IllustrationENGINE HEAD IS VISIBLY CRACKED BY NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG AND COOLANT IS POOLING IN SPARK PLUG CHAMBER. *AK
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.
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 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 reportsBELT AND BELT TENSIONER FAILED. NLM
COOLENT LEAKAGE AT TOP ENGINE CYLINDER. *AK
CAR MAY NOT START AT TIMES. ALSO, FAN BELT DOES NOT WORK IN DAMP CONDITIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. *AK
PROBLEMS INITIALLY OCCURRED IN 1996. DIAGNOSED AS BEING FAILED LIFTERS. LIFTERS WERE REPLACED. PROBLEMS STILL CONTINUED. BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING AND WOULD NOT START . PROBLEMS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS BEING DUE TO THE LIFTERS BUT NOW THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL FLOW. INTERNAL DAMAGE HAD OCCUR…
Read full complaint
PROBLEMS INITIALLY OCCURRED IN 1996. DIAGNOSED AS BEING FAILED LIFTERS. LIFTERS WERE REPLACED. PROBLEMS STILL CONTINUED. BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING AND WOULD NOT START . PROBLEMS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS BEING DUE TO THE LIFTERS BUT NOW THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL FLOW. INTERNAL DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE IN OCTOBER, 1999 AT A COST OF $2,200.00. THE CAR AT THIS TIME HAD ONLY 39,000 MILES. CAR WAS BASICALLY USED INFREQUENTLY BY SOMEONE IN A RURAL TOWN. REGULAR OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE TIMELY.
VEHICLE IS LEAKING FLUID INTO HIS HEAD GASKET, AND IS OVERHEATING. *AK
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK A ROUND HEAD GASKET / VALV GASKET LEAK
COOLENT LEAK FROM RIGHT FROM HEAD GASGET. HAVE TO ADD COOLENT TO KEEP RESEVOIR FULL AT COLD LEVEL. DEARSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FULL PRICE FOR REPAIR.
BRAKES PADS/ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL IS SOFT, AND WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THERE IS ALOT OF VIBRATION. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF BRAKE PROBLEM. ALSO, ENGINE DIES OUT, AND TIE RODS BENT OUT OF POSITION.
NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM ENGINE BLOCK, DIAGNOSED AS BAD HEAD GASKET
Official recalls
193V121000 · 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
1EA94033 · 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.