IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK RECLINER MECHANISM FAILED, SEAT BACK IS IN THE RECLINE POSITION AND WILL ADJUST BACK TO ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK
1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 5 of 134 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports8 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
134 reportsABS SYSTEM FAILURE, EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT, DRIVER EXPERIENCES TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. *AK
AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE, DUE TO THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD NOT RELEASE. *AK
VEHICLE SKID ON ICE LOSING CONTROL HITTING ENBANKMENT OF CREEK. REAR OCCUPANTS (3) WERE NOT ABLE TO RELEASE FRONT SEAT BELTS OF PARENTS WHICH DIED ON SCENE. TT
TILT STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. TT
ENGINE MISSES, SURGES, OR STALLS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *DSH
ABS; BRAKES LOCK UP AT LOW SPEED ON DRY PAVEMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
DOORS DO NOT SHUT UNLESS THEY ARE SLAMMED VERY HARD. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DRIVER TO INJURE HIS LEG. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
TIE ROD BOLTS WERE UNDER SIZED COMING FROM THE FACTORY. TT
THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED IT GOES TO THE FLOOR AND WILL NOT STOP . PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
191V166000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch
Sep 23, 1991
THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING IS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MISSING, LEADING TO A CONDITION WHERE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH DOES NOT ENGAGE THE SECONDARY STRIKER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH IS NOT ENGAGED, AND THEPRIMARY HOOD LATCH WAS ALSO NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY. IFTHIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD MAY CONTACT THE WINDSHIELD,REDUCING THE FORWARD VISION AREA OF THE DRIVER AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: INSPECT HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLIES AND, WHERE NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW SECONDARY HOOD LATCH SPRING.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.