MYRModel Year Report

Chevrolet Cavalier — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2003, 1997, 1996 · Best bets: 1989, 1991, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2002

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Cavalier Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2005 highlighted. 1980: 0 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1986: 18 complaints 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 55 complaints 1992: 134 complaints 1992 1993: 146 complaints 1994: 212 complaints 1995: 270 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1996 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2002: 196 complaints 2003: 678 complaints 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints 2005
2005: 287 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19821
19833
19848
19854
198618
198724
198812
198943
199055
199155
1992134
1993146
1994212
1995270
1996503
1997540
1998345
1999240
2000315
2001243
2002196
2003678
2004330
2005287

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2005 Recommended 287 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2004 Caution 330 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 Avoid 678 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2002 Recommended 196 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2001 Recommended 243 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 Caution 315 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1999 Recommended 240 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1998 Caution 345 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 Avoid 540 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1996 Avoid 503 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1995 Recommended 270 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1994 Recommended 212 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1993 Recommended 146 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1992 Recommended 134 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990 Recommended 55 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1989 Recommended 43 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1988 Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987 Not enough data 24 Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1986 Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1985 Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984 Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1983 Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1982 Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1981 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1980 Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.