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1993 problems

FaultScore report

1993 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

Owners have filed 237 complaints about the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier with NHTSA between 1995 and 2014. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 13 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Cavalier All 1993 cars

FaultScore 45/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Cavalier.

How this is worked out

The numbers

237

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

1 complaint reports a death.

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 26: Against the median year of the Chevrolet Cavalier. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 76: 14.8% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported: Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1993 compares with every other Chevrolet Cavalier

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 17 10 4 21 27 14 71 70 77 178 237 310 392 748 751 473 337 447 356 254 867 428 362

82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 60 25.3%

5 crashes, 0 fires · median 46,400 mi

Engine & Cooling 51 21.5%

0 crashes, 3 fires

Electrical System 30 12.7%

0 crashes, 4 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 11 4.6%

Equipment & Accessories 9 3.8%

1 crashes, 1 fires

Seat Belts 9 3.8%

4 crashes, 0 fires

Body & Structure 9 3.8%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Seats 8 3.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Lights 8 3.4%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Suspension 7 3.0%

Steering 7 3.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 6 2.5%

Fuel & Propulsion 5 2.1%

Tires 3 1.3%

Median failure at 196,836 miles

Other & Unspecified 2 0.8%

Median failure at 81,000 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 2 0.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Wheels 2 0.8%

Airbags 1 0.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 27 30.0%

Engine 15 16.7%

Gasoline 12 13.3%

Horn 10 11.1%

Foundation Components 9 10.0%

AIR Conditioner 6 6.7%

Radiator Assembly 6 6.7%

Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 5 5.6%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 33.3%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 1 33.3%

150,000+ miles 1 33.3%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.

Configuration	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
1993 Chevrolet Cavalier 4-DR	—	—	—	—

When owners complained

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.

Jan 1995 peak 18 Nov 2014

NHTSA investigations into the 1993 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.

EA94033 Opened 29 Sep 1994 Closed 29 Mar 1996 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN PAD FALLS OFF

THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.GM WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS RAISED BY THE DETACHMENT OF THE HORN PAD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM SEE EA94-033 ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REPORT.

Recalls on the 1993 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 1993099 16 Jul 1993 465 units in Canada

Brakes

THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 106 - HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES. REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD AND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSES ON CIERA AND CENTURY MAY BE UNDERCURED AND COULD FAIL RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING. CORRECTION: BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DATE CODES AND REPLACED IF THE DATE CODE FALLS WITHIN A SPECIFIED RANGE.

Recall 1992150 24 Nov 1992 4,020 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: FOUR DOOR VEHICLES WITH 2-WAY MANUAL SEAT ADJUSTERS. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 210 - SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES. VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTER MACHANISM. AT IT'S MOST REARWARD SEAT POSITION, THE SHOULDER BELT CONTACT POINT IS OUT OF THE CERTIFICATION COMPLIANCE ZONE. CORRECTION: THE INNER TRACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED IF NECESSARY.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 18 Oct 2002 Sacramento, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A ACCIDENT. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Apr 2002 Augusta, GA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE DUE TO WIRES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE HOOD SHORTING OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8007338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 26 Apr 2001 Walpole, MA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS BADLY INJURED.

NHTSA complaint #886896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Apr 2001 Houston, TX Crash Fire 5 injured

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #743500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Mar 2001 Taylorville, IL Crash

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

WHILE BRAKING AT A SLOW SPEED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER INSURANCE AGENT CLAIMED REAR BRAKE HOSE WAS AT FAULT, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #884307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Jun 2000 Akron, OH 1 injured

SEATS

MY WIFE WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. IT HAD JUST BEEN REPAIRED 5 DAYS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT ON 07/10/1998 WE WROTE 2 CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE OWNER OF DEALERSHIP WITH NO ANSWER TO EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #723345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 18 Nov 2014 Evansville, IN

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10659031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Mar 2014 Lawrenceburg, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10568147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Mar 2006 at 81,000 miles Saint Louis, MO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ROLLING DOWN THE MANUAL WINDOW, IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10152120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Aug 2004 at 46,400 miles Northbrook, IL

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

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO D INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM COLLAPSED AND WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HOSE NON METALLIC RECALL 93V121000.

NHTSA complaint #10087599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.