RoadVitals

1995 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
270
Latest Nov 24, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
42
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 9, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 270 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 270 · page 1 of 11

Electrical
Filed Nov 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO STAY IN THE RUN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,636.

NHTSA ID
10660577
Incident
Sep 7, 2014
Mileage
207,636 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTING SEVERELY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ UPDATED 3/29/12 *CN

NHTSA ID
10424056
Incident
Sep 7, 2011
Mileage
60,800 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. LATER THAT DAY, THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA ID
10247351
Incident
May 17, 2004
Mileage
48,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 7, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION AND ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,340 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10223589
Incident
Apr 5, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesEngine
Filed Jul 12, 2007

I BOUGHT A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER NEW, IN JULY 1995. I HAD THE FOLLOWING MAJOR REPAIRS DONE ON THE CAR. ON 8/97 -ENTIRE EXHAUST FROM CONVERTER BACK BAD BAFFLED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 10/97-SERPENTINE BELT/ROTORS/ALTERNATOR & RECALL ON HAZARD LIGHTS UNDER WARRANTY. 4/00-HEAD GASKET,SEAL,OIL,FILTER,COOLANT;RECALL ON COVER,SHIELD,RETAINER,SEALANT (DEALER COVERED COSTS UNDER A SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT. 4/00-EGR VALVE 10/00-ADJUST SERPENTINE BELT;REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT 10/01-REPLACE BACK BRAKE PADS,CLEAN FRONT PADS 05/02-REPLACE FAN BELT & TENSIONER;RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH 06/02-BROKEN FORWARD CLUTCH HOUSING,CLUTCH,GASKETS,FLUID,LEFT FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY 07/02-REPLACE BATTERY,BAD CELL DUE TO CAR SITTING FOR SO LONG DURING PREVIOUS REPAIR 12/03-WATER PUMP, HEAD GASKET, THERMOSTAT,OIL,FILTER,COOLANT $461.79-50% OF BILL REIMBURSED BY CHEVROLET UPON WRITTEN REQUEST 07/03-REAR BRAKES; 08/04-RESISTOR (BLOWER MOTOR, 09/04-ALTERNATOR 07/05-FRONT ROTORS & PADS; 06/06-REAR BRAKE LINE 06/07-WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION-FRAME RUSTING OUT. REAR BUMPER SUPPORT FRAME MUST BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION, MORE FRAME REPAIR WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED FOR NEXT INSPECTION;HEAD GASKET IS STARTING TO SEEP AGAIN THIRD HEAD GASKET. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET TWICE BY THEIR E-MAIL SITE IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS AND HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE. SITE CLAIMS RESPONSE WILL BE WITHIN 48 HOURS. I ASKED FOR REPAIR COSTS FOR REAR FRAME SUPPORT, HEAD GASKET OR A VOUCHER FOR CREDIT TOWARD A NEW/NEWER VEHICLE. POINTED OUT THE PROBLEM OF THE THIRD HEAD GASKET, THAT FRAME RUSTED ON A CAR ONLY 12 YEARS OLD THAT JUST LAST MONTH TURNED 72,000 MILES. ALSO, POINTED OUT THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A PROTECTIVE UNDERCOUNTS WHICH I AGREED TO. WHEN I READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL IT STATED NOT APPLY *AK

NHTSA ID
10196202
Incident
Jun 22, 2007
Mileage
72,012 mi
Fuel systemInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 21, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE GAS GAUGE IDLED BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL THE GAUGE IDLED FROM FULL TO A QUARTER THEN BACK TO FULL. IT ALSO IDLED FROM A HALF TANK, QUARTER TANK THEN TO EMPTY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TRUNK, IT FAILED TO CLOSE DUE TO THE LINK AND LATCH MOVING OUT OF PLACE (NOT ALIGNED). THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED HER TRUNK TO OPEN RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE STRUTS. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 179850.

NHTSA ID
10191386
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
179,850 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2006

CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *KB. NAR NO ADDRESS PROVIDED. THE CONSUMER HAD VALVE WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10160507
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2006

MASSIVE LEAKS OF COOLANT DUE TO FAULTY GASKET CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS CONSTANT RUNNING THROUGH A BOTTLE OF ANTIFREEZE A DAY B/C OF SAID LEAK. *NM

NHTSA ID
10155499
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
149,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2006
Fire reported

1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LOST POWER, WHEN COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10148638
Incident
Aug 15, 2005
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

I SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER IN THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ROLLED OVER 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS THROWN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140331
Incident
Oct 16, 2005
Engine
Filed Feb 7, 2005

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TURNING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY, INFORMING THE OWNER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED COOLANT. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW HEAD GASKET. THEN, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10110949
Incident
Feb 7, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 19, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10097179
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Engine
Filed May 7, 2004

IN JANUARY 2004 THE CHECK COOLANT GUAGE WOULD LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY, THEN ON A DAILY BASIS, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC HAD FOUND THAT THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM THE RADIATOR AND HAD ADVISED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10068463
Incident
Jan 30, 2004
Mileage
82,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2004
Fire reported

FIRE UNDER HOOD - HAD THE RECALL IGNITION WORK DONE ON 09/23/2003 WHILE GETTING THE FIFTH ALTERNATOR REPLACED SINCE MARCH OF 2002. ON 03/28/2004 CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES. FINALLY STARTED, DROVE APPROX. 2 MILES WHEN SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, PARKED AND RAISED HOOD, FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHER. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I READ ABOUT IN THE RECALL NOTICE BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION. CALLED DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK WHO STATED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A FIRE AFTER THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10064304
Incident
Mar 28, 2004
Mileage
168,006 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 26, 2004

LEFT TURN AND BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS. POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. CAR SHAKES BADLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063935
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2003

AS DESCRIBED IN PRIOR DEFECT REPORTS, E.G. 98054A, MY CAVALIER HAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET. HOWEVER, SINCE IT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THE DEALER & MFR HAVE REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. I'M FACED WITH A HEFTY REPAIR BILL FOR A KNOWN MFR'S DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10030736
Incident
May 1, 1995
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THEY STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AFTER THE RECALL ON HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN PERFORM ON VEHICLE. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. KYLE CHEVROLET 860-872-6530. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026593
Incident
Jul 2, 2003
Visibility
Filed Jun 26, 2003

THE DEFROSTER DIDN'T WORK. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10026168
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 24, 2003

SINCE THE END OF AUGUST 2002, MY CAR HAS BEEN FALLING APART. IT ALL STARTED WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD FREON PUT BACK INTO IT, BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE FREON WAS GONE. THE MECHANIC PUT A DYE INTO THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LEAK, BUT HE COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. OIL IS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKETS. NOW, IT IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING PERIODICALLY. I WAS IN CAMDEN WHEN IT WOULDN'T START. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I START THE CAR, A CLICKING NOISE COMES FROM THE STARTER. OH YEAH, I HAD THE STARTER "FIXED" A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM MY ALTERNATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE ALTERNATOR OR THE STARTER THAT'S KEEPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY CAR AND THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10023723
Incident
Aug 14, 2002
Mileage
85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 13, 2003
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10024029
Incident
Jun 11, 2003
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2003

NUMBER ONE PISTON ROD BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW AND A BASEBALL SIZE HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. ENTIRE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID
10021261
Incident
May 29, 2003
Mileage
81,134 mi
Engine
Filed May 16, 2003

THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE GASKET BUT A LEAK WAS STILL PRESENT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10019983
Engine
Filed Apr 28, 2003

THE ENGINE STALLED, THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017658
Incident
Mar 25, 2003
Mileage
88,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 28, 2003

THE IGNITION FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN AND KEY TO GET HOT WHILE IN USE. *JB..*AK

NHTSA ID
10014678
Incident
Feb 12, 2003
Mileage
93,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 14, 2003

THE RIGHT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10011842
Incident
Mar 14, 2003

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.

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