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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

What owners actually said

240 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2007
Electrical System

WITH IGNITION KEY IN START POSITION I BEGIN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THIS PROMPTED SITE SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT RE-CALL #02V070000 APPLIES TO MY 1996 CAVALIER. DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTANCE OF RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10212190

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2007
Structure

THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LINE ON THAT SIDE. THE AIR CONDITIONING OVERFLOW TUBE WAS RELEASING WATER ONTO THAT PIECE OF METAL. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS WAS THE CAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT LIKE THAT. COULD HAVE JUST BEEN CHEAP MET…

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THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LINE ON THAT SIDE. THE AIR CONDITIONING OVERFLOW TUBE WAS RELEASING WATER ONTO THAT PIECE OF METAL. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS WAS THE CAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT LIKE THAT. COULD HAVE JUST BEEN CHEAP METAL. ON NOV 30 OF 07 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND IT JUST DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. WHEN YOU DRIVE A CAR EVERYDAY YOU NOTICE THESE THINGS BUT CANNOT PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE SUSPENSION FELT VERY LOOSE THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT TURNING CORRECTLY. THE MORE I DROVE THE WORSE IT GOT. ON THE WAY HOME I DROVE ONLY 20 MILES AN HOUR WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON PRAYING I WOULD GET HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. IT FELT LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. THANK THE GOOD LORD I DID GET HOME ALRIGHT. MY HUSBAND PULLED OF BOTH WHEELS STARTING WITH LEFT AND THEN RIGHT AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK PICTURES AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO OUR PREFERRED AUTO SHOP. BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE GUY AT THE SHOP SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENED THAT WE ACTUALLY COULD HAVE LOST THE FRONT END. IN ALL THE CARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CHEVY WE HAVE HAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210719

57,000 miles · Jul 6, 2007
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS FOR HER TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FOURTH TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOCKETS, LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF HER VEHICLE, HAD BURNED OUT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS FOR HER TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FOURTH TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOCKETS, LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF HER VEHICLE, HAD BURNED OUT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/26/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10195459

64,000 miles · Jun 19, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherFireInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.

NHTSA ODI #10193704

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2007
Structure

DASHBOARD CRACKED IN MIDDLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IN AND KEPT CRACKING. CALLED DEALERSHIP , WHO SAID NOT A SAFETY ISSUE .DASHBOARD BOARD COLLAPSED ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ,AND I HAVE SINCE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10189316

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

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2007
Steering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS HEARING THIS WHINING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I CALLED THE SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO, AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID A METAL PIECE UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAD RU…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS HEARING THIS WHINING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I CALLED THE SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO, AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID A METAL PIECE UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE TUBE THAT CARRIES THE POWER STEERING FLUID. I ASKED THEM WHAT HAD CAUSED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183814

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2006
Equipment

ABOUT A TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED THE AIR WAS BLOWING WARMER THAN USUAL SO I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET FREON PUT IN MY CAR THINKING IT WAS LOW....AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS, IT STARTED BLOWING WARM AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS MAYBE A LEAK, SO THEY PUT DYE IN THE SYSTEM...I TOOK IT BACK 2 DAYS LATER, AND THEY FOUND THERE W…

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ABOUT A TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED THE AIR WAS BLOWING WARMER THAN USUAL SO I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET FREON PUT IN MY CAR THINKING IT WAS LOW....AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS, IT STARTED BLOWING WARM AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS MAYBE A LEAK, SO THEY PUT DYE IN THE SYSTEM...I TOOK IT BACK 2 DAYS LATER, AND THEY FOUND THERE WERE LEAKS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $1500-$2000 (INCL. LABOR) I WAS OUTRAGED BY THIS, AS THE CAR WASN'T EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!! I MAINTAINED THE CAR JUST AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN. (I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC, AND SO HE ALWAYS DOES THE SERVICE ON MY CAR!) I AM JUST CURIOUS IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND IF SO, WHAT WAS DONE ABOUT IT? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159943

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2006
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 1998, AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE NUMBERS SHOW, AND IT IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME I START THE ENGINE. I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY VEHICLE, AND MY GAS GAUGE MOVES BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY... I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE SA…

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I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 1998, AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE NUMBERS SHOW, AND IT IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME I START THE ENGINE. I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY VEHICLE, AND MY GAS GAUGE MOVES BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY... I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT IS A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS FAULTY. I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159941

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2006
Steering

STEERING-NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, IN ANY DIRECTION. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158757

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.