1994 Chevrolet Cavalier

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 212 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip36
1203
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine31
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components9
200
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System8
000
Electrical System › Horn8
000
Unknown or Other6
000
Seats5
001
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly5
101
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer4
000
Visibility › Windshield4
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Horn96I001000
Filed Jan 23, 1996417,000 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE HORN PAD.

Risk. THE HORN PAD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FALLING BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES. THE HORN PAD COULD BECOME JAMMED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES AND THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, HORN PAD, AND HORN WIRING.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HORN PAD RETENTION CLIPS, INSTALL HORN PAD RETENTION BRACKETS TO THE STEERING WHEEL, REINSTALL THE HORN PAD AND ASSURE THAT THE HORN PAD IS PROPERLY RETAINED.

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm94V115000
Filed Jun 24, 199465 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat BeltsCrash1 killed
Filed Oct 2, 2012AZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED THERE WAS NO PIN IN THE SEAT BELT THAT PROPERLY SECURED IT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURED AROUND THE DRIVER'S ARM AND WAS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH, BUT NOT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 6, 2010154,200 milesVA

THE PLASTIC BUSHING THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE CABLE FELL APART WHILE DRIVING AND YOUR NOT ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR. *TR

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Dec 30, 2008106,000 milesIN

TURN SIGNAL/HORN PAD FAILURE. CALLED CHEVROLET HOTLINE ON 12/30/2008, AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. REFERRED ME TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Mar 7, 2007194,700 milesAR

TL*- THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ON 01/23/07. THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, AND LOST POWER AT STOP LIGHTS. ALSO, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, AND HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TWO FUEL INJECTORS THAT WERE LEAKING. AND THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE WAS A FIRE HAZARD .AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE OWNER OF DAVE'S DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY THE OWNER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT THE VEHICLE FAILURES. THE CONTACT HAD AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRING THE INJECTORS WHICH WAS $442.00 ,AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER REPAIR FOR $600.00. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,500, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19, 4700. UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Apr 11, 200695,000 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND THE MANUAL RELEASE WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.

Seats1 injured
Filed Oct 4, 2005103,725 milesNY

DRIVER SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AND HAS TO BE HELD UP BY SOME THING SO IT DON'T FALL BACK. *NM

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light
Filed May 24, 2005AR

I HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY 2 WEEK AND FOR SOME REASON NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH MY CAR

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Mar 14, 200540,000 miles00

WHILE DRIVING FUEL GAUGE IS REGISTERING 1/8 TANK OF GAS. HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK IS EMPTY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP,. BUT NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS AND THEY ALSO HAD THE PROBLEM OF THE GAS GAUGE GIVING INACCURATE READINGS. *TC

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Mar 8, 200578,000 milesNY

THE SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE REAR SIGNALS WORK PROPERLY, EVEN WHEN A BULB WAS BLOWN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT SIGNAL WORKED PROPERLY, BUT IT NOT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK *TC

Tires
Filed Jan 13, 2005IL

THE DAY THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BUT A FEW DAYS LATER ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT. *NM THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS AND THE STABILIZER WAS FOUND BROKE, THERE WAS ANOTHER NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND THE VEHICLE HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. *SC THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DRIVE AXLE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE INCIDENT HE/SHE EXPERIENCED. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 13, 200438,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT LLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed May 19, 2004MA

WHEN DRIVING 20 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE COLLAPSED. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 7, 200483,334 milesNC

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM EVER SINCE I GOT IT. IT CONSISTENTLY OVER- HEATS, LEAKS COOLANT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FAN. MY CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN FROM IT AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF MORE DOLLARS TOGET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM SO SICK OF TAKING THIS CAR IN FOR PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN BELT AND PARALLEL PULLIES, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY AAA. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Mar 11, 2004IA

WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A NOISE. *AK

Suspension › Rear › Shock Absorber
Filed Feb 26, 200480,000 milesPA

CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER A POT HOLE, AND IT FELT LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT TO COME APART. CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND HE REPLACED THE SHOCK TOWERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ABOUT SIX WEEKS LATER, CONSUMER FELT SOMETHING DRAGGING. TOOK BACK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE SHOCK TOWERS ON THE LEFT SIDE. *AK RIGHT REAR SHOCK TOWER WAS ALSO REPAIRED. *LA

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 200488,000 milesGA

THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BROKEN ON MY 1994 CAVALIER. THE THIRD TIME THE CHAIN BROKE I HAD TO HAVE THE RODS/PISTONS REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN THE CHAIN BROKE IT BENT THEM.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2003OH

HEAD GASKET LEAKING NEEDED REPLACED IN1998 AT 43445, THEN STARTED LEAKING IN 2002 AT 74847.

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Aug 25, 2003MA

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 94V115000 CONCENING AXLES. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
Filed Jun 30, 2003184,000 milesOK

LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RUBBED ON MOTOR MOUNT AND WORE THROUGH THE METAL ON THE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ENGINE COOLING FAILURE. HOSE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS. NEW HOSE IS STILL RUBBING. NO APPARENT WAY TO MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY. *AK SECOND COMPLAINT. AIR CONDITIONING EXTERNAL RUNOFF OFTEN RUNS INTO CAR UNDER PASSENGER MAT INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jan 11, 200398,200 milesTX

THIS PROBLEM OF THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING STARTED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT WELL OVER 800 DOLLARS ON BRAKE WORK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAKE SHOPS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE LAST PLACE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 1300 DOLLAR PROBLEM. I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS BOX. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY IN PERFECTLY CLEAR WEATHER I WAS TO FORCE TO HIT MY BRAKES AND ENDED UP SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST BEING STRUCK BY NUMEROUS CARS UNTIL I FINALLY COME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY 15 MONTH OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HAVE READ IN NUMEROUS DIFFERENT WEB SITES ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THE ABS SYSTEM FAILING ON 94 CAVALIERS. I THINK IF ANYTHING IS DECIDED TO BE RECALLED THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY TO JUST THROW AWAY ON HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED. TS

20 of 212 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2005287104Fatalities reported
2004330261Fatalities reported
2003678261Fatalities reported
2002196540Routine
2001243681Fatalities reported
2000315782Fatalities reported
1999240820Above average
199834511100Above average
199754013255Fatalities reported
199650313101Fatalities reported
19952709100Above average
1994 — this page212231Fatalities reported
1993146271Fatalities reported
1992134182Fatalities reported
199155366Fatalities reported
1990551120Routine

Compare every Cavalier year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.