IllustrationDT: THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST. *JB
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 reportsCAR STARTED BEING HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND IT WAS INTERMITTENT. IT JUST STARTED THAT MORNING OF 5-28-05 . I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN IT ON A CURVE GOING OFF TO THE RIGHT. I PROCEEDED SLOWLY AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ANOTHER LEFT TURN SOMETHING SNAPPED UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS OF THE CAR AND IT W…
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CAR STARTED BEING HARD TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND IT WAS INTERMITTENT. IT JUST STARTED THAT MORNING OF 5-28-05 . I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP HILL AND IT BECAME HARD TO TURN IT ON A CURVE GOING OFF TO THE RIGHT. I PROCEEDED SLOWLY AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE ANOTHER LEFT TURN SOMETHING SNAPPED UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS OF THE CAR AND IT WOULD NO LONGER TURN AT ALL-IT WOULD ONLY GO FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK WHO TOWED IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY INFORMED ME THE STEERING GEAR BOX TOTALLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF OVER $1800.IT TOOK THE DEALER 5 DAYS TO COMPLETE THIS REPAIR AND THEY KEPT THE OLD PARTS
WHILE DRIVING FUEL REGULATOR FAILED AND GAS WENT THROUGH THE MOTOR, AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK ENGINE AND WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE THE COMPUTER WHEN OUT. *TT *NM
GAS ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, CAUSED BY THE STRAPS AROUND THE TANK. STRAPS AND LEAK WERE REPAIRED. *NM NEW GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED. *BF
HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. UNABLE TO USE HIGH-BEAMS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH-BEAMS, THE DRL ACTIVATE DUE TO NOT HAVING FULL POWER GETTING TO HEADLIGHTS.
VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND NO RECALLS WERE FOUND.*AK
BRAKE LIGHT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN REPLACING BULB. ALSO, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND OFF. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNDETERMINED. *AK *NM
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE . THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING IN MY 96 CHEVY CAVALIER AND NOW MY 99 CHEVY CAVALIER AND I'VE RUN OUT OF GAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THANKFULLY NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE HEARD THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF SENSOR PROBLEM AND IT EXISTS THROUGHOUT …
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NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE . THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING IN MY 96 CHEVY CAVALIER AND NOW MY 99 CHEVY CAVALIER AND I'VE RUN OUT OF GAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THANKFULLY NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE HEARD THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF SENSOR PROBLEM AND IT EXISTS THROUGHOUT A NUMBER OF GM CARS . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM
THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LAMPS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *JB
THE ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND, LATER THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AND IT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER THE ENGINE WAS TICKING AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT PUT ON CORRECTLY BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK *SC *JB
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.