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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 →

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.

27 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports

Visibility complaints

15 reports
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980,000 miles · Apr 28, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

I ALSO HAVE A 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 AND THE DASH HAS CRACKED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD...ALSO DOORS FREEZE SHUT IN WINTER...PROBLEMS WITH WATER PUMP...IT SEIZED UP AND CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN & SERPENTINE BELT...RESULTED IN A LOT OF EXPENSE TO FIX...REPAIRMAN STATED THE MOST OF THE PARTS ON THESE ENGINES SH…

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I ALSO HAVE A 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 AND THE DASH HAS CRACKED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD...ALSO DOORS FREEZE SHUT IN WINTER...PROBLEMS WITH WATER PUMP...IT SEIZED UP AND CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN & SERPENTINE BELT...RESULTED IN A LOT OF EXPENSE TO FIX...REPAIRMAN STATED THE MOST OF THE PARTS ON THESE ENGINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED...LOTS OF ISSUES WITH THEM....LOVE MY CAR BUT IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR NOW THAT IT'S OLDER... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267089

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionVisibility

WELL, I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE BASIC MODEL, NOTHING FANCY. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE FRONT END SHOOK, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO VIBRATE, AND SOMETIMES CLICKED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO STOP IT WAS TO STEER…

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WELL, I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE BASIC MODEL, NOTHING FANCY. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE FRONT END SHOOK, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO VIBRATE, AND SOMETIMES CLICKED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO STOP IT WAS TO STEER THE WHEEL A BIT, BUT THAT MADE ME GO INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO REAR DEFROSTER, MAKING IT VERY HARD TIME TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW WHEN IT WAS ALL FOGGED UP. WHEN I ATTEMPTING TO STOP SOMETIMES THE BRAKES TOOK A MINUTE TO START WORKING OR THEY JUST PULSATED, AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP FAST IF I HAD TO, I COULD GO ON AND ON SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE CAR, BUT I THINK ONE GETS THE DRIFT ABOUT IT . WHEN I WENT TO THE RECALL PAGE THERE WERE MORE THINGS ON IT THEN I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT, THE ONLY RECALLS I KNEW ABOUT WAS THE IGNITION, ,AND THE HOSE FOR THE COOLANT THE WAS LEAKING BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE IGNITION FIXED THEY DIDN'T TIGHTEN THE NUT ON THE STARTER AND I HAD TO SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE STARTER FAILED, BUT THEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE NUT WHICH WAS NOT TIGHTENED DOWN RIGHTLY. I HAVE GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED. I THINK IT WAS SOLD A LEMON. AK

NHTSA ODI #10188117

11,000 miles · Aug 11, 2005
Visibility

THREE POWER DOOR WINDOWS ON MY 4 DOOR CHEVROLET CAVALIER DON'T WORK, ONLY DRIVER DOOR WINDOW WILL GO UP AND DOWN. HAD MOTOR ON FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW REPLACED ALREADY. SHORTLY AFTER BEING REPLACED, IT STOPPED WORKING LIKE THE BACK TWO PASSENGER WINDOWS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10132326

62,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

CD WILL NOT PLAY. GET ERROR MESSAGE. KNOB ON MIRROR FELL OFF. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2000. BATTERY KEPT DYING ON ME.

NHTSA ODI #10069579

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2003
Visibility

THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND IT HAS QUIT AGAIN. JUST WONDERING IF THEY HAVE REPLACED THIS MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE EACH TIME OR A REMANUFACTURED ONE. IF IT WAS NEW IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE PRODUCT? SHOUDN'T A FAILED PART UNDER WARRANTY BE REPLACED WITH A NEW PART?

NHTSA ODI #10003394

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER , REDUCING VISIBILITY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER DIAGNOSED NUT FOR TRANSMISSION OF WINDSHIELD WIPER, SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8000791

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2001
Visibility

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND VEHICLE BEING IN IDLE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899155

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
Visibility

THE REAR DEFOGGER FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER, SOON AFTER REPAIR THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE DEFOGGER ON, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER USED IT SINCE IT WAS FIXED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #561472

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 2001
Visibility

HEATER/ AIRCONDITIONER AND DEFROSTER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED THEM ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886904

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH ROTORS WARPING CAUSING BRAKE PULSATION, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES CONTINUALLY, AFTER SEVERAL REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS OF THE SYSTEM (ROTORS, PADS, CALIPER SLEEVES) THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED, FINAL ANALYSIS REVEALED A DEFECTIVE ABS COMPUTER SYSTEM CAUSING PROBLEMS. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #559203

Official recalls

2

04V036000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.