Safety ratings
1991 Chevrolet Cavalier 4-DR
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (3)
- STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTSCampaign 91V165000 · 23/09/1991
FRONT DOOR INTERLOCK STRIKER MAY FAIL, CAUSING DOOR FRAME COLLAPSE AND INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE.
Risk: THE DOOR FRAME WOULD COLLAPSE. VEHICLE DOES NOT COMPLYWITH FMVSS 210.
Fix: REPLACE THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT INTERLOCK STRIKER STUDS ON FRONT DOORS.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINECampaign 06E043000 · 19/05/2006
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
- SEAT BELTSCampaign 92V003000 · 10/01/1992
THE FRONT DOOR SHOULDER BELT GUIDE LOOPS MAY BE CRACKED AND ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 208.
Risk: THE SEAT OCCUPANT FACES INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Fix: INSTALL REINFORCING PLATES ON THE CRACKED SHOULDER BELT GUIDES.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
- SERVICE BRAKES8
- HYDRAULIC8
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
- SEATS7
- STEERING5
- VISIBILITY5
- SEAT BELTS5
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/28/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE HARNESS. TT
- 12/20/1998· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMCrash
STEERING STIFFENED/LOCKED AS DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, CAUSING MINOR CONTACT WITH ADJACENT PARKED VEHICLE. FOLLOWING CONTACT, VEHICLE STOPPED AND STEERING WHEEL REALIGNED (WITH GREAT EFFORT) TO COMPLETE PARKING. AFTER PARKING, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER STARTING (ONLY 1-2 SECONDS). AFTER LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE, SERVICE REP STATED HE "KNEW WHAT HAPPENED" WHEN INCIDENT DESCRIBED AND VEHICLE IDENTIFIED AS '91 CAVALIER. IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NO PROBLEM SINCE. VEHICLE REPAIR COST $327; DAMAGE TO ADJACENT VEHICLE $450. I THINK THIS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MODE, INVOLVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT. AS A MINIMUM, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS AND DAMAGES.
- 12/10/2003· WHEELS
WHILE TIGHTENING UP THE LUG NUTS ON THE WHEEL, PIECES OF METAL SHEARED OFF AND DROPPED SMALL PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND. *AK THE LUG NUTS IN QUESTION WERE NEWLY PURCHASED. PART#254 ABN 10.9 MANUFACTURED BY R+B INC. *SCC *JB
- 11/13/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEFECTIVE FAN MOTOR MELTED WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
- 11/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR.
- 11/01/1996· STEERING,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
- 11/01/1996· SEATSCrash
SON DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SNOW-COVERED ROAD WITH LITTLE STRREET LIGHTING, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE VEERED OFF ROAD AND STRUCK A TREE, DRIVER'S SEATBACK FAILED AND DRIVER WAS EJECTED BACKWARD THROUGH REAR WINDOW AND WAS KILLED. *AK
- 11/01/1996· EQUIPMENT
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
- 10/27/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL PAN FAILED.
- 10/26/1999· STEERING
WHILE DRIVING A PIN WITHIN THE TILT STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE,NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 10/21/1997· SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME WELD BROKE. *AK
- 10/16/1996· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE IN STOP POSITION VEHICLE RPMS REVVED UP, THEN LURCHED FORWARD, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK
- 10/10/1998· STRUCTURE
PAINT PEELING OFF VEHICLE.
- 10/06/1993· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH PADDING REPLACED DUE TO WARPING. *AW
- 09/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE HARD TO STOP AND LOCK UP TOO. YH
- 09/28/2000· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY; THIS COULD RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND REDUCED DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. *AK CAUSED BY BAD WIPER PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS THAT ARE LOCATED IN A SEALED COMPARTMENT, IT GETS DAMAGED BY WATER. *YH
- 09/27/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTER WAS REPLACED, AND DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STARTER TO COM ELOOSE/ SHAKE. BOLTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- 09/25/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THE GURDRAIL. THE CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. *AK
- 09/24/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, PE93-090, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE.*AK
- 09/22/1999· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT DURING OPERATION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
- 09/17/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE STARTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, ONCE IN DECEMBER OF 96, IN FEBRUARY OF 97 AT 70,000 MILES. BECAUSE THE OVERRUN CLUTCH BURNS OUT, THE STARTER IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR THE SAME REASON AT 89,000 MILES. THE FLYWHEEL HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 97 BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
- 09/11/1996· SEAT BELTS
THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT GOES OVER THE BUTTON ON THE FEMALE PART HAS COME OFF, MAKING IT EASY TO UNBUCKLE AND HARDER TO BUCKLE PROPERLY.*AK
- 08/26/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WITHOUT ADDING PRESSURE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, ONLY OPERATE WHEN HOLDING IGNITION SWITCH.
- 08/25/2003· TIRES
NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD ALMOST GOT THERE WHEN I HEARD A BANG ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND SAW THE TREAD FLY OFF BACK BEHIND FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. TIRE STAYED AIRED UP AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE I80, AND PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT. I GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE GROUND EFFECTS ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WERE HANGING BY LIKE ONE SCREW. THE TIRE WAS STILL AIRED UP BUT THERE WAS NO TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. IT RIPPED HALF OF MY FRONT BUMPER OFF DENTED MY FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND DRIVERS DOOR AND GROUND EFFECTS WERE DESTROYED. FIRESTONE ,P205/60R15 90S M+S FIREHAWK SS10 MY CAR 1991 CHEVROLET, Z24 CAVALIER. *AK
- 08/25/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
WHILE DRIVING DOWN 25-35MPH VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP FILTER. *AK
- 08/17/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE WINDSHEILD WIPER STOPPED WORK AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. TT
- 08/15/2000· VISIBILITY
THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PART.
- 08/09/1996· SEATS
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE IS BROKEN, CAUSING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT TO MOVE. *AK
- 08/02/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
DRIVER'S SIDE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED FUNCTIONING AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED FROM THE BACK OF THE DASH FOREWARD. FRONT SUSPENSION MELTED AND THE FRONT BRAKES FUSED INTO ONE PIECE.
- 07/30/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire
THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
- 07/22/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE TRAVELING THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMANTION. *AK
- 06/30/1998· SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS ON PASSENGER SIDE ARE CRACKED. NOTICED RECALL ON WEBSITE (#92V003000). CALLED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD BY BOTH VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
- 06/24/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
REAR DISK BRAKE CALIPERS FROZEN CAUSING FAILURE.
- 06/23/1995· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED, CAUSING REAR HATCH DOOR TO POP OPEN ON ITS OWN; NO WARNING. TT
- 06/22/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STARTER AND FLYWHEEL BECOME NOISY AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START.
- 06/20/1996· SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK COLLAPSED DURING ACCIDENT/EJECTING DRIVER FROM VEHICLE. *SD
- 06/09/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROM FAILURE.
- 06/08/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
AFTER SLIGHTLY BUMPING A PARKING STOPPER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STUCK OPEN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY TAKE OFF, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
- 06/05/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY AT HIGH AND LOW BEAM. TT
- 05/21/1996· SEAT BELTS
FAILURE ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND LEFT REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE, SEAT BELT COMES OUT OF THE BUCKLE. *AK
- 05/11/1995· POWER TRAIN
TRANSAXLE FAILURE. *AK
- 04/04/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES REPLACED 5 TIMES. *AW
- 03/26/1997· SEATS
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK AND ANCHOR FAILURE, SEAT BRACKETS CRACKED/BROKE ON BOTH SIDES, CAUSING SEAT TO MOVE/ROCK REARWARD, AS A RESULT, FOOT CAME OFF PEDAL AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT. *AK
- 03/26/1996· SEATSCrash
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SCHOOL BUS. *AK
- 03/14/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SMOKE EMINATING FROM STEERING COLUMN DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN TAILIGHT WIRE.
- 03/12/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire
OWNER STATES THAT AFTER 45 MINUTES WHEN THE CAR WAS LEFT AFTER IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN VEHICE BLEW UP, CAUSING A MELT DOWN, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK
- 03/01/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, INTIALLY DASH AND REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT DUE TO SHORT. *AK
- 03/01/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURE, INITIALLY DASH AND REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, ALSO DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT DUE TO SHORT
- 02/28/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE HORN CAME OFF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING. *AK
- 02/26/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED.