Total Complaints
10 filings
CHEVROLET CAVALIER · model year
1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
10 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1984CHEVROLETCAVALIER carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1984 CAVALIER is suspension:front with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:constant velocity joint (1) and power train:automatic transmission (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1984 CAVALIER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010123SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DRIVERS SEAT LOCK IS EXPERIENCING RECALL (84V011) PROBLEMS. NLM
19990722CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM THE REAR AND IN TURN, HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT, AND THE REAR LAP BELT BROKE AT THE BUCKLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
19980820ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILS EVERY 11,000 AND 12,000 MILES AFTER REPLACEMENT. DEALERS NOTED PROBLEM IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19970624FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THE GAS LINE IS LEAKING AND THE LINES ARE CORRODED. DEALER SUPPOSE TO BE TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY PUTTING DOUBLE CLAMPS ON THE LINES. THIS IS A SAFTY RELATED PROBLEM. THE GAS THAT IS LEAKING COULD START A FIRE . *AK
19960530STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS CAUSING ERRATIC TURNING SITUATIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19950712CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, RESULTING IN DRIVER HITTING THE WINDSHIELD TWICE. *AK
19950615POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 22,000 AND IS GOING OUT AGAIN/ VEHICLE OFTEN JOLT WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *AK
19950615POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
19950420CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *SKD
19950420POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
CV JOINT CRACKED.
Compare 1984CHEVROLETCAVALIER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER have?▼
The 1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has 10 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1984 CHEVROLET CAVALIER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.