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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2004
Service Brakes, AirCrash
MY '99 CHEVROLET CAVALIER (Z24) SUFFERED BRAKE FAILURE IN DEC. OF 2003. THE ROADS WERE ICY--HAD BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY, AND IT WAS STILL SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN EASY MANNER, BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. THE CAR CONTINUED AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. MY FOOT FE…
Read full complaint
MY '99 CHEVROLET CAVALIER (Z24) SUFFERED BRAKE FAILURE IN DEC. OF 2003. THE ROADS WERE ICY--HAD BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY, AND IT WAS STILL SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN EASY MANNER, BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. THE CAR CONTINUED AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. MY FOOT FELT LIKE IT WAS STEPPING ON STEEL--THERE WAS NO BRAKE ACTION WHATSOEVER. I HAD PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE, AS I WAS TRAVELING VERY CAUTIOUSLY IN THESE SNOWY CONDITIONS. (THERE WERE AN ABOVE AVERAGE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THAT DAY DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.) I HAD BEEN TRAVELING THIS SAME STRETCH OF ROAD FOR MANY BLOCKS AND IT WAS A STOP AND GO 40 MPH STRETCH OF ROAD. A LEXUS SUV WAS PARKED AT A SEMAPHORE INTERSECTION WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. I DECLARED BRAKE FAILURE AT THE SCENE, AND AFTER THE OFFICER HAD CLEARED THE SCENE I NOTICED MY ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE BRAKES ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED FOR BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DULY NOTED AND ANALYZED AND I WAS TOLD THE ABS MOTOR NEEDED REPAIR. WHEN I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT THAT NEEDED REPAIR. THE BRAKE FAILURE ITSELF WAS ALARMING, BUT WHAT IS ADDITIONALLY DISTURBING IS THAT I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED IN JAN. OF 2003, BECAUSE I COMPLAINED THE ABS SYSTEM WAS MAKING STRANGE, RATTLING NOISES --LIKE IT WAS FALLING APART. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE BRAKES, SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND THEY INSTEAD FIXED THE PADS AND ROTARS ON THE BRAKES. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BILL AND THEY SAID "CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF 'SQUEALING BRAKES'. I NEVER DESCRIBED THE NOISE AS SQUEALING. INSTEAD I COMPLAINED THE ABS NOISE WAS DIFFERENT THAN I HAD EVER HEARD--A SOUND LIKE NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOSE AND FALLING APART. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10055082
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
35,000 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Exterior Lighting
THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED WATER FROM RADIATOR BUILD UP ON THE WIRES WHICH CAUSED CORROSION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10053346
108,000 miles · Dec 24, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10048210
84,088 miles · Dec 15, 2003
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ABS SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER STATED ABS MOTOR BECOME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10050519
108,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048258
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2003
Unknown Or OtherCrash
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S ODOMETER. *MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ODOMETER WOULD CUT IN AND OUT WHEN DRIVEN OVER A BUMP. THE CONSUMER TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS AN ODOMETER DISCREPANCY. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10042796
69,000 miles · Sep 24, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
RUSTED OUT FUEL LINES THAT ARE LEAKING BAD
NHTSA ODI #10039485
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Wheels
VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF OF VEHICLE.*MR VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, BRAKE AND LEFT DISC. CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY ROTATED THE TIRES THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT. NO INJURIES. *PH (PER A. JIMENEZ THIS COMPLAINT IS TO BE CONSIDERED A MAILED IN VOQ COMPLAINT). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10042067
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2003
Air Bags
WE CAME HERE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON OUR CAR THE REASON BEING THAT IT SEEMS THAT THE AIR BAG IS NOT PLACED CORRECTLY AND THUS IT HINDERS THE USE OF THE HORN. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WE CAN NOT GET THE HORN TO BLOW. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE BUYING THE CAR. *JB
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.
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.
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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