IllustrationSEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CAUSING INJURY.
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 →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
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
24 reportsDRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM IN THE SEAT*AK CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND HE CAME OVER AH HILL AND CAUGHT THE PILE OF GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHIC THEN TURNED OVER THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE,THE SEAT BELT DID NO…
Read full complaint
DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM IN THE SEAT*AK CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND HE CAME OVER AH HILL AND CAUGHT THE PILE OF GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHIC THEN TURNED OVER THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE,THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN.*JB
ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS IN FREEZING WEATHER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK
ENGINE SURGED TWICE.
FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN TO LOCK UP. *AK
POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED. *SD
EXTREME FORCE NEEDED TO TURN STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER. MORE REASONABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. TT
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE FRONT PASSENGER AND OCCASIONALLY DRIVERS SEATBELT LOCKS UP BEFORE IT LATCHES MAKING IT NOT LATCH. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Official recalls
287V011000 · 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
4EA92024 · 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
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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