1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 1%of 240 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 160,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine of the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1% of the 240 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 160,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was on my way to my dentist appointment, suddenly a hissing noise came from the car.all of the dashboard lights came on and I knew I was in trouble.I was on a busy intersection in the city.I had to act in a split second and steer quickly off of the nearest side ride.the steering wheel was locking up.I had just enough power to get safely off of the street in time and to keep from getting hit from behind.I was in motion on a city street.the car was trouble from day one.I believe it was a flooded out car sold to the unsuspectithat unsuspecting person was me.I got suckered out of over $2400. …”
NHTSA complaint #11015464, filed 2017-08, 198,000 miles“Engine shakes when first started n when idling, but not when driving. Hoses n belts r not in good shape. Not sure about the air bags but seen on this site that there was a problem. I have seen that there are or where, quit a few recalls that were not taken care of. Especially safety ones.”
NHTSA complaint #11242805, filed 2019-08, 54 miles“Takata recall: fuel gage nas never worked since being bought, turn signals ( both right and left) barely worked when bought and went out completly the next day, power steering locks up occasionally and and cant turn wheel,shift gear linkages will only shift manually under the hood, car will die or struggle to continue running unless foot is always pushing on gas, engine occassionally backfires, and not quite sure if the fuel pump is working properly or gone out”
NHTSA complaint #11005891, filed 2017-07, 160,000 milesEngine: other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
51 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsEngine cooling
44 complaintsSteering
31 complaintsAir bags
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
11 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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