Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA data on file today
The 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 503 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E063000 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT/LOSS OF STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E015000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V286000 GM/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V070000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V319000 GM/REAR SUSPENSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V146000 GM/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V027000 GM/FMVSS 101 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V250000 GENERAL MOTORS/FMVSS 108/4 WAY FLASHERS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #95V201000 Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 106 complaints
- Electrical System 94 complaints
- Air Bags 73 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 51 complaints
- Power Train 50 complaints
- Steering 45 complaints
Of the 503 complaints on file, 58 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 503 complaints, owners report 61 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has a below-average reliability rating, supported by 503 owner complaints and 13 recall campaigns. These highlight issues with engine and electrical systems, as well as airbags and brakes. Although there is substantial complaint data, specifics about failure mileages are limited, making precise failure ranges difficult to ascertain.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine | Unknown | $1,000–$3,000 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | common |
| airbags | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 12,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Brake fluid change every 20,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine rough idle or stalling
- Electrical system faults
- Airbag warning lights
- Excessive brake pedal travel
- Unusual steering noises
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.