Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 1,041 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier across 11 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (211). The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (10% of reports).
- 1,041electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 14mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $760typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%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 107 of 1,041 complaints (10%)
- Temperature gauge: mentioned in 72 of 1,041 complaints (7%)
- Instrument cluster: mentioned in 63 of 1,041 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Chevrolet Cavalier at $760, and half of them between $600 and $1,050.
Based on 77 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 562 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,041 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 67 a fire, 14 an injury.
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 (2)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
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.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997
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.
There is a recall on the vehicle I need to get fixed.
My car has the same problem with the instrument cluster that was recalled for other gm vehicles. The fuel level gauge, temperature gauge, rpm, speedometer.... None of my gauges work. They gave the wrong readings, the hand wouldn't return to their starting positions, then the hands went lower than…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the gear shift was difficult to move and the lever became stuck. Occasionally, the key became stuck in the ignition and the gear shift would not go into gear. Also, the hood was hot, the engine overheated, and the vehicle…
My mom was driving the car as normal down the road one day and all the guages in the entire dash suddenly stopped working. Some came back on and off a couple weeks. Some never did. But after a couple months all stopped working and now nothing works. No heat guage, no fuel guage, no temp guage, no…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cavalier. On several occasions, while driving, the instrument panel failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, and tachometer were inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cavaliers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,041 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chevrolet Cavalier. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners report a typical cost of $760 (half paid between $600 and $1,050), from 77 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 107 of 1,041 complaints, followed by “temperature gauge” (72).
Other Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems.