FaultScore report
Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004. The largest single group is the steering.
27
Complaints
3
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 86,394 mi
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
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.
STICKING THROTTLE
BRAKE PERFORMANCE
===
BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS
POOR BRAKING
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY CONTAIN WATER WHICH COULD FREEZE WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED CAUSING TRAVEL OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE TO BECOME RESTRICTED WHEN THROTTLE IS INITIALLY OPENED.
Risk: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSSOF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
PARKING BRAKE LEVER MECHANISMS MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL AWAY UNCONTROLLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Structure
VEHICLES WITH 2.0 LITRE ENGINES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE WHICH CONTAINED WATER. SHOULD THE WATER FREEZE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE COULD BECOME RESTRICTED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS INITIALLY OPENED. THIS COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED. LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE WILL BE REPLACED.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
TIRES
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONSTANT BLOWOUTS AND FLATS WITH THE TIRES. ONE INCIDENT LED TO THE VEHICLE SLAMMING INTO A STREET CURB.
NHTSA complaint #10004018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE REAR BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING, AND CONSUMER WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION, NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT UP OR SEE THE ROAD. ONLY THE LAP PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING HER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED CONCERNING INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #822790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #510821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM IN THE SEAT*AK CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND HE CAME OVER AH HILL AND CAUGHT THE PILE OF GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHIC THEN TURNED OVER THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE,THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN.
NHTSA complaint #803659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
TIRES
I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY EVENING. I WAS DOING BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY TIRES FOR A FLAT OR SEE IF SOMETHING WAS HANGING BELOW MY CAR. NO FLAT, NOTHING HANGING. BUT MY TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE. I PURCHASED THOSE TIRES BRAND NEW FROM FIRESTONE ON 05/24/2002.
NHTSA complaint #10075164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONSTANT BLOWOUTS AND FLATS WITH THE TIRES. ONE INCIDENT LED TO THE VEHICLE SLAMMING INTO A STREET CURB.
NHTSA complaint #10004018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
BELT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE SOMETIMES WILL NOT PULL OUT.
NHTSA complaint #9001509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BELT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE SOMETIMES WILL NOT PULL OUT.
NHTSA complaint #9001509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAIL AT TIMES. YH
NHTSA complaint #604598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THE BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN ARE LOOSE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #826473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE REAR BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING, AND CONSUMER WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION, NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT UP OR SEE THE ROAD. ONLY THE LAP PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING HER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED CONCERNING INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #822790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGE SEPERATED FROM MOUNTING PLATE IN DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #526964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTED SINCE PURCHASE.
NHTSA complaint #546880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME, RENDERING SEAT INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA complaint #808422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE..
NHTSA complaint #511837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN-ROOF LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #511837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #510821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS IN FREEZING WEATHER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #509628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM IN THE SEAT*AK CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND HE CAME OVER AH HILL AND CAUGHT THE PILE OF GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHIC THEN TURNED OVER THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE,THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN.
NHTSA complaint #803659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE SURGED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #506996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #801322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN TO LOCK UP.
NHTSA complaint #984755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #501934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
EXTREME FORCE NEEDED TO TURN STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER. MORE REASONABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. TT
NHTSA complaint #978196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
EXTREME FORCE NEEDED TO TURN STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER. MORE REASONABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. TT
NHTSA complaint #978196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #967800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT PASSENGER AND OCCASIONALLY DRIVERS SEATBELT LOCKS UP BEFORE IT LATCHES MAKING IT NOT LATCH. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #966470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT SEATBELT'S RESTRAINTS LOCK AND PREVENTS SEATBELTS FROM BUCKLING. TT
NHTSA complaint #966194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO LEFT DURING LOW RPM ORV AT LOW SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #965163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.