Chevrolet Cavalier: Best and Worst Years by Complaints
No Chevrolet Cavalier model years from 2008 to 2023 have at least 25 NHTSA complaints; at least 3 are needed to compare years. Newer years are compared once their first three years of complaints are in.
This comparison uses only NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. It is not a reliability verdict: complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and complaints are unverified consumer reports. An open NHTSA investigation is shown separately; it is not a finding.
All Cavalier years compared
Score 0–100, where 50 is a typical Cavalier year: complaints relative to all vehicles of the same model year (which allows for the era and for time on the road), weighted for crashes, fires, injuries and recalls and for how early the problems appear. Model years 2008 to 2023 with at least 25 complaints are compared; newer years are too new to compare. Methodology
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Median mi | Score (50 = typical) | Compared with other years | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 287 | 0 | 66,630 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 330 | 1 | 51,931 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 678 | 1 | 62,204 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 196 | 0 | 53,503 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 243 | 1 | 49,310 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 315 | 2 | 58,500 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 240 | 2 | 64,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 345 | 4 | 82,525 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 540 | 7 | 84,101 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 503 | 7 | 87,500 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 270 | 4 | 82,500 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 212 | 1 | 95,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 146 | 1 | 81,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 134 | 1 | 120,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 55 | 2 | 112,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 55 | 0 | 173,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 43 | 1 | 106,000 | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
← All Chevrolet Cavalier model years
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.