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

54,000 miles · Sep 15, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK WATER DRIPPED FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ADD ANTIFREEZE. THIS COOLED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THERE HE FOUND OUT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THIS CAUSED THE BOLT ON THE …

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NHTSA ODI #10022174

44,203 miles · Aug 26, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS WAS DUE TO WATER IN THE MOTOR CAUSED BY A BLOWEN HEAD GASKET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037642

38,806 miles · Aug 7, 2003

Steering

THE CONSUMER NOTICED NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT WAS BINDING. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OR TURNING, A CLUNK NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING SHAFT BINDED. (NANCY WITASZAK-CONSUMER) *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10027221

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS GOING OUT ON CAR. HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030292

52,000 miles · Jul 28, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR OVERHEATED, CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE, NO INDICATION OF OVERHEATING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10030271

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2003

Unknown Or Other

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I HAVE A 1999 CAVALIER, PURCHASED NEW. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO MY DASHBOARD CRACKED UP AROUND THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD FOR NO REASON. SINCE MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I DID NOT PURSUE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IN THE MEANTIME, MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED USED THE SAME MAKE & YEAR OF CAR AND SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLES HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. ALSO, MY DOORS FREEZE SHUT ALL WINTER LONG. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029331

70,000 miles · Jul 10, 2003

Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO STAY LATCHED AFTER BEING BUCKLED.*AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024202

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2003

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN DRIVING, CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TWICE SUCCESSIVELY AND ENGINE SHUDDERED, THEN STALLED.. 1999, CHEVROLET, CAVALIER Z24.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10024227

50,000 miles · Jun 12, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR CUTS OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. CAN BE RUNNING AT 60 MPH OR SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, JUST COMPLETELY CUTS OFF. WILL NOT RESTART, HAVE TO PARK IT AND LET IT SIT, COULD ONLY TAKE 10 MINUTES OR COULD TAKE A FEW HOURS BEFORE IT WILL RUN AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10021475

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2003

Equipment

I GOT A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I USED THE JACK ISSUED BY GENERAL MOTORS TO LIFT UP MY CAR TO CHANGE MY TIRE. I PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE FLAT TIRE WHEN THE JACK BROKE AND DROPPED MY CAR ON THE GROUND WITH NO TIRE FOR SUPPORT. I WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN HAD I NO…

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NHTSA ODI #10019270

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.