MYRModel Year Report

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier

● Typical for this model
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% 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
240
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 1999

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Service brakes

22% 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 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1999: 240 complaints 1999 240 2000: 315 complaints 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 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1999: 240 complaints 1999 240 2000: 315 complaints 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 1997: 540 complaints 1997 1998: 345 complaints 1998 1999: 240 complaints 1999 240 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2001 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints 2005

1999: 240 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.

Service brakes

22% · 53 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that when depressing the brakes, the vehicle slid and hesitated to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the brakes were readjusted.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-06-07

Electrical system

21% · 51 reports

Most commonly citing switch and fuses and circuit breakers.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

19% · 45 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems and vehicle sometimes emits white smoke through the vents. *smd the consumer stated the transmission and radiator needed to be serviced.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-06-20

Also filed under Fuel system, gasoline

Steering

13% · 31 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic power assist system and rack and pinion.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Engine shakes when first started n when idling, but not when driving. Hoses n belts r not in good shape. Not sure about the air bags but seen on this site that there was a problem.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-08-09

Also filed under Engine and power train

Air bags

10% · 24 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While making a turn at 35 MPH, there was a head on collision with another vehicle. Driver and passenger frontal air bags did not deploy. The consumer sustained a broken sternum and was hospitalized.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-11-19

No summary. Dt

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-18

Vehicle was involved in an accident. Hit a guardrail, causing damage to sensor and the computer module. Both air bags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 1999-03-09

Also filed under Seat belts

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. R
    1999-09-02Interior lighting99V218000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of FMVSS No. 101, "Control location, identification, and illumination." The instrument panel backlighting…

    Remedy: Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2004-03-01Electrical system04V036000 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, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. 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 →

  4. 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 →

  5. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. 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 →

  7. 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 →

  8. 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

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 53 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 51 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 45 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 99V218000 · Interior lighting
  • Recall 04V036000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • 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 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
8 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.