IllustrationTRUNK LATCH DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN OPEN TRUCK, REMOVE REAR HATCH LOCK LATCH AND REPLACED BROKEN SPRING CONTAINER. TT *SLC
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
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: 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 reportsGOODYEAR TIRE SIDEWALL FRACTURES, CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING. *DSH
THE MOTOR BLOCK CRACKED AND THE COOLING LEAKED HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE . TT
DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOOSENS WHILE DRIVING. *DSH
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE FAILED/LOCKED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL ON HIGHWAY. TT
THE SEAL UNDER THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE VIN ARE IS LEAKING. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE COVER BELOW THE STEERING WHEEL DROPS CAUSING DIFFICULTY BRAKING. TT
ODOMETER FRAUD.
THE NUMBER ONE CYLINDER WALL THE BLOCK CRACK. TT
ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND DIED IN TRAFFIC; SPEED 35 MPH; COMPUTER CAME ON SAYING, GO IMMEDIATELY TO GAS STATION. TT
Official recalls
188V189000 · 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
2PE93090 · 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