Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
CONSUMER HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE STARTER AND THE USE OF A STARTER NOT DESIGNED FOR THE VEHICLE.*MR *TS. THE STARTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FROM THE AUTO STORE WAS SAID TO BE INCOMPATIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WORKED FINE. *JB
WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING UP FROM IGNITION SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND VENTS AREA. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER WAS PARKING VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH VENTS OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD FAILED RESULTING IN A FIRE. NLM
HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP 1 WEEK. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM.
ALTERNATOR FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASION, LAST TIME RESULTED IN A FIRE BLAZING FROM HOOD AND COVERING THE ENTIRE CAR.
WHILE DRIVING HORN PAD FELL OUT AND STUCK IN STEERING WHEEL, FROZE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, RIPPED OFF DIFFERENTIAL, SPEED 30 MPH, NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.. *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE.
SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD CAUSED ENGINE FIRE.
ALTERNATOR FAILURE, ALSO VERY RUSTY OIL PAN. *AK
ALTERNATOR FAILURE, ALSO VERY RUSTY OIL
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 40MPH, SUDDENLY ENGINE SHUT DOWN, NO WARNING, DUE TO COMPUTER WITHIN IGNITION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MAIN WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD CAUSED FIRE. *DSH
WHEN GOING UP A HILL, VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND HAS TO RESTART AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE PARKED, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERHOOD, RIGHT IN FRONT OF DRIVER'S; CAUSE UNKOWN; VEHICLE TOTALED; VEHICLE WITH STATE FARM INSURANCE CO. *AK
SHORTAGE IN WIRE LEADING TO MOTOR CAUSES MOTOR TO BURN UP. *DSH
AFTER PARKED 20 MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER HODD. TT
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .