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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

View recall details →

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
106,000 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNAL/HORN PAD FAILURE. CALLED CHEVROLET HOTLINE ON 12/30/2008, AND THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. REFERRED ME TO DEALERSHIP AND SAID THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253269

78,000 miles · Mar 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting

THE SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATED THAT THE REAR SIGNALS WORK PROPERLY, EVEN WHEN A BULB WAS BLOWN OUT. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT SIGNAL WORKED PROPERLY, BUT IT NOT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK *TC

NHTSA ODI #10111420

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 · Mar 17, 1997
Exterior Lighting

OWNER STATES THAT HIS REAR MOUNTED STOP LAMP MELTS AND THAT ONCE IT HAS MELTED, THE BULB CANNOT BE REPLACED, DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHY IT MELTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810064

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