IllustrationBRAKES LOCK UP AND FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. YH
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
45 reportsTRANSMISSION 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 APPLYING THE BRAKES AND UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BRAKES MAKE NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE PEDAL LOCKS UP WHEN TRYING TO STOP MAKING STOPPING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO . THEY ADVISE THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS IT FELT NORMAL. BRAKES WOULD GRAB, AND VEHICLE WOULD KEEP ROLLING. IT JERKED FORWARD THREE TIMES BEFORE FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ABS BRAKES ARE FAR TOO SENSITIVE. IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP ON A SNOWY GRADE. *AK
ABS BRAKE PROBLEM; ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAUSING DRIVER TO SKID 127 FEET BEFORE STOPPING. DRIVER HIT AN EMBANKMENT, AND VEHCLE DID A 180 DEGREE TURN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN BRAKING IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A "METAL TO METAL" SOUND, AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD 15MPH, MAKING A LEFT TURN, AND A DOG CROSSED IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. BRAKES FAILED, SWERVED AND AVOIDED HITTING THE DOG. AS A RESULT, HAD AN ACCIDENT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *ML
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.