Chevrolet Cavalier Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 261 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier across 11 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “clutch pedal” (6% of reports).
- 261power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 24%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.
- Clutch pedal: mentioned in 15 of 261 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 86 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 261 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury.
Chevrolet Cavalier power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 16 | 6% | 58,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 23 | 7% | 45,000 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 16 | 2% | 10,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 13 | 7% | 38,350 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 34 | 14% | 51,763 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 26 | 8% | 42,156 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 20 | 8% | 68,527 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 16 | 5% | 40,000 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 26 | 5% | 47,513 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 54 | 11% | 78,000 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 17 | 6% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train 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.
Transmission failed out of nowhere for no reason no check engine light yes available for inspection
In the parking lot where i work my car would not start. When moving the automatic transmission lever it did not catch on to anything. The car just rolled backwards and i had to immediately press on the brakes preventing an accident. My car had to be towed to the auto shop. Diagnosis: shifter cable…
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.
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…
Bought used had 109000 first time the clutch went out on me i was exhilarating to move into heavy freeway traffic and it goes out, especially as a young woman i was very scarred for my life to this day i have nightmares, got it fixed but no really cause it still does it we just have to keep putting…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cavaliers have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 261 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “clutch pedal”, in 15 of 261 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems.