1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 64about this part
- Share
- 12%of 540 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,650miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 64 complaints about the brakes of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 12% of the 540 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,650 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Sold my 1997 chev. Cavalier to a 17 year old girl. Her dad took car for test drive before cash purchase. He went 200 feet down the street then backed up into my driveway. He said brake warning lite came on and brake pedal went to floor. We saw brake fluid pouring from under car. The brake line was rusted and blew out. I took the car to tuffy auto center and they spliced new brake lines to fix. I was shocked to see that plain steel lines were routed underneath the car and exposed to all kinds of corrosive elements. …”
NHTSA complaint #10420729, filed 2011-08, 65,300 miles“I heard of a recent recall concerning the ABS braking system on GM vehicles. It sounds like what has happened to my son''s 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. When coming to a stop at below 10 miles per hour, for no reason the ABS system kicked in making it very difficult to stop safely. I had to pull the fuse and by-pass the system to make the car safe to drive again.”
NHTSA complaint #10146874, filed 2006-01“This is an ongoing problem with the front rotors becoming warped after about 15,000 to 20,000 miles of use. I went to the dealer twice under warrenty and both times they turned the roters. I have since replaced the roters and brake pads three times. I think this is highly unusual. I fear someday the braking system will completly fail.”
NHTSA complaint #714333, filed 1999-11“My ABS light went on after I had the brakes done. This occured several weeks after. My mechanic look at it and said the computer board was broken and it would be expensive. So now the automatic braking system does not work.”
NHTSA complaint #10091375, filed 2004-09“The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that when engaging the brakes, all the brake fluid leaked from the brake line. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated the brake lines were corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000 and the current mileage was 118,500. The VIN was unavailable.”
NHTSA complaint #10594847, filed 2014-05, 118,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10208027Jan 14, 2022This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester…
- 10023171Oct 31, 2007Abs pump running when not needed.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 | 6% |
| 2004 | 14 | 4% |
| 2003 | 34 | 5% |
| 2002 | 29 | 15% |
| 2001 | 42 | 17% |
| 2000 | 45 | 14% |
| 1999 | 51 | 21% |
| 1998 | 59 | 17% |
| 1997 | 64 | 12% |
| 1996 | 60 | 12% |
| 1995 | 26 | 10% |
| 1994 | 65 | 31% |
| 1993 | 53 | 36% |
| 1992 | 51 | 38% |
| 1991 | 5 | 9% |
| 1990 | 2 | 4% |
| 1989 | 4 | 9% |
| 1988 | 1 | 8% |
| 1987 | 2 | 8% |
Other parts of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
107 complaintsEngine cooling
106 complaintsSteering
83 complaintsAir bags
78 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
40 complaintsOther or unknown
28 complaintsSuspension
27 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsBody and structure
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology