Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic53
- Engine and engine cooling41
- Electrical system26
- Power train10
- Seat belts9
- Structure8
- Seats8
- Equipment8
- Steering7
- Vehicle speed control6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1993 Cavalier vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier failed the safety check 1.98% of the time — 65% more often than the average 1993 passenger car (1.20%). Median odometer at inspection: 100,912 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier.
| 1993099 16 Jul 1993 | 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 CE… |
| 1992150 24 Nov 1992 | 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… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 615073 | SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT REAPPEAR UNTIL THE NEXT CHANGE OF OIL. *TT |
| 613590 | INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR |
| 6089996 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT |
| 601058 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLATTERING NOISE AT IDLE SPEED ORIGINATING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND FRONT COVER AREA. *YC |
| 54419 | COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC |
| 54329 | COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC |
| 52339 | SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA (INSTALL ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR TAPE). *TW |
| 45881 | GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD |
| 43034 | UNKNOWN |
| 43030 | UNKNOWN |
| 43021 | UNKNOWN |
| 37843 | CRUNCH NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE DASH AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TW |
| 10007816 | ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT |
| 10007293 | ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HORN PAD FALLS OFF
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation