IllustrationHEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. HEADLIGTHS WILL NOT COME ON, BUT HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WILL. HAS HAD BULBS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. C0NTACTED DEALER. *AK
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
What owners actually said
240 reportsHEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, NOT THE BULBS OR FUSES, BUT FROM CORROSION IN WIRING. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YRS OLD! WE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHERS W/ SAME YR/MAKE/MODEL/MILES WITH SAME PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS... WE DID NOT REALIZE THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AT FIRST AND DROVE SOME DISTANCE W/O HEADLIGHTS. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK IF …
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HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, NOT THE BULBS OR FUSES, BUT FROM CORROSION IN WIRING. THIS CAR IS LESS THAN 3 YRS OLD! WE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHERS W/ SAME YR/MAKE/MODEL/MILES WITH SAME PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS... WE DID NOT REALIZE THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AT FIRST AND DROVE SOME DISTANCE W/O HEADLIGHTS. THE HIGH BEAMS WORK IF THEY ARE TURNED ON JUST THE REGULAR HEADLIGHTS WIRING IS FAULTY. PORNID@YAHOO.COM HAS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME CAR WITH ONLY 37,000 MILES. GM HOTLINE ANSWERER SAYS THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T TAKE A FATALITY ACCIDENT FOR THEM TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS. THANK YOU.*AK
WHILE TURNING THERE WAS A KNOCKING AND CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
WIRING HARNESS FOR HEAD LAMPS BROKEN AT PIVIOT IN TILT STEERING COLUM CAUSING ALL LIGHTS TO GO OUT. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DAY LAMP (LIGHTS) FUSES BLEW NUMEROUS OF TIME WHILE DRIVING. NLM
WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES CONSUMER NOTICED A THUMBING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. TECHNICIAN STATED INTER LOCK BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED CAR RUNNING HOT, DROVE IT 3 MILES TO SAFETY, ENGINE CEASED, WARPED HEADS. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY COMPANY INSPECTED, SAID WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED, BOTH WERE MANUFACTURER PARTS, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVER…
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CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED CAR RUNNING HOT, DROVE IT 3 MILES TO SAFETY, ENGINE CEASED, WARPED HEADS. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY COMPANY INSPECTED, SAID WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED, BOTH WERE MANUFACTURER PARTS, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEVERE DAMAGE. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED BY WARRANTY FOR ENGINE, I HAD TO PAY MYSELF, $3000.00 - IF MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAN WARRANTY CO SHOULD PAY!*AK
GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL COME ON - GAS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK PROPERLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR T…
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GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL COME ON - GAS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK PROPERLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE ODOMETER READING HIEROGLYPHICS BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER , REDUCING VISIBILITY WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER DIAGNOSED NUT FOR TRANSMISSION OF WINDSHIELD WIPER, SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING FAILURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT REPLACED ORIGINAL PADS THREE TIME AND ROTORS ONCE. *YH
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.