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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.

About this comparison →
146Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
55
199055
1991134
1992146
1993212
1994270
1995503
1996
Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
53Engine And Engine Cooling
41Electrical System
26Power Train
10Seat Belts
9
All reported categories
Equipment
8Seats
8Structure
8Steering
7Vehicle Speed Control
6Exterior Lighting
5Fuel System, Gasoline
5Suspension
5Visibility
5Interior Lighting
3Tires
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Air Bags
1

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

Structure complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
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 · May 16, 2001
Structure

ENTIRE FLOOR OF MY CAR HAS ABOUT 1 INCH OF WATER EACH TIMES IT RAINS OR SNOWS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745400

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999
Structure

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT / STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER DETERMINE THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO BE WORN OUT WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #851498

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999
StructureFire

WHILE IN VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON, SECOND PARTY WAS SPRAYING HOSE ON VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE A LEAK WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. 20 MINUTES LATER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS CAME ON. THIRD PARTY COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR. TRIED MANUALLY, THEN AFTER BANGING ON THE DOOR LOCK AREA, THE DOOR UNLOCKED. DOOR LOCK BUZZING WAS …

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WHILE IN VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON, SECOND PARTY WAS SPRAYING HOSE ON VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE A LEAK WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. 20 MINUTES LATER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS CAME ON. THIRD PARTY COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR. TRIED MANUALLY, THEN AFTER BANGING ON THE DOOR LOCK AREA, THE DOOR UNLOCKED. DOOR LOCK BUZZING WAS STILL ON. CONSUMER HAD TO GET A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. AT THIS TIME HEAVY SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF DASHBOARD, AND A FIRE BROKE OUT. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850250

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604255

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 1996
Structure

WHILE DRIVING (35) MPH THE HOOD FELL OPEN AND BENT BACK OVER THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND BROKE ALL THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE HOOD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805524

Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 1995
Structure

VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, CAUSING DOORS TO LOCK UP/'JAWS OF LIFE' WAS USED TO RESCUE PASSENGER'S FROM VEHICLE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #488162

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1995
Structure

DOOR LOCKS DRAIN BATTERY, WHILE DRIVING LOCKS WILL MAKE NOISE. TT

NHTSA ODI #959843

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.