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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2000
Steering
POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING WITH LESS THAN 14 MONTHS OWNERSHIP. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN TENNESSEE. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIR WAS PROVIDED BY NALLEY CHEVROLET. I AM UNSURE OF THE RISK OF DRIVING THE CAR SAFELY UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE >$1100 REPAIR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OR TYPE OAF…
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POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS REPLACING WITH LESS THAN 14 MONTHS OWNERSHIP. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN TENNESSEE. THE DIAGNOSTIC AND ESTIMATE OF THE REPAIR WAS PROVIDED BY NALLEY CHEVROLET. I AM UNSURE OF THE RISK OF DRIVING THE CAR SAFELY UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE >$1100 REPAIR. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OR TYPE OAF ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723889
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
TRANSMISSION WOULD KNOCK WHILE IN PARK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. ALSO, ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT. ALL BRAKES AND FRONT ROTORS REPLACED. *ML
NHTSA ODI #863254
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT AT MPH OR IN REVERSE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT A WARNING. THERE WILL BE NO STEERING AND NO BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863179
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2000
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK A PULL IN THE SHIFTS WHEN THEY CHANGE GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER DOUGHTYER IS DRIVING THE CAR IT STALL CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED HITTING THE DRIVER IN CAUSING INJURY, THE OTHER AIR BAG BROKE THE W…
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WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK A PULL IN THE SHIFTS WHEN THEY CHANGE GEAR DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER DOUGHTYER IS DRIVING THE CAR IT STALL CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAG VIOLENTLY DEPLOYED HITTING THE DRIVER IN CAUSING INJURY, THE OTHER AIR BAG BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. *YH
NHTSA ODI #862828
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH TREE AFTER AVOIDING A PICKUP TRUCK, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON. DAUGHTER WAS INJURED IN THE COLLISION. GMAC HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #862696
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2000
Steering
POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME THE SAME DEFECT OCCURRED. THIS AFFECTED CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #861921
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ELECTRONIC TRACTION SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DUE TO BURNT SPARK PLUG WIRE. YH
NHTSA ODI #552246
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH OVER A WET SURFACE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, STRICKING TREES IN FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861770
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BRAKES MAKE NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861320
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
Electrical System
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM OF RESTARTING AFTER RUNNING FOR 15 MINUTES OR MORE. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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