IllustrationWHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GUAGE STARTS TO FLUCTUATE PRIOR TO LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEM AREA. *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 reportsABS FAILURE; ON DRY PAVEMENT LET GO WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, TWO ACCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED BECAUSE OF ABS FAILURE. THE SERVICE SHOP SAID THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES,THE BRAKES HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. PLEASE EXPLAIN. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE HIT A POLE AND DRIVER SUSTAINED BRAIN INJURIES. THE ROAD WAS ICY AND SANDY AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK
THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT END HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE OWNING VEHICLE, THIS IS (3) SETS WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES AND WHEN YOU BRAKE THE WHOLE FRONT END SHIMMIES, THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN WITH THE REAR BRAKES NOT ADJUSTING THEMSELVES WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKES TO WORK ALONE…
Read full complaint
THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ON THE FRONT END HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE OWNING VEHICLE, THIS IS (3) SETS WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES AND WHEN YOU BRAKE THE WHOLE FRONT END SHIMMIES, THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN WITH THE REAR BRAKES NOT ADJUSTING THEMSELVES WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKES TO WORK ALONE AND HEATING THE ROTORS TO THE POINT OF WARPING. *SLC
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO WARPED BRAKE ROTORS.
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLIED ABS WOULD KICK IN, BRAKE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, IMPACT 12:00, SPEED 40 MPH. *AK
ABS: WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL, 15 MPH; APPLIED BRAKES, HELD BRAKES; BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED; DRIVER SWERVED, HIT CURB TO AVOID ACCIDENT; NO WARNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
ABS: EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR; ONLY GETS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES EACH SET; MAKES LOUD NOISE. *AK
BRAKES FAIL REPEATEDLY. *DSH
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