NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
240 reports29,346 miles · Apr 17, 2003
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesUnknown Or Other
I PURCHASE A USED 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER IN HAMILTON NJ. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN LATE 2001, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE MANY TIMES FOR THE WINDOWS AND LOCKS NOT WORKING AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND HAS HAD THREE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD A NEW REGULATOR WAS PUT IN.…
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I PURCHASE A USED 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER IN HAMILTON NJ. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN LATE 2001, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE MANY TIMES FOR THE WINDOWS AND LOCKS NOT WORKING AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND HAS HAD THREE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD A NEW REGULATOR WAS PUT IN. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE QUALITY OF THE REGULATORS, THE DEALER TOLD ME MY COMPLAINT WAS WITH GM AND NOT THEM BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR PARTS FROM GM. HOW CAN THE WINDOW REGULATORS BE "BAD" THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR? BESIDES THE WINDOWS, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS NOT WORKING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT CLOSING. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WARRENTY EXPIRES AND I NEED YET ANOTHER WINDOW REGULATOR? I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE NJ USED CAR LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN THREE MONTHS BEYOND THE LIMITATION DATE, EVEN THOUGH I MET EVERY OTHER QUALIFICATION.
NHTSA ODI #10016138
64,000 miles · Apr 1, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT BRAKES LOCKING AT LOW SPEEDS DUE TO ABS FAILURE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP, THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID FRONT ROTORS MIGHT BE WARPED. I REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEN THEY ADVISED ME THAT SINCE MY TIRES WERE NOT ALL THE SAME BRAND THAT WAS THE PR…
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FRONT BRAKES LOCKING AT LOW SPEEDS DUE TO ABS FAILURE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP, THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID FRONT ROTORS MIGHT BE WARPED. I REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEN THEY ADVISED ME THAT SINCE MY TIRES WERE NOT ALL THE SAME BRAND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM....NEW TIRES DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR IS NOT KICKING ANY CODES OUT TO THE COMPUTER AND NO ABS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SPOKE TO GM TECH'S AND AT THAT POINT REPLACED BOTH FRONT ABS WIRING HARNESSES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS....BACK TO GM TECH'S AGAIN...RT REAR HUB WAS CHANGED THINKING IT WAS A BAD SENSOR BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 10 TIMES NOW AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO A THING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AT CHEVROLETS REQUEST I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, THE MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM EXISTS BUT CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE ARE RUNNING ME AROUND.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10013805
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR LATCH BROKE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001 HAD IT REPLACE. THE IN MARCH OF 2003 THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LATCH BROKE SO THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE.
NHTSA ODI #10010976
25,078 miles · Mar 7, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN THE CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED.*JB ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CONSUMER SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WILL STALL. *MR
NHTSA ODI #10011136
61,200 miles · Mar 2, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
VALVE COVER GASKET AND HEAD GASKET BOTH FAULTY ON ENGINE AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT YET I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY RECALLS. CHEVROLET FAILS TO ADMIT TO THESE FAILURES, AND WILL NOT ASSIST. IN SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, THREE OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND CHEVROLET DOES NOTHING.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10008325
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER. *PH *JB
NHTSA ODI #10009214
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2003
Steering
THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10008974
43,000 miles · Feb 11, 2003
Interior Lighting
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10006932
47,500 miles · Feb 10, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LINKED TO THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING, IN A STEADY DRIP, FUEL. EITHER O RINGS WERE FAILING OR REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA ODI #10005608
38,744 miles · Feb 7, 2003
Electrical System
HEADLIGHT FAILURE, NOT BULB. CALLED DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, THAT IT IS VERY COMMON ON 1999 CHEVY CAVALIERS (WHAT I HAVE), BUT REFUSED TO WARRANTY IT. IF IT IS SO COMMON THAT THE HARNESS FAILS WHY DOES CHEVY NOT RECALL IT?
NHTSA ODI #10005486
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