CHEVROLET CAVALIER · model year

1990 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

70 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CHEVROLETCAVALIER carries 70 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 13 fires, 3 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 1990 CAVALIER is electrical system:wiring:front underhood with 9 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4). 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 1990 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.

70
Complaints
2
Crashes
13
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

70 filings

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

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD9
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
SEAT BELTS3
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
TIRES2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE1

Recent Complaints

20141125SERVICE BRAKES

KNOCKING AT START UP FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME. WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PADS THE PINS WOULDN'T MOVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. HAD TO COMPRESS THE PINS LOOSE WITH A C-CLAMP. ALSO, I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT'S A COMBINATION OF ANTIFREEZE & OIL. WHICH I THINK IS CAUSED FROM THE KNOCKING SOUND. MY BRAKE LIGHT & AN EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHT SHOWS ON MY DASHBOARD SOMETIMES. MY FUEL MONITOR GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW THE EXACT AMOUNT IN TANK. COULD THE LISTED RECALL CAUSE MY CAR. TO RUNS OUT OF GAS AT QUARTER TANK OF GAS? *TR

Mileage: 250,000

20060123POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY

1990 CAVALIER GEAR SHIFT MOVED TO NEUTRAL WHEN TOUCHED BY CONSUMERS LEG. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S SON'S LEG TOUCHED THE GEAR SHIFT AND CAUSED IT TO GO INTO NEUTRAL. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM

Mileage: 96,000

20051027TIRES

1. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A POT HOLE AT 50 MPH IN EASTBOUND #1 LANE RAMONA EXPY, PERRIS CA. 2.TIRE COMPRESSION CAUSED THE RIM EDGE TO SLICE OPEN THE HIGH PLY TURN-UP AND STEEL SIDEWALL STABILIZER. THIS HIGH PLY TURN-UP COMES OFF THE RIM BEAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. IF THE TIRE IS COMPRESSED PAST A CRETIN POINT THE RIM HAS NO PLACE TO GO BUT INTO THIS 45 DEGREE DEFLECTION AND SLICES INTO THE TIRE CAUSING SUDDEN AIR LOSS. 3. I CALLED DUNLOP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TALK DOWN TO IN A CONDESCENDING MANOR, HIT A DEAD END THERE! *NM

20051027WHEELS

1. LEFT FRONT TIRE HIT A POT HOLE AT 50 MPH IN EASTBOUND #1 LANE RAMONA EXPY, PERRIS CA. 2.TIRE COMPRESSION CAUSED THE RIM EDGE TO SLICE OPEN THE HIGH PLY TURN-UP AND STEEL SIDEWALL STABILIZER. THIS HIGH PLY TURN-UP COMES OFF THE RIM BEAD AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. IF THE TIRE IS COMPRESSED PAST A CRETIN POINT THE RIM HAS NO PLACE TO GO BUT INTO THIS 45 DEGREE DEFLECTION AND SLICES INTO THE TIRE CAUSING SUDDEN AIR LOSS. 3. I CALLED DUNLOP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TALK DOWN TO IN A CONDESCENDING MANOR, HIT A DEAD END THERE! *NM

20030806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE STARTER AND THE USE OF A STARTER NOT DESIGNED FOR THE VEHICLE.*MR *TS. THE STARTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED FROM THE AUTO STORE WAS SAID TO BE INCOMPATIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WORKED FINE. *JB

20020606TIRES

TREAD SERARATED FROM TIRE WHILE TRAVELING 40MPH. *AK

20020408ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHILE TRYING TO START VEHICLE THERE WAS SOME SMOKE COMING UP FROM IGNITION SWITCH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANY WORK.*AK

20020408ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CAR STILL DIES AT STOPS AND WILL NOT IDLE CORRECTLY. DEALER COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER FOR THE CAUSES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

20020408VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CAR STILL DIES AT STOPS AND WILL NOT IDLE CORRECTLY. DEALER COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER FOR THE CAUSES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

20020408FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

HARD TO START VEHICLE. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. ERRATIC IDLE. ENGINE DIES AND IS DIFFICULT TO START AGAIN. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER WHO ONLY REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES IN COMPUTER. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WHICH CONTROL THE IDLE SPEED. GAS ODOR IS GONE BUT CAR STILL DIES AT STOPS AND WILL NOT IDLE CORRECTLY. DEALER COULD NOT GIVE ME AN ANSWER FOR THE CAUSES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THEM CAN DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*AK

20020307FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND VENTS AREA. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

20020124FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER WAS PARKING VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH VENTS OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

20010821TIRES:SIDEWALL

SCHOOL HAS REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS ON THEIR VEHICLES. A LARGE GROUP OF GOODYEARS INVICTA TIRES WERE TAKEN OFF IN 2000. LARGE CRACKS WERE SHOWING ONLY ON THE WHITE SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM SAME LOCATION, STEVES QUICK STOP. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE MAKE/ MODEL/ YEAR AND MILEAGE INFORMATION. TIRE SIZE P175/80R13, DOT# M6JUFAHR1430.*AK THE SCHOOL STATED THAT TIRES OF REGATTA SERIES ALSO HAD CRACKS IN SIDE WALL IN ADDITON TO THE PREVIOUS INVICTA BRAND. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL. *YH

20010403SEAT BELTS

SEATBELTS MOUNTED TO DOOR FRAME WERE CAUGHT IN DOOR AND WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO MECHANISM, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.*AK

20001129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

THE COOLANT FAN WONT RUN WHEN NEED HAVE TIO TURN THE HEATER ON TO RUN FAN AND TEMPERATURE LIGH COMES ON SOMETIMED WHEN YOU FIRST START THE CAR OR YOU CAN BE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT COMES ON. *AK

20000822ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20000131FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD FAILED RESULTING IN A FIRE. NLM

19990621ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP 1 WEEK. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM.

19990114VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. THE RIGHT WIPER DOES NOT CLEAR THE WINDOW. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

19980920POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

FRONT SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION. STEERING SHIMMIES SIDE TO SIDE AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH.

Compare 1990CHEVROLETCAVALIER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CHEVROLET CAVALIER have?
The 1990 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has 70 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 13 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET CAVALIER?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET CAVALIER is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1990 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.