Total Complaints
71 filings
CHEVROLET CAVALIER · model year
71 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989CHEVROLETCAVALIER carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 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 1989 CAVALIER is engine and engine cooling:engine with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4) and electrical system:ignition:module (3). 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 1989 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.
Total Complaints
71 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK | 2 |
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
ENTIRE RED CAR BEGAN FADING ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER DELIVERY. DOORS ONLY HAVE LOST ALL PAINT, INTEGRITY OF DOORS IS COMPROMISED DUE TO RESULTING RUST. I CAN LIVE WITH AN AUTO WHICH IS SLOWING FADING IN COLOR:THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE DOORS. BECAUSE IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT IT IS SOLELY BOTH DOORS EXHIBITING THE POOR QUALITIY, THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN A DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP AND/OR MATERIALS INITIALLY. THANKS FOR YOU QUICK ATTENTION TO REMEDY THIS FAULTY CONDITION. I HAVE SEEN OTHER AUTOS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL EXHIBITING THE SAME DEFECT
I PURCHASED FOUR FIREHAWK SS20 P215/60R14 RWL TIRES FOR MY 89 CAVALIERZ24 ON 04/19/01 IN JACKSONVILLE FL. AT STORE #005770 OR #018538-THERE ARE TWO NUMBERS. THEY HAVE BEEN ROTATED TWICE SINCE THEN. RECENTLY, I HAVE NOTICED THAT ONE OF MY TIRES IS SEPARATING ABOVE THE WHITE LETTERS IN PERFECT BI-SECTION OF THE MOLD OUTLETS(THE LITTLE RUBBER FINGER LIKE THINGIES HA HA). TO ME THIS IS ODD. I WAS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC FOR THE NAVY AND HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AS A COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE GONE BY THE SPLITTING HAS BECOME WORSE AND IS STARTING ON THE OTHER MOLD OUTLETS. THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE INTEGRITY OF THE RUBBER COMPOSITION ON THAT TIRE FOR IT TO SPLIT OR SEPARATE LIKE THAT. THE TIRE IS DATED FOR LATE 2000 AND HAS A TREAD DEPT OF 5 STILL LEFT ON IT. *JB
Mileage: 120,942
WHEN I COME TO A SUDDEN STOP OR PUSH MY BRAKES TO A CERTAIN PART DOWN, THE CAR DIES. ALSO ON THE RECALL OF THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS COMPUTER DID NOT GO THAT FAR BACK ON THE MODEL THEY WOULD'NT DO IT.THE DEALER WAS KARNES IN SOMERSET KY.
Mileage: 83,000
WHEN I COME TO A SUDDEN STOP OR PUSH MY BRAKES TO A CERTAIN PART DOWN, THE CAR DIES. ALSO ON THE RECALL OF THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS COMPUTER DID NOT GO THAT FAR BACK ON THE MODEL THEY WOULD'NT DO IT.THE DEALER WAS KARNES IN SOMERSET KY.
Mileage: 83,000
THE DOOR FRAME ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THIS VEHICLE HAS CRACKS EXTENDING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS FROM THE DRILL HOLE FOR THE STRIKER. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. SHOULD THE VEHICLE(FOR INSTANCE)BE HIT BROADSIDE ON THE DRIVERS REAR QUARTER (JUST BEHIND THE DOOR) THE DOOR LOCK STRIKER WILL MORE THAN LIKELY TEAR OUT, & THE DRIVER COULD BE EJECTED, OR REAR PASSENGERS INJURED BY THE ENTIRE COLLAPSE OF THE REAR QUARTER PANEL & UNI-BODY STRUCTURE. THERE ARE STILL A GREAT NUMBER OF VEHICLES LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM WITH [XXX]'S VEHICLE & OTHERS LIKE IT. I WILL BE DOING THE SAME. SINCERELY, HER AUTO TECHNICAN FRIEND. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR SEAT BACKS FLOP BACK AND FORTH. SEATS WILL COME UP AND DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SEAT BACKS DO NOT LOCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. *YH
VEHICLE HAS HAD 3 KNOWN ECM MODULES REPLACED IN ITS LIFE OF 11 YEARS. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK COMLETELY, FUEL FLOODS OUT OF THE UNDERBODY OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A BAD ACCIDENT. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH AND ANOTHER VECHICLE HIT HIM FROM THE BLIND SIDE. HE WANTS TO NO WHY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
THE HATCHBACK LATCH EXPERIENCING FAILURE, ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH NOT SUCCESS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE HATCHBACK IS FULLY CLOSED ANY SMALL BUMP WHILE DRIVING RELEASES THE LOCK AND POPS THE DOOR OPEN, WHICH ALLOWS EXHAUST (FUMES) TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *YC
CLUTCH SYSTEM SPECS ON PARTS WERE CHANGED. THIS CAUSED THE CLUTCH TO LOCK UP IF AIR GETS INTO LINE. CAN NOT GET OUT OF GEAR. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM FAILED / FUEL GUAGE OVERHEATING. *YC
FUEL SYSTEM FAILED / FUEL GUAGE OVERHEATING. *YC
CV JOINT BOOT STRAP IS VERY CLOSE TO THE OIL FILTER AND DAMAGED FILTER CAUSING OIL LEAKING AND MOTOR TO SIEZE DUE TO DESIGN LOCATION FLAW.
WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.
WATER PUMP, SPARK PLUGS AND SERPENTINE BELT FAILED.
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.