crashtest

1993 / Chevrolet

1993 Chevrolet Cavalier

Safety ratings

1993 Chevrolet Cavalier 4-DR

Not ratedOverall
Not ratedFrontal crash
Not ratedSide crash
Not ratedSide pole
Not ratedRollover
Frontal, driver: 4★Frontal, passenger: 5★Rollover risk: 0.0%
  • Lane departure warningNo
  • Forward collision warningNo
  • Electronic stability controlNo

Crash test videos & photos

No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORNCampaign 96I001000 · 23/01/1996

    THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE HORN PAD.

    Risk: THE HORN PAD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FALLING BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES. THE HORN PAD COULD BECOME JAMMED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES AND THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, HORN PAD, AND HORN WIRING.

    Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HORN PAD RETENTION CLIPS, INSTALL HORN PAD RETENTION BRACKETS TO THE STEERING WHEEL, REINSTALL THE HORN PAD AND ASSURE THAT THE HORN PAD IS PROPERLY RETAINED.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSCampaign 93V121000 · 21/07/1993

    THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

    Risk: THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

    Fix: REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

Owner complaints

152
Complaints
13
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
16
Injuries
3
Deaths

Most-reported areas

  • SERVICE BRAKES47
  • HYDRAULIC47
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING36
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
  • POWER TRAIN11
  • SEAT BELTS9
  • STRUCTURE7
  • EQUIPMENT6
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

  • 12/29/1995· EQUIPMENT

    PURCHASE CAR NEW THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR WAS REPLACED, THE SIGNAL LIGHT WASN'T WORKING HAD MORE PROBLEMS WILL DESCRIBE. TT

  • 12/26/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    REPLACED THE STARTER FIVE TIMES; ALSO, TURNED ON THE HIGH BEAMS AND THEN TRIED TO TURN TO LOW BEAMS, BUT LOW BEAMS DID NOT GO ON. *AK

  • 12/23/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED OUT, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM AREA OF STEERING COLUMN, DRIVER COULD NOT TURN OFF LIGHTS, NOW, HAS NO LIGHTS. *AK

  • 12/22/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKE NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. TT

  • 12/21/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

    SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SD

  • 12/17/1996· WHEELS

    RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

  • 12/14/1995· POWER TRAIN

    AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANSMISSION IS MISSING THE FIRST GEAR, ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 20 MPH. TT

  • 12/09/1997· SEAT BELTS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESCrash

    LOCKED DOOR FLEW OPEN DURING SIDE IMPACT. SEATBELT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DOOR DID NOT RESTRAIN DCRIVER FROM BEING THROWN FROM VEHICLE . DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY. *AK

  • 12/05/1994· POWER TRAIN

    TRANSMISSION MAKES CLUNKING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. *AW

  • 12/03/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN FUSE BOX, UNDER THE DASH GETS HOT . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

  • 12/01/1998· SEATS

    DRIVER SEATBACK BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *AK

  • 11/29/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    A CRACKED HEAD ON A 2.2L ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

  • 11/27/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ANTILOCK BRAKES DEFECTIVE.

  • 11/27/1995· EQUIPMENT

    SPEAKER BRACKETS VERY SHARP CAUSING INJURIES. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

  • 11/25/1996· STRUCTURE

    WHILE DRIVING (35) MPH THE HOOD FELL OPEN AND BENT BACK OVER THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND BROKE ALL THE HINGES THAT SUPPORT THE HOOD. *AK

  • 11/18/2014· STEERING

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

  • 11/17/1998· TIRES

    CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75 MPH AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING A DENT IN THE FRONT ON THE BUMPER AND TIRE HAD TREAD ON. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WON'T FIX THE CONSUMER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEIR IS A PATCH ON THE TIRE. *AK

  • 11/15/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *AK

  • 11/13/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN WET WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WILL START TO SLOW DOWN THEN LUNGE INTO A FORWARD MOTION. *AK

  • 11/05/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLY 35 MPH, MAKING NORMAL STOPS, ABS BECAME INOPERATIVE, CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

  • 11/05/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, AND DOES NOT STOP LIKE IT SHOULD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS DAMP OR COLD. *SLC

  • 11/02/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES. *SD

  • 11/01/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    CAR MAY NOT START AT TIMES. ALSO, FAN BELT DOES NOT WORK IN DAMP CONDITIONS. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. *AK

  • 10/31/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE REGULATOR. *AK

  • 10/28/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.

  • 10/28/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    ALTERNATOR FAILED.

  • 10/25/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    PROBLEMS INITIALLY OCCURRED IN 1996. DIAGNOSED AS BEING FAILED LIFTERS. LIFTERS WERE REPLACED. PROBLEMS STILL CONTINUED. BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STALLING AND WOULD NOT START . PROBLEMS AGAIN DIAGNOSED AS BEING DUE TO THE LIFTERS BUT NOW THERE WAS DAMAGED TO THE ENGINE WITH THE OIL FLOW. INTERNAL DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED. WOULD REQUIRE REPLACING THE ENGINE. THIS WAS DONE IN OCTOBER, 1999 AT A COST OF $2,200.00. THE CAR AT THIS TIME HAD ONLY 39,000 MILES. CAR WAS BASICALLY USED INFREQUENTLY BY SOMEONE IN A RURAL TOWN. REGULAR OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE TIMELY.

  • 10/22/1999· STRUCTURE

    WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT / STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. DEALER DETERMINE THE MOTOR MOUNTS TO BE WORN OUT WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. *YC

  • 10/21/1994· POWER TRAIN

    CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND/OR DRIVE, ALSO DOWNSHIFTS TOO HARD/QUICKLY. *AK

  • 10/20/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    VEHICLE IS LEAKING FLUID INTO HIS HEAD GASKET, AND IS OVERHEATING. *AK

  • 10/18/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

    CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A ACCIDENT. MR

  • 10/18/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    VEHICLE SKIDDED ON WET LEAVES , CAUSING ACCIDENT.

  • 10/15/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE IN TRAFFIC.

  • 10/14/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    BRAKE PADS FAILED.

  • 10/07/1999· STRUCTUREFire

    WHILE IN VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON, SECOND PARTY WAS SPRAYING HOSE ON VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE A LEAK WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. 20 MINUTES LATER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS CAME ON. THIRD PARTY COULD NOT GET OUT OF CAR. TRIED MANUALLY, THEN AFTER BANGING ON THE DOOR LOCK AREA, THE DOOR UNLOCKED. DOOR LOCK BUZZING WAS STILL ON. CONSUMER HAD TO GET A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. AT THIS TIME HEAVY SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF DASHBOARD, AND A FIRE BROKE OUT. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. *AK

  • 10/06/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHEN APPLY THE BRAKE IT GOES BACK/FORTH MAKES NOISE HAVE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE . TT

  • 09/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE WITHIN THE BRAKES. VEHICLE SLIDES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

  • 09/28/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    ENGINE COOLANT LEAK A ROUND HEAD GASKET / VALV GASKET LEAK

  • 09/28/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT BRAKE GRABS AND RELEASE, WHEN HEAR GRINDING NOISE AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON UNDER NORMAL STOPPING CONDITIONS. TT

  • 09/27/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    COOLENT LEAK FROM RIGHT FROM HEAD GASGET. HAVE TO ADD COOLENT TO KEEP RESEVOIR FULL AT COLD LEVEL. DEARSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE FULL PRICE FOR REPAIR.

  • 09/25/1995· STRUCTURE

    VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, CAUSING DOORS TO LOCK UP/'JAWS OF LIFE' WAS USED TO RESCUE PASSENGER'S FROM VEHICLE. *SD

  • 09/23/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

    CONSUMER TURNED ON THE IGNITION, BACKED THE VEHICLE UP APPROXIMATELY 3 OR 4 FEET, PULLED IT BACK UP AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, GOT OUT AND SAW SMOKE. OPENED THE HOOD AND THERE WERE HIGH FLAMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

  • 09/23/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    AIR INTAKE REPLACED. *SD

  • 09/22/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

    GLUE OF FUEL LINE HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY 50 FEET BEHIND VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. *AK

  • 09/22/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    ENGINE FAILED

  • 09/21/1999· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    BRAKES PADS/ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVEN TIMES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL IS SOFT, AND WHEN GOING DOWN HILL THERE IS ALOT OF VIBRATION. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF BRAKE PROBLEM. ALSO, ENGINE DIES OUT, AND TIE RODS BENT OUT OF POSITION.

  • 09/21/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTION.

  • 09/19/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

    ABS SYSTEM WILL FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK

  • 09/19/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    NOTICED ANTIFREEZE LEAK FROM ENGINE BLOCK, DIAGNOSED AS BAD HEAD GASKET

  • 09/17/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    HEAD GASKET HAS LEAKED FOR MANY YEARS. I EXPLAINED TO A MECHANIC THAT THE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM WHERE HE KNEW EXACTLY THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF CAR. *AK