RoadVitals

1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
56
Latest May 7, 2004
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.
26%
of 212 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 56 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 56, in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed May 7, 2004

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM EVER SINCE I GOT IT. IT CONSISTENTLY OVER- HEATS, LEAKS COOLANT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE FAN. MY CAR FINALLY BROKE DOWN FROM IT AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF MORE DOLLARS TOGET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I HAVE 2 FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE EXACT SAME CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM SO SICK OF TAKING THIS CAR IN FOR PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN BELT AND PARALLEL PULLIES, WHICH I WAS TOLD BY AAA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10068443
Incident
May 6, 2004
Mileage
83,334 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2003

HEAD GASKET LEAKING NEEDED REPLACED IN1998 AT 43445, THEN STARTED LEAKING IN 2002 AT 74847.

NHTSA ID
10039409
Incident
Nov 18, 2002
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 2003

LOWER RADIATOR HOSE RUBBED ON MOTOR MOUNT AND WORE THROUGH THE METAL ON THE HOSE, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND ENGINE COOLING FAILURE. HOSE WAS IN GOOD SHAPE EXCEPT FOR THIS. NEW HOSE IS STILL RUBBING. NO APPARENT WAY TO MOUNT IT DIFFERENTLY. *AK SECOND COMPLAINT. AIR CONDITIONING EXTERNAL RUNOFF OFTEN RUNS INTO CAR UNDER PASSENGER MAT INSTEAD OF OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID
10025204
Incident
May 4, 2003
Mileage
184,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Apr 10, 2002

CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB SINCE THEY INSTALLED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE FRONT AND VICE VERSA. *JB

NHTSA ID
564993
Incident
Jun 14, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2001

EACH TIME THEY ADMIT THAT IT IS A PROBLEM AND THEY GIVE A "DISCOUNT" I FEEL THEY NEED TO PAY I AM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. PLEASE HELP I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM HELP.*AK

NHTSA ID
744624
Incident
May 12, 1994
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2001

HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSING LEAKAGE. *JB

NHTSA ID
560796
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2001

LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING ON 2.2L ENGINE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANY, AND NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
884731
Incident
Mar 21, 2001
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 14, 2001

UPON COMING TO A STOP ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
883066
Engine
Filed Feb 13, 2001

HEAD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SIDE, THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, GASKET IS LEAKING AGAIN. CJ

NHTSA ID
559615
Incident
Nov 1, 1997
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2001

ENGINE PISTONS WERE 2K UNDERSIZED, CAUSING ENGINE TO KNOCK. DEALER HAS REPLACED PISTONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
879311
Engine
Filed Jan 18, 2001

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN TWICE. CHEVROLET HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY ON 1995-1998 CAVALIERS AND 1994 IN CANDA ONLY. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD REQUESTED THE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *YH

NHTSA ID
878488
Incident
Sep 25, 1998
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2001

3 TEETH OF FLYWHEEL BROKE OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOUSING OF STARTER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
878122
Engine
Filed Jan 4, 2001

HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK. NLM

NHTSA ID
785231
Incident
Jan 4, 2001
Engine
Filed Dec 12, 2000

WILL CONTACT DEALER SERVICE AND MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
737697
Incident
Dec 12, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 9, 2000

WHILE CHANGING THE OIL I NOTICED A RUST LINE DOWN THE ENGINE BLOCK WHERE THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND ENGINE BLOCK MEET. THERE IS A DISTINCT LEAK AT THAT SECTION OF THE HEAD/BLOCK WHERE THEY MEET. *AK

NHTSA ID
737568
Incident
Dec 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2000

TIMING BELT BROKE, RESULTING IN 1200.00 REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
732886
Incident
Sep 23, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 16, 2000

WHILE DRIVING BATTERY DIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND THEY SAID FLYWHEEL BROKE.*AK

NHTSA ID
867925
Incident
Jan 1, 1994
Engine
Filed May 22, 2000

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FAILED TWICE. YH

NHTSA ID
552337
Incident
Dec 6, 1999
Engine
Filed Apr 18, 2000

ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE PREMATURELY BROKEN, CAUSING ENGINE TO RISE WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
860513
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 27, 2000

THE HEAD GASKET CYLINDER IS LEAKING. YH

NHTSA ID
551584
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2000

COOLANT LEAKS CONSTANTLY.*AK.

NHTSA ID
720071
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Body & structureBrakesEngine+1 more
Filed Mar 13, 2000

REPLACED DRIVER-SIDE BEARING-HUB ASSEMBLY ONCE AND PASS.- SIDE 3 TIMES IN 2 1/2 YEARS. ENGINE OVERHEATS VERY EASILY AND STALLS WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING/BRAKING, ETC. ABS BRAKES ARE NOT ENGAGING 3/4 OF THE TIME. REAR PASS.-SIDE LOCK WILL NOT ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY.

NHTSA ID
720045
Incident
Aug 19, 1997
Engine
Filed Feb 21, 2000

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES. *ET

NHTSA ID
784522
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2000

VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING DUE TO LOSS OF COOLANT LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
857156
Incident
Jan 20, 1999
Engine
Filed Dec 15, 1999

I AM AWARE THAT THE '92 & '93 MODELS ARE COVERED FOR THE SAME ENGINE, SAME PROBLEM. SHOULDN'T THE '94 MODELS BE COVERED SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM? *AK

NHTSA ID
716089
Incident
Feb 23, 1998

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .