MYRModel Year Report

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
503
Recalls
13

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine and engine cooling

27% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1996 503 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2002: 196 complaints 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1996 503 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1998 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1987 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1993 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1995 1996: 503 complaints 1996 503 1997: 540 complaints 1997 1998: 345 complaints 1998 1999: 240 complaints 1999 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2001 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints 2005

1996: 503 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19821
19833
19848
19854
198618
198724
198812
198943
199055
199156
1992137
1993148
1994217
1995271
1996503
1997540
1998345
1999240
2000315
2001243
2002196
2003678
2004330
2005287

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine and engine cooling

27% · 135 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

CRASH

Electrical system

22% · 109 reports

Most commonly citing horn and switch.

CRASHFIREDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Ignition switch recall was performed on 16 August 2002. On 23 August 2002 after being parked for 10 minutes vehicle ignited key was not in ignition. Please add damage to vehicle.…

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-23

Air bags

15% · 74 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. While the contact was making a u turn, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-28

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle.

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-09-26

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and failed to respond without warning.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-09-22

Also filed under Service brakes

Service brakes

12% · 62 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

11% · 57 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

13 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1995-10-19Vehicle speed control95V201000 The accelerator control cable could have been kinked during assembly causing high accelerator pedal effort, sticking accelerator control cable, or a broken accelerator control cable.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the accelerator control cable assembly.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    1996Complaint volume 503 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    1997-01-30Exterior lighting96V250000 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…

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

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    1997-09-09Preliminary evaluationClosed 1998-01-23 Inadvertent air bag deployments
  5. I
    1998-01-23Engineering analysisClosed 1998-07-31 Oversensitive air bag deployments
  6. R
    1998-02-28Interior lighting98V027000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with the potential for the interior lamps to come on unexpectedly while the vehicles are being driven. This does not meet the…

    Remedy: Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    1998-08-11Air bags98V146000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when…

    Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    1998-12-28Suspension98V319000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts can fatigue and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension trailing arm fasteners.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. I
    2002-01-03Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-03-15 Fire in steering column area
  10. R
    2002-03-27Electrical system02V070000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2003-01-24Steering02V286000 Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. I
    2003-10-14Defect petitionClosed 2004-01-30 Unintended vehicle acceleration
  13. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2007-03-20Fuel system, gasoline07E015000 Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (Mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. During production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  16. R
    2008-10-16Steering08E063000 Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (Sold under dorman's "Oe solutions" Brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2008. Owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  17. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  18. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine and engine cooling: 135 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 109 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 74 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 95V201000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 96V250000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 98V027000 · Interior lighting
  • Recall 98V146000 · Air bags
  • Recall 98V319000 · Suspension
  • Recall 02V070000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 02V286000 · Steering
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E015000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 08E063000 · Steering
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most-reported component is engine and engine cooling, accounting for 27% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
13 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.