IllustrationI HAVEN'T HAD AN INCIDENT YET. ALL 4 OF MY TIRES ARE CRACKED IN THE SAME AREA AROUND THE TIRE. LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. *TR
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cavalier years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than 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: 88 of 540 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 107 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
70 crash reports25 fire reports60 injury reports
Tires complaints
8 reportsTHIS ACTUALLY INVOLVES FIRESTONE TIRES. I PUT 4 FIRESTONE LEMANS TOURING BRAND NEW TIRES ON MY CAR AND THEN JUST RECENTLY LAST MONTH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR, FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE A CLAIM FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY …
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THIS ACTUALLY INVOLVES FIRESTONE TIRES. I PUT 4 FIRESTONE LEMANS TOURING BRAND NEW TIRES ON MY CAR AND THEN JUST RECENTLY LAST MONTH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR, FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE A CLAIM FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, IN ORDER TO DO SO I HAD TO GET TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE DAMAGE AND SUBMIT THEM ALONG WITH THE TIRE. SO WHILE GATHERING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRED DID THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY AND IT IS A MIRACLE MY BABY OR I WEREN'T KILLED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I CONTACTED A PARALEGAL AT FIRESTONE AND SHE FINALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE, HOWEVER I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE SAME TIRES ON THE BACK AND THEY ONLY REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH THE EXACT BRAND THAT WAS ON THERE. I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE TIRES BECAUSE I ALSO FOUND OUT RESEARCHING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TIRES. *NM
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V186000; STEERING ASSEMBLY; THE OWNER TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER ITEMS WERE WRONG. THOSE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE. IT APPEARS THAT THEIR INTEREST WAS NOT ABOUT THE STEERING, IN WHICH THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION. THE CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE REPA…
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NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V186000; STEERING ASSEMBLY; THE OWNER TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER ITEMS WERE WRONG. THOSE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE. IT APPEARS THAT THEIR INTEREST WAS NOT ABOUT THE STEERING, IN WHICH THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION. THE CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE REPAIRS MADE TO HER VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILING ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB TIRE WAS HIT WITH A NAIL CREATING AN UNBALANCED TIRE. *TC
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE LOST AIR . AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAD TO FILL THE TIRE WITH AIR EVERY TWO DAYS. *AK
THE VEHICLE HIT A WATER POCKET, THE FRONT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT THE CONSUMER HIT BRAKES AND THE CAR SLID TO THE THIRD LANE AND HIT PAVED WALL. (CONTINENTAL GENERAL P195/70R14). NLM
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S FRONT FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE P194/70R14 EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, BACK OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. *SLC
WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR LAST YEAR ;THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY PUT NEW TIRES ON MY CAR,BUT WHEN IT RAINED MY CAR TIRES WOULD SLIDE IN PUDDLES OF WATER;I WAS FRANTIC.MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS SCREAMING AND HOWLING BECAUSE WE ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT.SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL I PURCHASED NEW TIRES.I BOUGHT TIRES FRO…
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WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR LAST YEAR ;THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY PUT NEW TIRES ON MY CAR,BUT WHEN IT RAINED MY CAR TIRES WOULD SLIDE IN PUDDLES OF WATER;I WAS FRANTIC.MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND WAS SCREAMING AND HOWLING BECAUSE WE ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT.SO I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL I PURCHASED NEW TIRES.I BOUGHT TIRES FROM WAL MART AUTOMOTIVE [THAT WAS IN DECEMBER]BUT IN FEBURARY I EXPERICENCED THE SAME PROBLEM EXCEPT THESE TIRES SPLITTED OPEN AND I PURCHASED TWO MORE TIRES FROM WALMART AND THE GUY THAT CHANGED MY TIRE SAID IT'S NOT AWANNDER IF I DIDN'T KILL MYSELF....BUT HE TOLD ME THAT FIRESTONE WAS RECALLING THESE TIRES AND TOLD ME ABOUT IT.SO WHAT CAN I DO NOW I HAVE THE TIRES AT HOMEO
LEFT TIRE BONE BROKE IN TWO WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. NO PREVIOUS INCIDENT CAUSED EXCESS STRESS IN CAR STRUCTURE. CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LOST, BUT BROUGHT TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF STREET. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. THEY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR IN PAR. HOWEVER, TIRES HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER 3 WEEKS BEFORE. NO FISURES REP…
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LEFT TIRE BONE BROKE IN TWO WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. NO PREVIOUS INCIDENT CAUSED EXCESS STRESS IN CAR STRUCTURE. CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LOST, BUT BROUGHT TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF STREET. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. THEY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR IN PAR. HOWEVER, TIRES HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER 3 WEEKS BEFORE. NO FISURES REPORTED THEN. OWNER FEELS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A HIGHWAY. I ALSO FEEL MAD AT THE UNRESPONSIVENESS OF MANUFACTURER, WHO APPARENTLY REGARDS THIS PART AS DISPOSABLE ALONG WITH THE SECURITY AND THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS. *AK
Official recalls
702V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Nov 4, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
02V070000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Mar 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
98V319000 · Suspension:rear
Dec 15, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM FASTENERS.
98V146000 · Air Bags
Jun 29, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE, AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD OCCUR IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
98V032000 · Structure:body
Feb 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MIS-LOCATED WELDS AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE LEFT ROCKER PANEL INNER REINFORCEMENT AND THE BODY SIDE RING. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 214, "SIDE DOOR STRENGTH."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SHEET METAL STRUCTURE WOULD NOT PERFORM AS DESIRED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, PLACE FIVE WELDS BETWEEN THE INVOLVED PANELS AND APPLY PRIMER AND TOPCOAT FINISH MATERIALS.
97V106000 · Wheels:space Saver Wheel
Jun 28, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLIES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH INCORRECT RIMS. IF THE SPARE TIRE IS UNDERINFLATED, THE BEAD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE RIM CAUSING A RAPID LOSS OF AIR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A RAPID LOSS OF AIR CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIM ON THE COMPACT SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY. OWNERS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO USE THE SPARE TIRE UNTIL THE RIM HAS BEEN REPLACED.
96V160000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Aug 29, 1996
THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY (17" LONG INSTEAD OF 22" LONG) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE AREA AND PATTERN WIPED ON THE WINDSHIELD WILL BE REDUCED AND COULD AFFECT THE DRIVER'S VIEW IN WET WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE CORRECT WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY AND INSTALL A CORRECT LENGTH WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY.
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
4DP03007 · Unintended Vehicle Acceleration
Opened Oct 14, 2003 · Closed Jan 30, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other:delivery
ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2003, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 FROM MR. DONALD FRIEDMAN, PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INVOLVING [MODEL YEAR] 1996 AND 1997 GENERAL MOTORS J-CARS.IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION, MR. FRIEDMAN CITED A REPORT HE RECEIVED FOR GM SHOWING IT HAD RECEIVED FAR MORE REPORTS OF ALLEGED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR THESE MODELS THAN FOR OTHERS.AFTER ASSESSING THE DATA CLAIMED BY THE PETITIONER TO JUSTIFY HIS REQUEST, ODI FOUND NO INDICATION THAT DEFECT TREND RELATED TO THE PETITIONER'S ALLEGATIONS EXISTS AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASONABLE POSIBILITY THAT AN ORDER CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WOULD BE ISSUED AS A RESULT OF GRANTING MR. FRIEDMAN'S PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS ANALYSIS, PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE.
PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
EA98001 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Jan 23, 1998 · Closed Jul 31, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
PE97041 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployments
Opened Sep 9, 1997 · Closed Jan 23, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available