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 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seats. 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.
7 crash reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
55 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2005
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
MY SON LOST CONTROL OF A 1991 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND WAS EJECTED AFTER HE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENTERING THE MEDIAN, HIS CAR WAS SKIDDING BROADSIDE AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. AS THE CAR ROLLED, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHICH DEFEATED THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT BELT TO HOLD HIM INSIDE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DE…
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MY SON LOST CONTROL OF A 1991 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND WAS EJECTED AFTER HE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENTERING THE MEDIAN, HIS CAR WAS SKIDDING BROADSIDE AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. AS THE CAR ROLLED, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHICH DEFEATED THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT BELT TO HOLD HIM INSIDE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DESIGN HAD THE SHOULDER HARNESS ANCHORED TO THE TOP OF THE DOOR/WINDOW FRAME AND THE LAP BELT ANCHORED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10109852
90,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureUnknown Or Other
THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE POOR BODY OF THE CAR. THE PANELS BELOW THE CAR HAVE COMPLETELY DIMINISHED. ANYTHING REMAINING OF THEM IS EITHER ROTTING AND RUSTING AWAY, OR HAS PAINT REMOVED FROM THEM. THE PAINT IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER AND FROM THE FRONT HOOD OF THE CAR. SOME RUST IS ALSO APPEA…
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THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE POOR BODY OF THE CAR. THE PANELS BELOW THE CAR HAVE COMPLETELY DIMINISHED. ANYTHING REMAINING OF THEM IS EITHER ROTTING AND RUSTING AWAY, OR HAS PAINT REMOVED FROM THEM. THE PAINT IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER AND FROM THE FRONT HOOD OF THE CAR. SOME RUST IS ALSO APPEARING AT THE SIDES. WHEN I STEP INTO THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF A MINIMUM 100 KM/H, THIS TRASH IS ANYTHING BUT QUIET. APART FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW BROKEN, THE GASKETS OR WHATEVER KEEPS THE AIR OUT DOESN'T KEEP IT OUT. INSTEAD, SOME AIR COMES IN AND THUS MAKING THAT NOISE; LIKE HAVING YOUR WINDOWS OPEN AND GETTING ALL THAT NOISE OF THE AIR. IT'S NO DIFFERENT WHEN CLOSED. THE RUBBER SEAL OF THE DOORS IS EXTREMELY POOR IN THIS REGARD. MY SECOND PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE ENGINE. MY ENGINE'S MOTOR IS BROKEN DOWN. NO MECHANIC CAN FIX IT. I TRIED TO GO THROUGH CHEVROLET AND ONE OF THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. BUT JUST THE COST OF REFURBISHING MY ENGINE WOULD APROXIMATILY ADD UP TO $2,500 (MIGHT AS WELL BUY A NEW CAR INSTEAD!).
NHTSA ODI #10071378
112,000 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Wheels
WHILE TIGHTENING UP THE LUG NUTS ON THE WHEEL, PIECES OF METAL SHEARED OFF AND DROPPED SMALL PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND. *AK THE LUG NUTS IN QUESTION WERE NEWLY PURCHASED. PART#254 ABN 10.9 MANUFACTURED BY R+B INC. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10041855
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2003
Fuel System, Other
WHILE DRIVING DOWN 25-35MPH VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP FILTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10034494
115,000 miles · Aug 25, 2003
Tires
NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD ALMOST GOT THERE WHEN I HEARD A BANG ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND SAW THE TREAD FLY OFF BACK BEHIND FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. TIRE STAYED AIRED UP AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE I80, AND PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT. I GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE GROUND EFFECTS ON MY DRIVER…
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NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD ALMOST GOT THERE WHEN I HEARD A BANG ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND SAW THE TREAD FLY OFF BACK BEHIND FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. TIRE STAYED AIRED UP AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE I80, AND PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT. I GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE GROUND EFFECTS ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WERE HANGING BY LIKE ONE SCREW. THE TIRE WAS STILL AIRED UP BUT THERE WAS NO TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. IT RIPPED HALF OF MY FRONT BUMPER OFF DENTED MY FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND DRIVERS DOOR AND GROUND EFFECTS WERE DESTROYED. FIRESTONE ,P205/60R15 90S M+S FIREHAWK SS10 MY CAR 1991 CHEVROLET, Z24 CAVALIER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10033496
Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2001
Seat BeltsSeats
BACK SEAT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CAR AND REAR SEAT BELTS ARE MISSING.
NHTSA ODI #741426
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Visibility
THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PAR…
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THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PART.
NHTSA ODI #727996
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2000
SteeringCrashInjury
AN '88 BLUE DODGE VAN (VIN 2B6GB113Y3JK56747)CRASHED INTO MY LITTLE GIRLS CAR THE 1991 CAVALIER. EXPERT RECONSTRUCTIONIST (TX DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY) BLAME MY LITTLE GIRL FOR HAVING RAN THE STOP SIGN AND HITTING THE VAN, CAUSING AN INDIRECT DEATH OF THREE AND THE DIRECT DEATH WAS AN ABANDON UTILITY POLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT…
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AN '88 BLUE DODGE VAN (VIN 2B6GB113Y3JK56747)CRASHED INTO MY LITTLE GIRLS CAR THE 1991 CAVALIER. EXPERT RECONSTRUCTIONIST (TX DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY) BLAME MY LITTLE GIRL FOR HAVING RAN THE STOP SIGN AND HITTING THE VAN, CAUSING AN INDIRECT DEATH OF THREE AND THE DIRECT DEATH WAS AN ABANDON UTILITY POLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IF THE CAR WAS TO HIT THE VAN IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE. MY DAUGHTER STATES THAT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PROCEEDED ENTERING THE INTERSECTION AT 6 MPH. HOW CAN A SMALL CAR DO SO MUCH DAMAGE EVEN IF IT WAS TO HAVE RUNNED THE STOP SIGN. I BELIEVE THAT THE VAN HIT THE CAR CAUSING THE ROOF OF THE CAVALIER TO COLLAPSE AND DOING IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO MY LITTLE GIRLS FRIEND. MY LITTLE GIRL HAD MULTIPLE CONTURSIONS TO THE HEAD WHEN THE ROOF CAVED IN AND HER ANKLE HAD THREE FRACTURES ON HER LEFT ANKLE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE IN THE DRIVER SIDE THAT THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE DOOR WAS PINGED INWARD AND THE ROOF OVER HER HEAD WAS CAVED IN. LUCKILY THE TWO GIRLS SURVIVED. EVEN THOUGH ONE IS A VEGETABLE MY LITTLE GIRL IS NOT THE SAME AND HER YOUTH HAS BEEN STOLEN BY THIS ACCIDENT. SHE HAS RECURRING NIGHTMARES AND A BRAIN CONTUSSION THAT MIGHT NOT GO AWAY UNTIL ALL THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN RELIEVED AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. WHY DID THE ROOF COLLAPSE INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS WHO WERE WEARING SEATBELTS? WHY DID THEY HAVE TO USE THE JAWS-OF-LIFE TO RESCUE BOTH GIRLS? *AK
NHTSA ODI #718722
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Steering
WHILE DRIVING A PIN WITHIN THE TILT STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE,NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #851764
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 1999
Electrical System
STARTER WAS REPLACED, AND DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STARTER TO COM ELOOSE/ SHAKE. BOLTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK