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1993 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

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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 146 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 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports7 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

41 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE FALLING APART. RUST WAS EVIDE…

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VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE FALLING APART. RUST WAS EVIDENT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOWER PART OF THE VEHICLE'S BODY, FROM FRONT WHEEL TO REAR WHEEL. FRONT AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY ESOECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK STARTED TO COLLAPSE AND EVENTUALLY FAILED COMPLETELY -- SEAT BACK COLLAPSED TWICE. CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLE STARTING VEHICLE. WATER COMING IN TO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE FOR STATE INSPECTION FOR WHICH IT FAILED DUE TO BALL JOINT. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THREE OCCURRENCES OF HEADLIGHT FAILURES ON VEHICLE. RADIATOR FAILED WITH NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. LEAKING IN WIINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER FLUID TANK. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10082054

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSeat Belts

MAJOR FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S WATER-RESISTANT ENVELOPE: SERIOUS WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FIREWALL, RESULTING IN RUST AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO CARPET, MOLD AND MILDEW IN CARPET AND UNDERLAY, AND UNPLEASANT ODOURS

NHTSA ODI #10071278

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE REGULATOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10046139

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET HAS LEAKED FOR MANY YEARS. I EXPLAINED TO A MECHANIC THAT THE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM WHERE HE KNEW EXACTLY THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #767276

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

A CRACKED HEAD ON A 2.2L ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #899633

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, AND REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR AND IT WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #886989

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A "TOTE THE NOTE" LOT, AND COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS 2 DAYS AND ONLY 11 MILES. AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR VIBRATION, AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WHEN I CALLED IN, THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS T…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A "TOTE THE NOTE" LOT, AND COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS 2 DAYS AND ONLY 11 MILES. AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR VIBRATION, AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WHEN I CALLED IN, THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE BACK MOTOR MOUNTS. THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE FRONT ONES ON THE DAY OF PURCHASE.THEY TOLD ME THAT PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED AT MY EXPENSE,, AFTER GOING IN AND ASKING FOR MY DOWN PAYMENT BACK, THEY AGREED TO FIX THE VIBRATION PROBLEM FREE BUT NOTHING ELSE. TWO DAYS AFTER I PICKED THE FIXED CAR UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE,DUE TO THE INTENSE VIBRATION, THE ABS, AND SPEEDOMETER PROBLEMS. THE VIBRATION WAS ONLY BAD WHEN IN DRIVE AND HAD TO BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. BUT NOW THE VIBRATION IS WORSE IN ALL GEARS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ABS LIGHT STAYING ON, THE OTHER PROBLEMS WERE NOT THERE WHEN I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #741760

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKET 2 TIMES ON 2.2LT ENGINE. EACH HEAD GASKET WILL ONLY LAST ABOUT 8 MONTHS. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK BRAKES, CALIPERS AND ROTORS FAIL EVERY YEAR. *YH

NHTSA ODI #870457

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

MUFFLER FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #553683

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN JUNE OF 1998 THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET OF MY 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LEAKED COOLANT. I PAID OVER $500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS ISSUE FROM OCTOBER OF 1999, IT INDICATES THAT THIS DEFECT WAS COVERED ON A HIDDEN WARRANTY. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS VERY HELPFUL, THEN TO GM. GM TOLD ME THAT THE HIDDEN…

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IN JUNE OF 1998 THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET OF MY 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LEAKED COOLANT. I PAID OVER $500.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE CONSUMER REPORTS ISSUE FROM OCTOBER OF 1999, IT INDICATES THAT THIS DEFECT WAS COVERED ON A HIDDEN WARRANTY. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO WAS VERY HELPFUL, THEN TO GM. GM TOLD ME THAT THE HIDDEN WARRANTY (BULLETIN 98054) WAS ONLY FOR 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE 1995 AND 1993 VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME ENGINE. IF GM IS GOING TO PAY TO FIX THE 1995, THEN IT SHOULD COVER THE SAME DEFECT IN THE SAME ENGINE OF THE 1993. I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET NO REIMBURSEMENT FROM GM. I THINK I AM ENTITLED TO THE $500 THAT I PAID THE HAVE IT FIXED BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724805

Official recalls

1

93V121000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jul 21, 1993

THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

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

1

EA94033 · Horn Pad Falls Off

Opened Sep 29, 1994 · Closed Mar 29, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:horn

THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.GM WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE DETACHMENT OF THE HORN PAD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM SEE EA94-033 ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REPORT.