Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 09/08/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (21.1% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 2.5× the median for that category across the 2584 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 57 · 21.1% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 23 · 8.5% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 18 · 6.7% | No official action | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 18 · 6.7% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System:ignition:switch | 18 · 6.7% | Recalled | Recall 02V070000 |
| Electrical System:ignition | 16 · 5.9% | Recalled | Recall 02V070000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 270 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 08E063000 · 2008 · reported 10/17/2008
IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 02V070000 · 2002 · reported 03/06/2002
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 95V025000 · 1995 · reported 02/16/1995
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 95V141000 · 1995 · reported 07/26/1995
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD OCCUR, OCCUPANT PROTECTION LEVELS COULD BE REDUCED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 96V250000 · 1996 · reported 12/17/1996
IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“I WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER CAVALIER OWNER THAT A RECALL LETTER WAS SENT OUT ADVISING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR CAVALIERS BACK TO THE DEALERS TO…”NHTSA complaint 713412 — filed 10/17/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE.”NHTSA complaint 836111 — filed 03/24/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR…”NHTSA complaint 832836 — filed 12/30/1998 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 57 of 270 NHTSA complaints (21.1%), followed by air bags:frontal (23), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (18), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (18). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
270 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Of those, 32 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, and 26 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06E049000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
