IllustrationSUDDEN ACCELERATION.
1982 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reportsOfficial recalls
182V021000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Mar 8, 1982
UNDER CERTAAIN CONDITIONS, THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND FUEL TANK FILLER VENT PIPE COULD FRACTURE. THE FRACTURE OF THESE CLAMPS COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE AT ANY OF THE FOUR PIPE TO HOSE CONNECTIONS. LEAKAGE CAN OCCUR DURING REFUELING, OR WHILE DRIVING, IF THE FUEL TANK IS ABOVE 3/4 FULL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMPS ON THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE AND VENT PIPE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
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
6EA87006 · Power St. Assist
Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Sep 19, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======
EA87007 · Sudden Accel
Opened Dec 16, 1986 · Closed Aug 7, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS:STATUS: GM RESPONDED BY LETTER DATED 12 FEBRUARY 1987.EA CLOSED ON8/7/87.===
PE87004 · Elect. Failures/fires
Opened Nov 5, 1986 · Closed Jul 16, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:MANUFACTURER REPORTS INCLUDE 1OWNER COMPLAINT, 45 FIELD REPORTS, AND 2 LAWSUITS.NO SERVICE OR TECHNICALBULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO DEALERS.GM REPORTED THAT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN INITIATED FOR BOTH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WIRING HAR-NESS AND THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE IN EARLY 1982 TO REDUCE THE POTENTIALOF CONDUIT ABRASION.IN ADDITION, ENGINE AND ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESSASSEMBLIES WERE REVISED BY ADDING A CORROSION PREVENTIVE COMPOUND TO THE2-WAY ALTERNATOR CONNECTOR CIRCUITS IN EARLY 1981.ANALYSIS:REPORTS INCLUDE DESCRIPTIONS OF UNSPECIFIED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMMALFUNCTIONS, INCLUDING BLOWN FUSES RESULTING IN LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS,ABRADED WIRING, POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, VEHICLE STALLING, AND ELECTRICALFIRES.NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.===
DP86019 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Sep 12, 1986 · Closed Dec 22, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
DP86018 · Power Steering Failure
Opened Sep 5, 1986 · Closed Dec 19, 1986
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
POWER STEERING FAILURE
EA83010 · Fuel Line Leak
Opened Feb 25, 1983 · Closed Dec 8, 1983
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available