1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cavalier years
- Fewer complaints than other years 10th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 240 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier. That ranks 10th out of 11 Cavalier model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (47 complaints, 20%), typically at around 57,107 miles. Complaints mention 27 crashes, 2 fires, 17 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 240owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 27complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 47 | 20% | 57,107 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 45 | 19% | 83,044 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 44 | 18% | 61,200 | — | — |
| Steering | 31 | 13% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 24 | 10% | 96,044 | — | — |
| Power Train | 20 | 8% | 68,527 | — | — |
| Visibility | 15 | 6% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 5% | 59,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 5% | 47,592 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 4% | 92,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 4% | 29,346 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 8 | 3% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 2% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 2% | 70,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 160,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | 320,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 1% | 179,000 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 29,346 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1% | 188,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 1% | 108,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: 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.
Interior lighting
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the instrument panel is not lit at night, the driver may not be able to see the controls and displays.
Fix: Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Engine shakes when first started n when idling, but not when driving. Hoses n belts r not in good shape. Not sure about the air bags but seen on this site that there was a problem. I have seen that there are or where, quit a few recalls that were not taken care of. Especially safety ones.
I was on my way to my dentist appointment, suddenly a hissing noise came from the car.all of the dashboard lights came on and i knew i was in trouble.i was on a busy intersection in the city.i had to act in a split second and steer quickly off of the nearest side ride.the steering wheel was locking…
Takata recall: fuel gage nas never worked since being bought, turn signals ( both right and left) barely worked when bought and went out completly the next day, power steering locks up occasionally and and cant turn wheel,shift gear linkages will only shift manually under the hood, car will die or…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet cavalier. While driving approximately 35 mph and depressing the brake pedal to make a sudden stop, the pedal traveled to the floorboard. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was…
Normal driving my fathers car the frame broke on the right hand side just past the lower control arm. Looks to be metal fatigue. I can send pictures if needed. *js
Other Chevrolet Cavalier years
← 1998 Cavalier · 2000 Cavalier →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 287 | 0 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 330 | 1 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 678 | 1 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 196 | 0 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 243 | 1 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 315 | 2 |
| 1999 | 240 | 2 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 345 | 4 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 540 | 7 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 503 | 7 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 270 | 4 |
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 47 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cavalier model years, the 1999 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.