Chevrolet Cavalier Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 573 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier across 11 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (117). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (16% of reports).
- 573engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%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.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 91 of 573 complaints (16%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Chevrolet Cavalier at $2,000, and half of them between $1,500 and $5,000.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2009), 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 engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 167 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 573 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 9 an injury.
Chevrolet Cavalier engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 6 | 2% | 52,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 15 | 5% | 30,000 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 43 | 6% | 52,500 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 22 | 11% | 54,000 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 29 | 12% | 67,000 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 54 | 17% | 56,000 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 44 | 18% | 61,200 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 55 | 16% | 65,000 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 106 | 20% | 75,000 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 117 | 23% | 94,000 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 82 | 30% | 73,306 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet Cavalier. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The first incident that occur was in 2009. It was that the switch of the key engine did not want to start. Someone came to fix it but could not find a way to repair it. He had to add a button under the steering wheel and i would be tuning the key to the engine to start i would have to push that…
Was in the fast lane and car shut off and tried to restart but it would not. Was stuck in the road cars honking car would not restart. *tr
1999 chevrolet cavalier. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems and vehicle sometimes emits white smoke through the vents. *smd the consumer stated the transmission and radiator needed to be serviced. Also, a serpentine belt and fuel pan was needed.
This car has been lovingly cared for since it was new. The underbody is perfect but the subframe (engine cradle) is badly rusted, with pitting, scaling and a rusted through hole. I am heartbroken! This car is very nice but now i can't drive it. *tr
Was at a stop light and car just konked out and would not start again. I tried and tried but to no avail. Had to push it into a gas station about 100 yards, not easy as a 50 year old female (no one stopped to help me, just sped by). I have seen hundreds of complaints on-line that this has been an…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cavaliers have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 573 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling 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 engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,000 (half paid between $1,500 and $5,000), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 91 of 573 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Cavalier problems
- Electrical System problems (1,041)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (479)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (387)
- Steering problems (349)
- Air Bags problems (321)
- Power Train problems (261)
- Visibility problems (240)
- Exterior Lighting problems (169)
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems.