Total Complaints
21 filings
CHEVROLET CAVALIER · model year
1986 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
21 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986CHEVROLETCAVALIER carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1986 CAVALIER is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 6 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash (2) and steering:rack and pinion (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 1986 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.
21
Complaints
2
Crashes
6
Fires
4
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20091024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MY 1986 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 V6 IF THE ENGINE IS OFF OR ON THE DIGITAL DASH THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND SO DOES THE DOME LIGHT IF THE HEAD LIGHT IS PUSH O PANEL OR BOTH.*TR
Mileage: 189,654
20021009TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE HAS CRACK MARKS ALL OVER THE TIRE. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. MR
20010206STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
ADJUSTED STEERING COLUMN IS COMING LOOSE AT COLLAPSE/HINGE AREA DUE TO LOOSENESS OF BOLTS. THIS CAUSES MECHANISM NOT TO WORK PROPERLY ON STEERING COLUMN RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
19990321CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
BACK OF DRIVERS SEAT WENT DOWN, AND DRIVER HIT A CEMENT WALL AND FLIPPED CAR OVER. *AK
19980425FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT ONN FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN.
19961223SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SHOULDER BELT HARNESS FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, WILL NOT PULL OUT TO LOCK/ LATCH TO BUCKLE. *AK
19961114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN INOPERATIVE.( 2ND VEHICLE ON 506736)
19961114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL LEAK.
19961114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED.
19961010FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
19960923STRUCTURE:BODY
ERRATIC OPERATION OF DASHBOARD, CONSOLE LOSES PROPER READING. *AK
19960425FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)*SD
19951109FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED, RESULTING IN A FIRE (OHIO STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT). *AK
19951030CrashFatalSEATS
VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE, PASSENGER WAS EJECTED, WAS BELTED, BUT SEAT BROKE. TT
19951012STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
STIFF POWER STEERING DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK, ALSO POWER STEERING RACK/PUMP/HOSE REPLACED. *AW
19950831ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASHBOARD DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEARED AND CAME BACK ON; NOW, COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE; VEHICLE UNKNOWINGLY RAN OUT OF GAS, OVERHEATED, CANNOT TELL SPEED.
19950831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
DASHBOARD DISPLAY INTERMITTENTLY DISAPPEARED AND CAME BACK ON; NOW, COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE; VEHICLE UNKNOWINGLY RAN OUT OF GAS, OVERHEATED, CANNOT TELL SPEED.
19950608VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW CRACKED AND BLEW OUT OF VEHICLE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW
19950307FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DASH FIRE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY BURNT UP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
19950216FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL FIRE. *SKD
Compare 1986CHEVROLETCAVALIER 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 1986 CHEVROLET CAVALIER have?▼
The 1986 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has 21 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 CHEVROLET CAVALIER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 CHEVROLET CAVALIER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH and STEERING:RACK AND PINION.
Is the 1986 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.