CHEVROLET CAVALIER · model year

1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

751 NHTSA complaints, 86 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997CHEVROLETCAVALIER carries 751 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 86 crashes, 33 fires, 98 injuries, and 5 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 1997 CAVALIER is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 47 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (44) and steering:rack and pinion (36). 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 1997 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.

751
Complaints
86
Crashes
33
Fires
98
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

751 filings

Crashes Reported

86 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE47
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL44
STEERING:RACK AND PINION36
AIR BAGS32
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH32
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP31
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE29
UNKNOWN OR OTHER26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION23
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM17
STEERING16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING13

Recent Complaints

20161220ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR RADIATOR FAN WON'T KICK ON CAUSE CAR TO GET VERY DANGEROUSLY HOT CAUSING CAR TO BECOME A BOMB

20161220ENGINE

CAR RADIATOR FAN WON'T KICK ON CAUSE CAR TO GET VERY DANGEROUSLY HOT CAUSING CAR TO BECOME A BOMB

20161220UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR RADIATOR FAN WON'T KICK ON CAUSE CAR TO GET VERY DANGEROUSLY HOT CAUSING CAR TO BECOME A BOMB

20160908CrashAIR BAGS

AIR BAGS DEFLATED SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 WHILE IN MOTION TURNING A 90 DEGREE BEND THEN BRAKING INTO ROAD BANK ON A THE SIDE OF A COUNTRY DIRT ROAD. AN EARLY INSPECTION WAS HANDED DOWN FROM THE COMMONWEALTH STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON JULY, 01, 2016. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AUTO ACCIDENT WHILE PARKED STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. THE CHEVROLET CAVALIER FAILED THE ENHANCED STATE INSPECTION THENCE AFTER DUE TO AIR BAG SAFETY FEATURE. THE CAR IS IN FAIR CONDITION APPRAISED ABOVE BLUE BOOK VALUE AND MECHANICALLY RUNS BETTER THAN IT DID 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO. THERE IS A SALVAGE TITLE CURRENTLY ON THE MOTOR VEHICLE. ALL THE VEHICLE NEEDS IS NEW AIR BAGS.

Mileage: 130,000

20160227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INDICATOR!! 3 TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING !! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! WAS UNABLE WARN CAR BACKING OUT AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT! REPLACED FUSE 3 TIMES!! SOMEONE MAY DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION!! NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTICE FROM DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURE REGARDING THIS ISSUE! UPON GOOGLING FOUND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM!! A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH MAY RESULT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT!!!PLEASE,PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM !!!!!! ALSO THE GAGE LIGHTS TEND TO STAY ON!! FIRST IT WAS THE OIL SENSOR LITE, NOW THE RADIATOR LITE!! BOTH CHAMBERS ARE FULL EVEN AFTER PROFESSIONAL SERVICING!!!!!! THE OIL LITE STILL COMES ON JUST HAD PROFESSIONAL OIL SERVICE?!????

Mileage: 162,000

20160227UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INDICATOR!! 3 TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING !! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! WAS UNABLE WARN CAR BACKING OUT AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT! REPLACED FUSE 3 TIMES!! SOMEONE MAY DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION!! NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTICE FROM DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURE REGARDING THIS ISSUE! UPON GOOGLING FOUND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM!! A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH MAY RESULT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT!!!PLEASE,PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM !!!!!! ALSO THE GAGE LIGHTS TEND TO STAY ON!! FIRST IT WAS THE OIL SENSOR LITE, NOW THE RADIATOR LITE!! BOTH CHAMBERS ARE FULL EVEN AFTER PROFESSIONAL SERVICING!!!!!! THE OIL LITE STILL COMES ON JUST HAD PROFESSIONAL OIL SERVICE?!????

Mileage: 162,000

20150208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE SAFETY DEVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OFF, CAN'T START MY CAR. *JS

Mileage: 117,000

20150208ENGINE

THE SAFETY DEVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OFF, CAN'T START MY CAR. *JS

Mileage: 117,000

20150203STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DETAILS INVOLVING THE REPAIR AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20141118ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 1987 CHEVY CAVALIAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD CLICKING IN THE CLUSTER AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT TURNS ON AND MY FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN IN VERY CRITICAL PLACES WHILE THIS SITUATION TAKES PLACE. THE THEFT SYSTEM HAS SHUT MY VEHICHLE OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE INTERSECTION ECT.. I HAVE TRYED TO RESET THIS SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVY CAVALIARS AND OTHER GM MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SHOULD BE FIXED. I, A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A UNPREDICTABLE VEHICHLE THAT HAS SECURITY PROBLEMS THAT ARE DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MAKING OF THE SYSTEM. I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS AND AM STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20141118FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY 1987 CHEVY CAVALIAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD CLICKING IN THE CLUSTER AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT TURNS ON AND MY FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN IN VERY CRITICAL PLACES WHILE THIS SITUATION TAKES PLACE. THE THEFT SYSTEM HAS SHUT MY VEHICHLE OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE INTERSECTION ECT.. I HAVE TRYED TO RESET THIS SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVY CAVALIARS AND OTHER GM MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SHOULD BE FIXED. I, A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A UNPREDICTABLE VEHICHLE THAT HAS SECURITY PROBLEMS THAT ARE DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MAKING OF THE SYSTEM. I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS AND AM STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

20141104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY REAR DEFROST QUIT WORKING AND I WENT AND CHECKED SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS. THE CONNECTION UNDER THE DASH HAD BEEN MELTED, WITH THE PLASTIC SHOWING EVIDENCE OF BEING MELTED. I HAVE DONE SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU CHECK GM CARS PONTIAC, AND GM SOME OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON BASED OFF THE FORUMS AND YOU TUBE VIDEO'S. IT APPEARS IN IMPALA, CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, AND THIS ISN'T AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS AND GM ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

20141104VISIBILITY

MY REAR DEFROST QUIT WORKING AND I WENT AND CHECKED SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS. THE CONNECTION UNDER THE DASH HAD BEEN MELTED, WITH THE PLASTIC SHOWING EVIDENCE OF BEING MELTED. I HAVE DONE SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU CHECK GM CARS PONTIAC, AND GM SOME OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON BASED OFF THE FORUMS AND YOU TUBE VIDEO'S. IT APPEARS IN IMPALA, CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, AND THIS ISN'T AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS AND GM ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

20141104VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

MY REAR DEFROST QUIT WORKING AND I WENT AND CHECKED SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS. THE CONNECTION UNDER THE DASH HAD BEEN MELTED, WITH THE PLASTIC SHOWING EVIDENCE OF BEING MELTED. I HAVE DONE SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU CHECK GM CARS PONTIAC, AND GM SOME OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON BASED OFF THE FORUMS AND YOU TUBE VIDEO'S. IT APPEARS IN IMPALA, CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, AND THIS ISN'T AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS AND GM ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

20140529SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 118,000

20140529SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 118,000

20140329ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 30 MPH TO A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR DIED WHILE IN DRIVE, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN IN MAY 2010 WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME AND HAD TO COAST DOWN A BRIDGE, WHICH PROMPTED ME TO SELL THE CAR BECAUSE I FELT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. *TR

20140311FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND EXPOSED MELTED WIRES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20140227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS IN 2009. IT WAS THAT THE SWITCH OF THE KEY ENGINE DID NOT WANT TO START. SOMEONE CAME TO FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO REPAIR IT. HE HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WOULD BE TUNING THE KEY TO THE ENGINE TO START I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THAT BUTTON TO START THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACING LIGHT BULBS CONSTANCY FROM THE REAR BACK OF THE SINGLE LIGHT. THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM WOULD BE TURNING IT SELF ON WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING. THANKFULLY THERE WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I WOULD BE STRUGGLING TO START MY CAR .I HAD TO WAIT SOME COUPLE OF MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THE RECENT INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS WHEN MY NEIGHBOR HEARD LIKE SOME FIREWORKS IN OUR SIDE OF OUR HOUSE. HE TOOK A LOOK AND HE SEEN THAT OUR CAR WAS SOME SPARKLING LIGHTS OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHAT HE SEEN AND HE TOLD US THAT MORNING. AS I WALK TOWARDS THE CAR I COULD SMELL SMOKE AS IF SOMETHING BURN. I WANTED TO START MY CAR BUT W

Mileage: 119

20140227ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS IN 2009. IT WAS THAT THE SWITCH OF THE KEY ENGINE DID NOT WANT TO START. SOMEONE CAME TO FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO REPAIR IT. HE HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WOULD BE TUNING THE KEY TO THE ENGINE TO START I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THAT BUTTON TO START THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACING LIGHT BULBS CONSTANCY FROM THE REAR BACK OF THE SINGLE LIGHT. THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM WOULD BE TURNING IT SELF ON WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING. THANKFULLY THERE WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I WOULD BE STRUGGLING TO START MY CAR .I HAD TO WAIT SOME COUPLE OF MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THE RECENT INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS WHEN MY NEIGHBOR HEARD LIKE SOME FIREWORKS IN OUR SIDE OF OUR HOUSE. HE TOOK A LOOK AND HE SEEN THAT OUR CAR WAS SOME SPARKLING LIGHTS OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHAT HE SEEN AND HE TOLD US THAT MORNING. AS I WALK TOWARDS THE CAR I COULD SMELL SMOKE AS IF SOMETHING BURN. I WANTED TO START MY CAR BUT W

Mileage: 119

Compare 1997CHEVROLETCAVALIER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER have?
The 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has 751 NHTSA complaints, 86 crashes, 33 fires, 98 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER?
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 47 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and STEERING:RACK AND PINION.
Is the 1997 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.