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1987 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
8
19844
198518
198624
198712
198843
198955
1990
Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
6Steering
6Vehicle Speed Control
3Power Train
2Seats
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Tires
2Structure
1Visibility
1

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: 2 of 24 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Seats complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 1998
SeatsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE REAR BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING, AND CONSUMER WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION, NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT UP OR SEE THE ROAD. ONLY THE LAP PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING HER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED CONCERNING I…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE REAR BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING, AND CONSUMER WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION, NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT UP OR SEE THE ROAD. ONLY THE LAP PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING HER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED CONCERNING INCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822790

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
Seats

WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME, RENDERING SEAT INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808422

Official recalls

2

87V011000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 9, 1987

ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY CONTAIN WATER WHICH COULD FREEZE WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED CAUSING TRAVEL OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE TO BECOME RESTRICTED WHEN THROTTLE IS INITIALLY OPENED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSSOF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.

86V128000 · Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

Sep 15, 1986

PARKING BRAKE LEVER MECHANISMS MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL AWAY UNCONTROLLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.

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

4

EA92024 · Sticking Throttle

Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA90041 · Brake Performance

Opened Aug 29, 1990 · Closed Mar 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

EA89010 · Brake Ineffectiveness

Opened Jan 17, 1989 · Closed May 8, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

PE88085 · Poor Braking

Opened Jul 27, 1988 · Closed Jan 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available