IllustrationCONSUMER WAS AT THE STOP LIGHT. WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. *AK
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 →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: 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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
60 reportsWHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID ACCIDENTS CAR GOES INTO SKID ON DRY AND WET PAVEMENT. STEERING WHEEL WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN WHEN BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM ZIMBRICK BUICK EAST. DRUMS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. DRUMS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED DUE TO WARPING. SHOES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN CLEANE…
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WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO AVOID ACCIDENTS CAR GOES INTO SKID ON DRY AND WET PAVEMENT. STEERING WHEEL WILL OCCASIONALLY TURN WHEN BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR. PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM ZIMBRICK BUICK EAST. DRUMS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. DRUMS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED DUE TO WARPING. SHOES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN CLEANED. BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING ALL MOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE SLOWING CAR. PEDAL HAS SAME PULSING ACTION AS IT DID WHEN DRUMS WARPED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
ERRATIC OPERATION OF ABS SYSTEM ; SOUND WOULD COME FROM THE WHEEL WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
SCREWS WERE MISSING FROM THE MOLDING RUNNING FROM THE DASHBOARD TO THE HEADLINER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS SYSTEM LOCKED UP. VEHICLE SKIDDED. VEHICLE WILL INCH UP, AND ABS OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
THE BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY LOCK AND THEN RELEASE. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO STOP FURTHER AHEAD THAN INTENDED. SOMETIMES IT CAUSES THE WHEELS TO DRAG. THE PROBLEM IS INTENSIFIED IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER OR SAND ON THE ROAD. IT MAKES ME FEEL WARY AND UNSAFE WHEN I OR MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR. I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL NOT STOP WHEN …
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THE BRAKES WILL OCCASIONALLY LOCK AND THEN RELEASE. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO STOP FURTHER AHEAD THAN INTENDED. SOMETIMES IT CAUSES THE WHEELS TO DRAG. THE PROBLEM IS INTENSIFIED IN THE PRESENCE OF WATER OR SAND ON THE ROAD. IT MAKES ME FEEL WARY AND UNSAFE WHEN I OR MY DAUGHTER DRIVE THE CAR. I'M AFRAID THE CAR WILL NOT STOP WHEN I NEED IT TO THE *AK
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT APPROX. 35-40MPH, THE ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
ABS SYSTEM WOULD ONLY LOCK UP ON REAR WHEEL. REPAIRMAN WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO, REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN WEATHER GETS COLD. *AK
WAS COMING TO A STOP & STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES (ABS), AND THEY FAILED TO HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, AT BEST. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOTHING SHOWED ON COMPUTER. THE TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER & CAN NOT LOCATE WHERE ITS…
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WAS COMING TO A STOP & STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES (ABS), AND THEY FAILED TO HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE INTERSECTION. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC, AT BEST. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC NOTHING SHOWED ON COMPUTER. THE TRUNK FILLS WITH WATER & CAN NOT LOCATE WHERE ITS COMING FROM. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION TO OCCUR. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Official recalls
194V115000 · 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
2EA94033 · 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