Your vehicle report

1995 Chevrolet Cavalier

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
270
Received Feb 1995 to Nov 2014
Official recalls listed
4
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Head gasket leaks coolant into engine43 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Airbags fail to deploy in crashes18 complaints · 6.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Seat belt fails to latch or retract12 complaints · 4.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #02V070000On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
  • Recall #96V250000The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 33 crashes, 10 fires, 27 people injured, 0 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

2 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

1 more problem

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
44
Show as a table
YearComplaints
199537
199635
199718
199822
199923
200030
200128
200244
200318
20044
20052
20063
20072
20082
20090
20100
20111
20120
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total270

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine4316%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes186.7%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract124.4%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving124.4%–
Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail114.1%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring103.7%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up103.7%–
Horn fails with airbag warning light93.3%–
Ignition key sticks or will not turn72.6%–NHTSA recall #02V070000
Front brake rotors warp and wear early62.2%–
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly51.8%–
Power steering cuts out while driving51.8%–
Glass shatters or cracks without impact41.5%–
Rear door latch fails to open or close41.5%–
Serpentine belt breaks or slips off41.5%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly41.5%–
Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps41.5%–
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings41.5%–
Engine won't start or cranks intermittently41.5%–NHTSA recall #02V070000
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly41.5%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #02V070000March 6, 20021,589,948 vehicles affected

    electrical system: ignition: switch

    On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.

    If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.

    Remedy

    Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, Buick at 1-800-521-7300, or Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.

  • NHTSA recall #96V250000December 17, 1996270,014 vehicles affected

    exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights

    The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

    If these lamps were not flashing, other vehicles would not be aware that this vehicle was stopped increasing the risk of an accident.

    Remedy

    Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.

  • NHTSA recall #95V141000July 26, 199516 vehicles affected

    structure: frame and members

    Some welds were omitted from the body lock pillar, or "b" pillar. This does not comply with FMVSS NO.208, "occupant crash protection."

    Consequence of non-compliance: if a vehicle crash should occur, occupant protection levels could be reduced.

    Remedy

    All vehicles in this recall campaign have been repurchased and replaced with a comparable vehicle.

  • NHTSA recall #95V025000February 16, 199521,340 vehicles affected

    suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

    These vehicles have been built with welds missing from the front suspension lower control arm assemblies causing excessive loads on the existing welds.

    This condition Can result in separation of the frontbushing sleeve subassembly from the control arm increasing the potential for a vehicle crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect both left-hand and right-hand front suspension lower control arm assemblies and replace all control arm assemblies found with omitted welds.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN