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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 →
212Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
55
1991134
1992146
1993212
1994270
1995503
1996540
1997
Compare all Cavalier years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
60Engine And Engine Cooling
56Electrical System
23Seat Belts
22Power Train
16
All reported categories
Visibility
16Structure
13Seats
11Steering
8Suspension
8Unknown Or Other
7Vehicle Speed Control
7Equipment
6Fuel System, Gasoline
6Air Bags
4Exterior Lighting
4Service Brakes, Air
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Fuel System, Other
2Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

56 reports
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83,334 miles · May 7, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM EVER SINCE I GOT IT. IT CONSISTENTLY OVER- HEATS, LEAKS COOLANT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FAN. MY CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN FROM IT AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF MORE DOLLARS TOGET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR …

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I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM EVER SINCE I GOT IT. IT CONSISTENTLY OVER- HEATS, LEAKS COOLANT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FAN. MY CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN FROM IT AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF MORE DOLLARS TOGET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM SO SICK OF TAKING THIS CAR IN FOR PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN BELT AND PARALLEL PULLIES, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY AAA. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068443

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET LEAKING NEEDED REPLACED IN1998 AT 43445, THEN STARTED LEAKING IN 2002 AT 74847.

NHTSA ODI #10039409

184,000 miles · Jun 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RUBBED ON MOTOR MOUNT AND WORE THROUGH THE METAL ON THE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ENGINE COOLING FAILURE. HOSE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS. NEW HOSE IS STILL RUBBING. NO APPARENT WAY TO MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY. *AK SECOND COMPLAINT. AIR CONDITIONING EXTERNAL RUNOFF OFTEN RUNS INTO CAR UNDER P…

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LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RUBBED ON MOTOR MOUNT AND WORE THROUGH THE METAL ON THE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ENGINE COOLING FAILURE. HOSE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS. NEW HOSE IS STILL RUBBING. NO APPARENT WAY TO MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY. *AK SECOND COMPLAINT. AIR CONDITIONING EXTERNAL RUNOFF OFTEN RUNS INTO CAR UNDER PASSENGER MAT INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ODI #10025204

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 · Apr 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

EACH TIME THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM AND THEY GIVE A "DISCOUNT" I FEEL THEY NEED TO PAY I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE HELP I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HELP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744624

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #560796

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING ON 2.2L ENGINE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884731

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON COMING TO A STOP ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #883066

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SIDE, THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN. CJ

NHTSA ODI #559615

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE PISTONS WERE 2K UNDERSIZED, CAUSING ENGINE TO KNOCK. DEALER HAS REPLACED PISTONS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #879311

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