Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
529.4%
Engine & Cooling
529.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
317.6%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Fuel & Propulsion
15.9%
Brakes
15.9%
Steering
15.9%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15.9%
NHTSA investigations into the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA87006Opened 16 Dec 1986Closed 19 Sep 1988STEERING
POWER ST. ASSIST
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER:GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS.THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS.IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS:WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST.TEFLON O RINGS FAIL TO SEALOFF INTERNAL PRESSURE.STATUS:EVALUATING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER BY GM.======
EA87007Opened 16 Dec 1986Closed 7 Aug 1987VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SUDDEN ACCEL
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS:STATUS: GM RESPONDED BY LETTER DATED 12 FEBRUARY 1987.EA CLOSED ON8/7/87.===
DP86019Opened 12 Sep 1986Closed 22 Dec 1986VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
DP86018Opened 5 Sep 1986Closed 19 Dec 1986UNKNOWN OR OTHER
POWER STEERING FAILURE
POWER STEERING FAILURE
EA86023Opened 1 Aug 1986Closed 1 Jun 1987SEATS
SEAT TRACK LOCK
PE85016Opened 3 Dec 1984Closed 22 Mar 1985ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Recalls on the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1987053103,251 units in Canada
Structure
ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUALLY ADJUSTED DRIVER'S SEAT, THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ANCHOR BAR AND CAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TIP REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR.
Recall 198308427,478 units in Canada
THE BRAKE PROPORTIONER VALVES MAY BREAK AND SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER DURING BRAKING. THIS WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Sandusky, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FLAMES BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE PLASTIC OVERFLOW TANK WAS MELTED AND THE PLASTIC CAP MELTED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
NHTSA complaint #552204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Sandusky, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND FLAMES BEGAN TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE PLASTIC OVERFLOW TANK WAS MELTED AND THE PLASTIC CAP MELTED. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) NLM
NHTSA complaint #552204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairview P, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
#2 PISTON BROKE BETWEEN OIL RING SLOT AND COMPRESSION RING SLOT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #532411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER FRAUD.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
POWER STEERING LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
EGR SOLENOID REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DEALER INSTALLED HARNESS UNDER HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PLASTIC VALVE MELTED/LODGED AGAINST THE THROTTLE PLATE, CAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MICrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
SPARK PLUGS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION WIRE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
GASKETS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECM REPLACED DUE TO STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE LEAKS OIL ON BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDALS.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redford, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS.
NHTSA complaint #483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.