THE MILEAGE SHOWED 265 MILES, TWICE THE MILEAGE. ALSO, THE CAR SHAKES AND GRINDS WHEN STARTING. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THAT WAS WHEN IT HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES. FUEL LINES OR SOMETHING SMELLS HEAVY WITH GAS. MY CAR EATS GAS MORE THAN MY ASTRO VAN. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE PUT THREE COOLING SYSTEMS IN THIS CAR THEY SAID WAS WRONG. FUSES KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED 65 BULBS, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. IT'S MUCH WORSE NOW. WHEN I TURN THE CAR THE STEERING STICKS THEN GOES INTO THE TURN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770836
WIFE AND KIDS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. COST ME $850 TO REPLACE. TRIED TO WORK WITH CHEVROLET TO GET COMPENSATION AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE AND KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJUR…
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WIFE AND KIDS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. COST ME $850 TO REPLACE. TRIED TO WORK WITH CHEVROLET TO GET COMPENSATION AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE AND KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK
FUEL PUMP FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVING. ENGINE ABRUPTLY DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WAS PUSHED TO SHOULDER OF EXPRESSWAY AND TOWED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND SENDER MODULE. *AK
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. 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
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.
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