IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP WAS HEARD ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE DASHBOARD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
30–25K
1625–50K
1650–75K
1375–100K
7100–150K
10150K+
65 reports with mileage · 175 unknown
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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 44 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 reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
24 reportsMORE THAN ONE INCIDENT: BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BREAKS TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTOR…
Read full complaint
MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT: BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BREAKS TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTORS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. NEWER DESIGN OF MOTOR PACK CONSISTS OF ELECTRONIC SOLENOID. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS!*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE,THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT, SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK *CB *JB
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ABS SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER STATED ABS MOTOR BECOME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD THE DRIVER. *AK
WE CAME HERE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON OUR CAR THE REASON BEING THAT IT SEEMS THAT THE AIR BAG IS NOT PLACED CORRECTLY AND THUS IT HINDERS THE USE OF THE HORN. THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WE CAN NOT GET THE HORN TO BLOW. WE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE BUYING THE CAR. *JB
NO SUMMARY. DT
WHILE DRIVING AT 40-50 MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
Official recalls
204V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jan 27, 2004
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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
99V218000 · Interior Lighting
Aug 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHTING MAY NOT FUNCTION AFTER ADJUSTING THE INTERIOR LIGHT INTENSITY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT LIT AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.