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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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

What owners actually said

43 reports
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

120,942 miles · Mar 5, 2004
Tires

I PURCHASED FOUR FIREHAWK SS20 P215/60R14 RWL TIRES FOR MY 89 CAVALIERZ24 ON 04/19/01 IN JACKSONVILLE FL. AT STORE #005770 OR #018538-THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS. THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED TWICE SINCE THEN. RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ONE OF MY TIRES IS SEPARATING ABOVE THE WHITE LETTERS IN PERFECT BI-SECTION OF THE MOLD OUTLETS(THE LI…

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I PURCHASED FOUR FIREHAWK SS20 P215/60R14 RWL TIRES FOR MY 89 CAVALIERZ24 ON 04/19/01 IN JACKSONVILLE FL. AT STORE #005770 OR #018538-THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS. THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED TWICE SINCE THEN. RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ONE OF MY TIRES IS SEPARATING ABOVE THE WHITE LETTERS IN PERFECT BI-SECTION OF THE MOLD OUTLETS(THE LITTLE RUBBER FINGER LIKE THINGIES HA HA). TO ME THIS IS ODD. I WAS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC FOR THE NAVY AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AS A COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE GONE BY THE SPLITTING HAS BECOME WORSE AND IS STARTING ON THE OTHER MOLD OUTLETS. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE RUBBER COMPOSITION ON THAT TIRE FOR IT TO SPLIT OR SEPARATE LIKE THAT. THE TIRE IS DATED FOR LATE 2000 AND HAS A TREAD DEPT OF 5 STILL LEFT ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10060474

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

ENTIRE RED CAR BEGAN FADING ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER DELIVERY. DOORS ONLY HAVE LOST ALL PAINT, INTEGRITY OF DOORS IS COMPROMISED DUE TO RESULTING RUST. I CAN LIVE WITH AN AUTO WHICH IS SLOWING FADING IN COLOR:THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE DOORS. BECAUSE IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT IS SOLELY BOTH DOORS EXHIBITING THE POOR QUALITIY, THE…

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ENTIRE RED CAR BEGAN FADING ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER DELIVERY. DOORS ONLY HAVE LOST ALL PAINT, INTEGRITY OF DOORS IS COMPROMISED DUE TO RESULTING RUST. I CAN LIVE WITH AN AUTO WHICH IS SLOWING FADING IN COLOR:THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE DOORS. BECAUSE IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT IS SOLELY BOTH DOORS EXHIBITING THE POOR QUALITIY, THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP AND/OR MATERIALS INITIALLY. THANKS FOR YOU QUICK ATTENTION TO REMEDY THIS FAULTY CONDITION. I HAVE SEEN OTHER AUTOS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL EXHIBITING THE SAME DEFECT

NHTSA ODI #10070540

83,000 miles · Mar 2, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN I COME TO A SUDDEN STOP OR PUSH MY BRAKES TO A CERTAIN PART DOWN, THE CAR DIES. ALSO ON THE RECALL OF THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS COMPUTER DID NOT GO THAT FAR BACK ON THE MODEL THEY WOULD'NT DO IT.THE DEALER WAS KARNES IN SOMERSET KY.

NHTSA ODI #10008329

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2002
Structure

THE DOOR FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS CRACKS EXTENDING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE DRILL HOLE FOR THE STRIKER. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. SHOULD THE VEHICLE(FOR INSTANCE)BE HIT BROADSIDE ON THE DRIVERS REAR QUARTER (JUST BEHIND THE DOOR) THE DOOR LOCK STRIKER WILL M…

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THE DOOR FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS CRACKS EXTENDING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE DRILL HOLE FOR THE STRIKER. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. SHOULD THE VEHICLE(FOR INSTANCE)BE HIT BROADSIDE ON THE DRIVERS REAR QUARTER (JUST BEHIND THE DOOR) THE DOOR LOCK STRIKER WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TEAR OUT, & THE DRIVER COULD BE EJECTED, OR REAR PASSENGERS INJURED BY THE ENTIRE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR QUARTER PANEL & UNI-BODY STRUCTURE. THERE ARE STILL A GREAT NUMBER OF VEHICLES LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM WITH [XXX]'S VEHICLE & OTHERS LIKE IT. I WILL BE DOING THE SAME. SINCERELY, HER AUTO TECHNICAN FRIEND. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #766545

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2001
Seats

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR SEAT BACKS FLOP BACK AND FORTH. SEATS WILL COME UP AND DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEAT BACKS DO NOT LOCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *YH

NHTSA ODI #898517

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 · Nov 9, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK COMLETELY, FUEL FLOODS OUT OF THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852706

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A BAD ACCIDENT. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH AND ANOTHER VECHICLE HIT HIM FROM THE BLIND SIDE. HE WANTS TO NO WHY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851468

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1999
Power Train

CLUTCH SYSTEM SPECS ON PARTS WERE CHANGED. THIS CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO LOCK UP IF AIR GETS INTO LINE. CAN NOT GET OUT OF GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844852

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