Chevrolet Cavalier Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,947 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Cavalier, across 11 model years (1995–2005). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (678). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Chevrolet Cavalier years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cavalier year: 2003. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Cavalier: 678 complaints, 1 recall
- 1997 Cavalier: 540 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1996 Cavalier: 503 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 Cavalier: 196 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Cavalier: 240 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2001 Cavalier: 243 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Cavalier problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 1,041 | 11 | 15 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 573 | 11 | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 479 | 11 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 387 | 11 | 47 |
| Steering problems | 349 | 11 | 34 |
| Air Bags problems | 321 | 11 | 198 |
| Power Train problems | 261 | 11 | 13 |
| Visibility problems | 240 | 11 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 169 | 11 | 6 |
| Structure problems | 166 | 11 | 3 |
| Suspension problems | 165 | 11 | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 150 | 11 | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 99 | 11 | 22 |
| Equipment | 92 | 11 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 85 | 11 | 0 |
| Seats | 62 | 10 | 24 |
| Tires | 50 | 11 | 4 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 47 | 11 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 31 | 9 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 29 | 8 | 4 |
| Engine | 28 | 9 | 0 |
| Wheels | 27 | 10 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 18 | 9 | 4 |
| Child Seat | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Cavalier problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2005: electrical system (211)
- 2004: electrical system (185)
- 2003: fuel system, gasoline (340) · electrical system (106) · exterior lighting (57)
- 2001: electrical system (56)
- 2000: electrical system (69) · engine and engine cooling (54)
- 1998: electrical system (66) · engine and engine cooling (55) · service brakes, hydraulic (54) · steering (54)
- 1997: electrical system (107) · engine and engine cooling (106) · steering (83) · air bags (78) · service brakes, hydraulic (58)
- 1996: engine and engine cooling (117) · electrical system (100) · air bags (73) · power train (54) · service brakes, hydraulic (54)
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (82) · electrical system (59)
All Chevrolet Cavalier model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 287 | 0 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Cavalier | 330 | 1 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2003 Cavalier | 678 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Cavalier | 196 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Cavalier | 243 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Cavalier | 315 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Cavalier | 240 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Cavalier | 345 | 4 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1997 Cavalier | 540 | 7 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Cavalier | 503 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Cavalier | 270 | 4 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cavalier years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (678) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cavalier year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Cavalier?
Electrical System, with 1,041 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Cavalier have?
19 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.