Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic60
- Engine and engine cooling56
- Electrical system23
- Seat belts22
- Power train16
- Visibility16
- Structure13
- Seats11
- Steering8
- Suspension8
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
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier failed the safety check 0.99% of the time — 26% less often than the average 1994 passenger car (1.33%). Median odometer at inspection: 100,129 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 1994 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH OVERTORQUED DRIVE AXLE SPINDLE NUTS. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE SPINDLE NUT AND DRIVE AXLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE DRIVE AXLE OR THE SPINDLE NUT. FAILURE OF EITHER OF THESE COMPONENTS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE TIRE-WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE DRIVE AXLE.
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 1994 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 |
| 52935 | INFORMATION CONCERNING ENGINE KNOCK/RATTLE OR TAP NOISE BEFORE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). AK |
| 52339 | SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA (INSTALL ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR TAPE). *TW |
| 51302 | KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE KNOCK, RATTLE OR TAP NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BEFORE THE ENGINE HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR UNDER LIGHT LOAD CONDITIONS AT RATURE (REPLACE PISTON AND/OR ROD ASSEMBLIES). *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 |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10168979 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details. |
| 10165876 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. |
| 10141381 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. |
| 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
HORN BUTTON FALLING OFF
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation