Chevrolet Cavalier Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 4,654 consumer complaints across the 21 model years of the Chevrolet Cavalier (1984–2005) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 678. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (1,162 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

Best and worst Cavalier years →

All Cavalier model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

• Electrical system1,162 26%
• Engine cooling717 16%
• Brakes623 14%
• Fuel system616 14%
• Steering398 8.9%
• Air bags328 7.4%
• Transmission and drivetrain311 7.0%
• Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)296 6.7%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

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