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 55 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.
Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 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 reports12 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
55 reports
250,000 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Service Brakes
KNOCKING AT START UP FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME. WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PADS THE PINS WOULDN'T MOVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. HAD TO COMPRESS THE PINS LOOSE WITH A C-CLAMP. ALSO, I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT'S A COMBINATION OF ANTIFREEZE & OIL. WHICH I THINK IS CAUSED FROM THE KNOCKING SOUND. MY BRAKE LIG…
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KNOCKING AT START UP FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME. WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PADS THE PINS WOULDN'T MOVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. HAD TO COMPRESS THE PINS LOOSE WITH A C-CLAMP. ALSO, I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT'S A COMBINATION OF ANTIFREEZE & OIL. WHICH I THINK IS CAUSED FROM THE KNOCKING SOUND. MY BRAKE LIGHT & AN EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHT SHOWS ON MY DASHBOARD SOMETIMES. MY FUEL MONITOR GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW THE EXACT AMOUNT IN TANK. COULD THE LISTED RECALL CAUSE MY CAR. TO RUNS OUT OF GAS AT QUARTER TANK OF GAS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10660986
96,000 miles · Jun 1, 2006
Power Train
1990 CAVALIER GEAR SHIFT MOVED TO NEUTRAL WHEN TOUCHED BY CONSUMERS LEG. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S SON'S LEG TOUCHED THE GEAR SHIFT AND CAUSED IT TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER B…
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1990 CAVALIER GEAR SHIFT MOVED TO NEUTRAL WHEN TOUCHED BY CONSUMERS LEG. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S SON'S LEG TOUCHED THE GEAR SHIFT AND CAUSED IT TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10148689
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2005
TiresWheels
1. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A POT HOLE AT 50 MPH IN EASTBOUND #1 LANE RAMONA EXPY, PERRIS CA. 2.TIRE COMPRESSION CAUSED THE RIM EDGE TO SLICE OPEN THE HIGH PLY TURN-UP AND STEEL SIDEWALL STABILIZER. THIS HIGH PLY TURN-UP COMES OFF THE RIM BEAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. IF THE TIRE IS COMPRESSED PAST A CRETIN POINT THE RIM HAS NO …
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1. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A POT HOLE AT 50 MPH IN EASTBOUND #1 LANE RAMONA EXPY, PERRIS CA. 2.TIRE COMPRESSION CAUSED THE RIM EDGE TO SLICE OPEN THE HIGH PLY TURN-UP AND STEEL SIDEWALL STABILIZER. THIS HIGH PLY TURN-UP COMES OFF THE RIM BEAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. IF THE TIRE IS COMPRESSED PAST A CRETIN POINT THE RIM HAS NO PLACE TO GO BUT INTO THIS 45 DEGREE DEFLECTION AND SLICES INTO THE TIRE CAUSING SUDDEN AIR LOSS. 3. I CALLED DUNLOP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TALK DOWN TO IN A CONDESCENDING MANOR, HIT A DEAD END THERE! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10140939
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2003
Electrical System
CONSUMER HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE STARTER AND THE USE OF A STARTER NOT DESIGNED FOR THE VEHICLE.*MR *TS. THE STARTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FROM THE AUTO STORE WAS SAID TO BE INCOMPATIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WORKED FINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10031500
Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 2002
Tires
TREAD SERARATED FROM TIRE WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #762642
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2002
Electrical System
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING UP FROM IGNITION SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8006976
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CA…
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HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CAR STILL DIES AT STOPS AND WILL NOT IDLE CORRECTLY. DEALER COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER FOR THE CAUSES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #760333
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND VENTS AREA. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8005144
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER WAS PARKING VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH VENTS OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002845
Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Tires
SCHOOL HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS ON THEIR VEHICLES. A LARGE GROUP OF GOODYEAR'S INVICTA TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF IN 2000. LARGE CRACKS WERE SHOWING ONLY ON THE WHITE SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM SAME LOCATION, STEVE'S QUICK STOP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE MAKE/ MODEL/ YEAR AND MILEAGE INFORMATION. TIRE …
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SCHOOL HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS ON THEIR VEHICLES. A LARGE GROUP OF GOODYEAR'S INVICTA TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF IN 2000. LARGE CRACKS WERE SHOWING ONLY ON THE WHITE SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM SAME LOCATION, STEVE'S QUICK STOP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE MAKE/ MODEL/ YEAR AND MILEAGE INFORMATION. TIRE SIZE P175/80R13, DOT# M6JUFAHR1430.*AK THE SCHOOL STATED THAT TIRES OF REGATTA SERIES ALSO HAD CRACKS IN SIDE WALL IN ADDITON TO THE PREVIOUS INVICTA BRAND. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. *YH
NHTSA ODI #894869
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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