Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA data on file today
The 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 315 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E063000 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT/LOSS OF STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V036000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V201000 GM/FMVSS 101/INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 68 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 52 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 39 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 28 complaints
- Steering 27 complaints
- Structure 27 complaints
Of the 315 complaints on file, 25 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 315 complaints, owners report 21 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,500–$6,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier exhibits a high number of owner complaints, particularly in electrical systems and engine issues, with 68 and 52 complaints, respectively. The model has 7 recall campaigns addressing critical components such as steering and fuel systems. Given these factors and limited data on long-term reliability, caution is recommended.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $150–$700 | common |
| engine and cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | No reliable estimate | common |
| service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $100–$500 | occasional |
| fuel system | Unknown | $200–$900 | 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.
- Replace brake pads and rotors
- Inspect and recharge AC system
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Change engine coolant
- Replace spark plugs
- Inspect suspension components
- Check and replace belts
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Intermittent electrical issues
- Engine overheating
- Brake pedal feels spongy
- Fuel smells in cabin
- Steering wheel vibration
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.