IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
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
Power Train complaints
20 reportsWHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. HAD IT TOWED INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE CLUTCH & 3RD & 4TH GEAR WENT OUT. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN TO OTHER SIMILAR CARS. I TALKED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING CHEVY CA…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. HAD IT TOWED INTO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE CLUTCH & 3RD & 4TH GEAR WENT OUT. WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN TO OTHER SIMILAR CARS. I TALKED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING CHEVY CARS FOR 22 YEARS. HE STATED THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS THAT THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS WHICH CAUSES THE CLUTCH TO NOT DISENGAGE AND BURNS UP THE CLUTCH AND RUINS THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED WITH NO WARNING ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER THEY FIXED THE CAR TWO DAYS LATER I WAS ON THE SAME HIGHWAY AND THE CLUTCH BURNED UP AGAIN. IT IS NOW BACK THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED.*AK
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ONGOING BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE WARPED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BRAKE PADS AND THE CALIPER MOUNTING SLEEVES HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME, DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY EBCM COMPUTER MODULE WHICH HAD BEEN BAD F…
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VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ONGOING BRAKE PROBLEMS, FRONT ROTORS HAVE WARPED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED, BRAKE PADS AND THE CALIPER MOUNTING SLEEVES HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, THE BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME, DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY EBCM COMPUTER MODULE WHICH HAD BEEN BAD FOR A WHILE, BRAKE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE SEAL LEAKED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT END SEEMED LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING LINKAGES. THE BLOWER CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED DUE TO BLOWER INOPERABLE ON HIGH. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF PARKING LOT. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE, SHE APPLIED REVERSE GEAR, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. ALSO, IT WAS LEAKING WATER, A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
TRANSMISSION WOULD KNOCK WHILE IN PARK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. ALSO, ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT. ALL BRAKES AND FRONT ROTORS REPLACED. *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
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, LEFT IN NEUTRAL WITH PARKED BRAKE ENGAGED ON A RAINY DAY. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND HIT ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE ACROSS THE STREET. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
THERE IS NO LIGHT ON THE SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR SO AT NIGHT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WHAT GEAR DRIVER IS PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT STALLING/ACCELERATION AND STARTING PROBLEMS. MJS
DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CARRIER. MJS
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.