IllustrationA POPPING SOUND WAS COMING FROM FRONT END ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON FOURTEEN OCCASIONS. VARIOUS PARTS REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*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
What owners actually said
240 reportsTHE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO CONNECT, ONLY AFTER NUMEROUS TRIES WILL IT FINALLY CONNECT AND STAY FASTENED. THE HIGH PRESSURE AIR CONDITIONING LINE IS RUBBING ON THE RADIATOR FAN CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LINE, WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE FIXED.*AK
FRONT TRANSAXLE WENT OUT AND WAS REPAIRED, AND THEN THE SEAL BEGAN LEAKING, ALSO INNER JOINT IN HALFSHAFT WAS REPLACED.*JB
ODOMETER TRIPS, CLUSTER REPLACED, ENGINE BURNING GASKET REPLACED, ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL RADIO CASSETTE PLAYS SIDES A/B SIMUTANEOUSLY AND STATION ARE STATICKY, RADIO REPLACED ONCE PROBLEM STILL EXIST BUT CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED, BACK RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR STICK AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CHANGE INTO 3RD GEAR.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY (PANIC STOP) BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD AND DOES NOT STOP THE CAR. LOUD CRUNCHING NOISES ARE PRESENT AND CAR PROCEEDS ANOTHER 50FT BEFORE STOPPING. TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES-THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS BRAKE PROBLEM.*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
HEATER/ AIRCONDITIONER AND DEFROSTER BLOWER STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPLACED THEM ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK DOWN.*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.