Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA data on file today
The 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 240 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 #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V036000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V218000 GM/FMVSS 101 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 45 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 42 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 40 complaints
- Steering 30 complaints
- Air Bags 23 complaints
- Power Train 19 complaints
Of the 240 complaints on file, 27 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 240 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier has a below-average rating due to its high number of complaints and eight recall campaigns. The most common issues center around the electrical system, braking, and engine concerns, indicating potential reliability concerns. Given the substantial complaints, ownership may involve frequent repairs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$1,000 | common |
| Service brakes | Unknown | $150–$700 | common |
| Engine cooling | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | common |
| Steering | Unknown | $200–$800 | 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
- Brake fluid replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant system flush
- Battery replacement
- Spark plug replacement
- Tire rotations
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine warning light
- Unresponsive brake pedal
- Unusual engine noises
- Dimming lights
- Steering wheel vibrations
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.