IllustrationPASSENGER'S DOOR POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED STRIKER.*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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH AND HAD REAR ENDED A STALLED OUT VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, BOTH AIR BAGS CAME OUT, BUT FAILED TO INFLATE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, AFTER CONSUMER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL HAS REMIANED LOCKED IN A DEPRESSED POSITION CAUSING THE CAR'S ENGINE TO CONTINUE RUNNING, AS IF PRESSURE WRE STILL BEING APPLIED TO THE PEDAL, AS A RESULT THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND AT TIMES HAS ACHIEVED SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH,…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, AFTER CONSUMER REMOVES HIS FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL, THE PEDAL HAS REMIANED LOCKED IN A DEPRESSED POSITION CAUSING THE CAR'S ENGINE TO CONTINUE RUNNING, AS IF PRESSURE WRE STILL BEING APPLIED TO THE PEDAL, AS A RESULT THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND AT TIMES HAS ACHIEVED SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH, CONSUMER HAS BEEN ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE GAS PEDAL FROM ITS LOCKED POSITION BY EITHER PUMPING THE PEDAL UNTIL IT IS RELEASED OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN, BUT THE GAS PEDAL REMAINS LOCKED IN A DEPRESSED POSITION, AND THE CONTINUED RUNNING OF THE CARS ENGINE CAUSES THE WHEELS TO GRIND AGAINST THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO DEALER, BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. *JB
BRAKES SCREACH AND VEHICLE WOBBLES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. WHEELS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO FALL OFF. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED TWICE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.*AK
BRAKES ARE GRINDING AND WEARING OUT FAST. FIRST SET WAS PUT ON BEFORE DECEMBER 2000. ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON/OFF. DEALER IS NOT RESPONDING TO WHY THEY'RE WEARING OUT SO FAST. *AK
TOP BRAKE PINS CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BRAKE CALIPER . METAL PART OF BRAKES WERE BENT UP. NO INJURIES BECAUSE OF BRAKE FAILURE.*AK THE FAILED RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONSUMER HIMSELF. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT IT WAS THE THIRD TIME THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED IN LESS THAN TWO YEAR. *YH
VEHICLE MAKES A RATTLING SOUND WHEN DRIVEN. NOISE COMES FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
SPARK PLUGS FAILING DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I HAVE REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL OF MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER BUT THE CAR WILL CONTINUE AT THE SAME PACE AS IF MY FOOT WERE ON THE PEDAL. PLEASE CALL ME AT (650) 812-2482 TO DISCUSS.*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.