IllustrationCAR 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
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 reportsBRAKES SEEM TO GRAB, WARPED ORTORS , NEED REPLACING
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
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 50-55 MPH. BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. BUT AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT SHOW AIR BAGS HAVE DEPLOYED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE POWER WINDOWS/ HORN ASSEMBLY AND BATTERY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN HITTING A BUMP VEHICLE MAKES A SQUEAKING NOISE AS THE OWNER APPLIES THE BRAKES. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND DIED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VHEICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
POSSIBLE EXHAUST FAILURE MAY BE CAUSING FUMES THAT ARE GETTING THE DRIVER SICK WHILE DRIVER IS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *YC
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
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.