1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 60,714 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (13% of reports).
- 100electrical system complaints
- 60,714median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 13 of 100 complaints (13%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 6 of 100 complaints (6%)
- Further information: mentioned in 5 of 100 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 13 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 100 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 9 a fire.
Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 211 | 74% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 185 | 56% | 54,100 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 106 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 35 | 18% | 64,416 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 56 | 23% | 76,305 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 69 | 22% | 59,700 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 47 | 20% | 57,107 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 66 | 19% | 78,484 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 107 | 20% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 100 | 20% | 60,714 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 59 | 22% | 89,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. 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 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
This car shuts off while driving like the gm cars being mentioned in the news today. Started in 2005 and was evaluated by multiple mechanics including a chevrolet dealership that kept it over a month. It doesn't show a code when it happens. It randomly shuts off while you are driving (varied…
There's alot of stuff wrong with this car. It ran good and is reliable when running,but recently stop running. *tr
Yes car will turn over but won't start it does this at time or u can press the gas to try and start interior light don't work. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Chevrolet Cavaliers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 100 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier (20% of the 503 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 60,714 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 13 of 100 complaints, followed by “caught fire” (6).
Other 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier problems or electrical system problems across all Cavalier years.