1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 238 complaints · 8 recalls
Most-reported system: SERVICE BRAKES (42 complaints · 17.7%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 27
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 17
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1998 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution SERVICE BRAKES appears in 42 of 238 owner complaints (17.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. SERVICE BRAKES: 42 complaints, 17.7% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 42 · 17.7% · 4 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 34 complaints, 14.3% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34 · 14.3% · 1 crash reports ENGINE: 30 complaints, 12.6% of reports ENGINE 30 · 12.6% STEERING: 26 complaints, 10.9% of reports STEERING 26 · 10.9% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports AIR BAGS: 16 complaints, 6.7% of reports AIR BAGS 16 · 6.7% · 13 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 14 complaints, 5.9% of reports POWER TRAIN 14 · 5.9% · 1 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 13 complaints, 5.5% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 13 · 5.5% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports VISIBILITY: 10 complaints, 4.2% of reports VISIBILITY 10 · 4.2% · 1 crash reports SUSPENSION: 9 complaints, 3.8% of reports SUSPENSION 9 · 3.8% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 180 complaints, 75.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 180 · 75.6% · 24 crash reports 1 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
SERVICE BRAKES 42 17.7% 4 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 34 14.3% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 30 12.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 26 10.9% 1 crashes · 1 fires
AIR BAGS 16 6.7% 13 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 14 5.9% 1 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 13 5.5% 1 crashes · 1 fires
VISIBILITY 10 4.2% 1 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 9 3.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 180 75.6% 24 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1999; the first recall shown was reported in Aug 1999. 1999-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1999-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 1999-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2000-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2000-Q2: 17 owner reports 17 2000-Q3: 12 owner reports 12 2000-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2001-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2001-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2001-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2002-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2003-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q3: 10 owner reports 10 2003-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2004-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1999 Jul 2019 Recall campaign 99V218000 ◆ Recall campaign 99V218000 Recall campaign 04V036000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V036000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 07E021000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E021000 Recall campaign 08E063000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E063000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000
  • Campaign 04V036000 was reported 1,509 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E021000 was reported 2,223 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 2,834 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1999-Q1 Owner reports 4
1999-Q2 Owner reports 7
1999-Q3 Owner reports 9
1999-Q4 Owner reports 8
2000-Q1 Owner reports 9
2000-Q2 Owner reports 17
2000-Q3 Owner reports 12
2000-Q4 Owner reports 4
2001-Q1 Owner reports 18
2001-Q2 Owner reports 7
2001-Q3 Owner reports 6
2001-Q4 Owner reports 11
2002-Q1 Owner reports 3
2002-Q2 Owner reports 7
2002-Q3 Owner reports 7
2002-Q4 Owner reports 4
2003-Q1 Owner reports 15
2003-Q2 Owner reports 4
2003-Q3 Owner reports 10
2003-Q4 Owner reports 4
2004-Q1 Owner reports 9
2004-Q2 Owner reports 6
2004-Q3 Owner reports 5
2004-Q4 Owner reports 4
2005-Q1 Owner reports 3
2005-Q2 Owner reports 6
2005-Q3 Owner reports 5
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 3
2006-Q2 Owner reports 4
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 3
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 2
2008-Q1 Owner reports 1
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q2 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 2
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 2
2013-Q4 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 99V218000
Recall campaign 1 04V036000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 07E021000
Recall campaign 1 08E063000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (8)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V036000

    Report date
    Component:
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E021000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
    Consequence:
    FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E063000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 99V218000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 238 complaints · page 1 of 10

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources