Chevrolet Cavalier Structure Problems
Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier across 11 model years. The 1998 model year has the most (28). The words owners use most often: “sub frame” (7% of reports).
- 166structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 31%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.
- Sub frame: mentioned in 11 of 166 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do structure problems happen?
Based on 72 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 166 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 a fire.
Chevrolet Cavalier structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 14 | 5% | 35,500 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 13 | 4% | 51,544 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 11 | 2% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 9 | 5% | 62,000 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 14 | 6% | 82,350 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 27 | 9% | 64,941 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 8 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 28 | 8% | 138,300 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 20 | 4% | 127,500 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 13 | 3% | 106,000 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 9 | 3% | 66,406 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Structure:body
Model years: 1997
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with mis-located welds at the joint between the left rocker panel inner reinforcement and the body side ring. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 214, "side door strength."
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the sheet metal structure would not perform as desired increasing the risk of personal injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the welds and, if necessary, place five welds between the involved panels and apply primer and topcoat finish materials.
Structure:frame and members
Model years: 1995
Problem: Some welds were omitted from the body lock pillar, or "b" pillar. This does not comply with fmvss no.208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: if a vehicle crash should occur, occupant protection levels could be reduced.
Fix: All vehicles in this recall campaign have been repurchased and replaced with a comparable vehicle.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Ignition gets very hot when key is turned can smell plastic ignition or batt 1 circuit problem.clearcoat is peeling.lug nuts coming loose
I heard vibration by the rear drivers side wheel. I inspected the vehicle and noticed i could actually move (wobble) the wheel, it came loose from the frame according to 3 car shops. I even took it to a chevy dealership, it was deemed unsafe to drive. Also the frame is completely corroded, there…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the dashboard of the vehicle was fractured and deteriorating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts being unavailable. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the dashboard was disintegrating. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 80,000.updated 10/13/16 *bf
The whole front dash has many cracks in it and appears to be danger since pieces are flying off as i drive.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Cavaliers have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 166 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “sub frame”, in 11 of 166 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Cavalier problems
- Electrical System problems (1,041)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (573)
- Fuel System, Gasoline problems (479)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (387)
- Steering problems (349)
- Air Bags problems (321)
- Power Train problems (261)
- Visibility problems (240)
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems.