IllustrationWAS AT STOP POSITION & STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THE STEERING WHEEL PPED OUT OF DRIVER'S HAND. VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO JERK RIGHT OR LEFT INTO OTHER LANE. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.IT IS INTERMITTENT. *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 reportsBRAKING 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
LIGHT COLORED DASHBOARD IS CAUSING A GLARE AGAINST STEEP SLOPE WINDSHIELD, RESULTING IN REDUCED/POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND WHEN SLOWING DOWN / TURNING. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TO CORRECT FAILURE ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC
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
LIGHT COLOR OF INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSE UNSAFE REFLECTIONS IN WINDSHIELD
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
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A WALL. HOWEVER AIRBAG EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT. *YC
SEAT BELT IN THE BACK SEAT DOESN'T TIGHTEN ON A CAR SEAT AND I THINK SHOULD LOCK AND TIGHTEN WHEN THE BRAKES AREN'T BEING APPLIED. *AK
THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE, THEN CAUSED A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
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.