RoadVitals

1991 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Sep 27, 1999
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
31%
of 55 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Sep 27, 1999

STARTER WAS REPLACED, AND DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STARTER TO COM ELOOSE/ SHAKE. BOLTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848793
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 21, 1999

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR A TEENAGE DRIVER. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $L,000 TO BRING IT UP TO SPEED - FUEL FILTER, OIL & AIR FILTERS, SERPENTINE BELT RADIATOR IGNITION SWITCH (KEY & TUMBLER), TIRES, FRONT BRAKE PADS, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, REAR BRAKE SHOES. IT WILL SOON NEED A NEW MUFFLER, AND MY MECHANIC NOW INFORMS ME THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. HE SAID HE SEES QUITE A FEW OF CAVALIERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WONDERS IF THERE IS A SILENT RECALL THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THE POSSIBLE $600.00 COST TO REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID
701195
Incident
Jul 23, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 20, 1998
Crash reported

STEERING STIFFENED/LOCKED AS DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, CAUSING MINOR CONTACT WITH ADJACENT PARKED VEHICLE. FOLLOWING CONTACT, VEHICLE STOPPED AND STEERING WHEEL REALIGNED (WITH GREAT EFFORT) TO COMPLETE PARKING. AFTER PARKING, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER STARTING (ONLY 1-2 SECONDS). AFTER LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE, SERVICE REP STATED HE "KNEW WHAT HAPPENED" WHEN INCIDENT DESCRIBED AND VEHICLE IDENTIFIED AS '91 CAVALIER. IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NO PROBLEM SINCE. VEHICLE REPAIR COST $327; DAMAGE TO ADJACENT VEHICLE $450. I THINK THIS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MODE, INVOLVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT. AS A MINIMUM, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS AND DAMAGES.

NHTSA ID
701480
Incident
Dec 15, 1998
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 26, 1998

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WITHOUT ADDING PRESSURE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, ONLY OPERATE WHEN HOLDING IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA ID
539379
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 1998
Fire reported

DRIVER'S SIDE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED FUNCTIONING AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED FROM THE BACK OF THE DASH FOREWARD. FRONT SUSPENSION MELTED AND THE FRONT BRAKES FUSED INTO ONE PIECE.

NHTSA ID
538970
Incident
Jul 3, 1998
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 27, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604563
Electrical
Filed Sep 17, 1997

THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE IN DECEMBER OF 96, IN FEBRUARY OF 97 AT 70,000 MILES. BECAUSE THE OVERRUN CLUTCH BURNS OUT, THE STARTER IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME REASON AT 89,000 MILES. THE FLYWHEEL HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 97 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
816414
Incident
Dec 12, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 9, 1997

PROM FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
518256
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
ElectricalSteeringVisibility
Filed Nov 1, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
510934
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 24, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, PE93-090, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
801969
Incident
Aug 22, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 30, 1996
Fire reported

THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986748
Incident
Jun 29, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 1, 1996

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, INTIALLY DASH AND REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT DUE TO SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ID
980108
Electrical
Filed Feb 28, 1996

VEHICLE HORN CAME OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
979832
Incident
Feb 25, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 28, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE HARNESS. TT

NHTSA ID
977133
Incident
Dec 25, 1995
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 17, 1995

THE WINDSHEILD WIPER STOPPED WORK AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. TT

NHTSA ID
970603
Electrical
Filed Jan 30, 1995
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO CATCH FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
959281
Incident
Dec 28, 1994
Electrical
Filed Jan 4, 1995

DISTRIBUTOR BECOMES WET AND FAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
958216
Incident
Dec 1, 1994

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Interior & seats9Engine8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .