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1994 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 212 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 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

23 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRA…

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CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB SINCE THEY INSTALLED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE FRONT AND VICE VERSA. *JB

NHTSA ODI #564993

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING BATTERY DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID FLYWHEEL BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #867925

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1999
Electrical System

UPON START UP IN COLD WEATHER: WIPERS INOP, HEATER FAN INOP, AUTO DOOR LOCKS INOP, HEAD LAMPS INOP. AFTER 20 MIN WARM UP ALL SEEMS TO FUNCTION OKAY. START UP IN WARMER PART OF DAY THESE DISCREPANCIES DO NOT MATERIALIZE.

NHTSA ODI #715769

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1999
Electrical System

HORN PAD AND INTERNAL ASSEMBLY FALL OFF OCCASIONALLY AND CONTINUE TO BE LOOSE. AWAITING NEXT DEFECT....

NHTSA ODI #711546

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1999
Electrical System

FAILURE OF ORIGNAL, AND 2 FOLLOWING ALTERNATORS.

NHTSA ODI #711542

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

SCREWS WERE MISSING FROM THE MOLDING RUNNING FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE HEADLINER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #547740

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipmentCrashInjury

ABS FAILS EVERY TIME ACTIVATED, SYSTEM CYCLES SLOWLY, WITH UNCONTROLLABLE LOCK AND RELEASE OF WHEELS. THIS HAS OCCURED ON A FEW OCCASIONS. 1 OCCASION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. ENGINE/VEHICLE VIBRATES HEAVILY WHEN IDLING IN GEAR. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASE, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HORN PAD HAS DISLOGED AND FALLEN …

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ABS FAILS EVERY TIME ACTIVATED, SYSTEM CYCLES SLOWLY, WITH UNCONTROLLABLE LOCK AND RELEASE OF WHEELS. THIS HAS OCCURED ON A FEW OCCASIONS. 1 OCCASION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. ENGINE/VEHICLE VIBRATES HEAVILY WHEN IDLING IN GEAR. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASE, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HORN PAD HAS DISLOGED AND FALLEN BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL SPOKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NEARLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LATCH DOES NOT RETAIN SEATBACK FROM TRAVELLING FORWARD. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. SAFETY ISSUE. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AFTER ABOUT 9 MONTHS, WITH NO PRIOR USE. AFTER REPAIR, IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 3 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI #709339

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Electrical System

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HORN ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING THEIR HORN FELL OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE DEFECTS ARE DESCRIBED IN RECALL NUMBER 96I001000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830941

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1998
Electrical System

RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE HORN PAD, HOWEVER HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE REPAIR WORK, HORN PAD SEPARATES FROM VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #538509

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

STARTER FAILED TWO TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #523821

Official recalls

1

94V115000 · Steering:linkages:knuckle:spindle:arm

Jun 24, 1994

THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES. CORRECTIVE ACTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND DRIVE AXLES, BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLIES, SPINDLE NUTS, AND WASHERS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES.

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

2

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.

PE94042 · Horn Button Falling Off

Opened May 23, 1994 · Closed Sep 29, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available