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1989 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →
43Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
18
198624
198712
198843
198955
199055
1991134
1992
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
10Electrical System
6Fuel System, Gasoline
6Power Train
5Steering
5
All reported categories
Structure
5Seat Belts
4Visibility
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Seats
3Tires
3Unknown Or Other
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Air Bags
1Parking Brake
1Service Brakes
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 3 of 43 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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106,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS …

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573612

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2000
Electrical System

VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 KNOWN ECM MODULES REPLACED IN ITS LIFE OF 11 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736524

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #509166

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1996
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

INTERMITTENT STALLING AFTER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #505900

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WATER PUMP FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501952

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1995
Electrical System

ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND DIED IN TRAFFIC; SPEED 35 MPH; COMPUTER CAME ON SAYING, GO IMMEDIATELY TO GAS STATION. TT

NHTSA ODI #964338

Official recalls

1

88V189000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Dec 6, 1988

A FUEL TANK LEAK COULD OCCUR DUE TO SMALL CREASES ON THE TANK UNDERSIDE CRACKING DURING PRESSURE CYCLING WHICH OCCURS DURING NORMAL OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THIS CONDITION COULDRESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.

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

2

PE93090 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Oct 8, 1993 · Closed Feb 28, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available

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