1983 Chevrolet Cavalier: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier. The newest campaign is 87V165000. NHTSA received the report on 26 Oct 1987. The NHTSA record gives the component Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv). NHTSA has 3 complaints on file for this model year. 6 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 87V165000, in the NHTSA record

Replace pulsair check valve and shut off valve with newly designed valves.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 1,627,795 units in total.

87V16500026 Oct 1987Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv)
87V0790007 May 1987Seats
83V10500013 Oct 1983Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Differential Proportional Valve
83V04200019 Apr 1983Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Upper Arm
82V0960007 Oct 1982Fuel System, Gasoline / Fuel Injection System / Injectors

87V165000Received 26 Oct 1987. 126,319 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv)
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Internal corrosion of pulsair check valve assembly could permit exhaust gas to melt the plastic shut off valve and draw valve pieces into the air cleaner and throttle body.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If valve pieces lodge against throttle plate, engine maynot return to idle resulting in loss accelerator control and possibly a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace pulsair check valve and shut off valve with newly designed valves.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Nov 1987.
87V079000Received 7 May 1987. 1,136,407 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The metal floor pan anchor bar could fatigue and break around the left front outer seat adjuster stud of the drivers seat, allowing the stud to separate from the floor pan anchor bar.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Drivers seat could tip rearward unexpectedly; this couldresult in loss of control and a vehicle crash without prior warning.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install a reinforcement bracket on the floor pan anchor bar at the left front outer seat adjuster position of the drivers seat.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Jun 1987.
83V105000Received 13 Oct 1983. 352,036 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Differential Proportional Valve
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The brake proportioner valves may break and separate from the master cylinder. This would allow brake fluid to leak and would result in a partial loss of the brake system.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace all suspect valves.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Oct 1983.
83V042000Received 19 Apr 1983. 312 units.
Suspension / Front / Control Arm / Upper Arm
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The left front suspension control arm which supports the front wheel, brake and steering assembly, may come loose at its mounting bracket. This is due to possible inadequate welding of the bracket.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will inspect the vehicle and, if necessary, replace the left front suspension support assembly at no cost.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 27 Apr 1983.
82V096000Received 7 Oct 1982. 12,721 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Fuel Injection System / Injectors
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Possible fuel leakage could occur at the throttle body injection fuel feed pipe connection on the involved vehicles.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The fuel feed line fitting bolt and two washers will be replaced by the dealer at no cost to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 11 Oct 1982.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

3 complaints, 17 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1983 Chevrolet Cavalier: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Electrical System		5
Engine and Engine Cooling		5
Vehicle Speed Control		3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic		1
Steering		1
Power Train		1
Fuel System, Gasoline		1

Complaints that report a crash: 0
Complaints that report a fire: 1
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 20 Apr 2000

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1995, with 1 complaint.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA87007	Engineering analysis	SUDDEN ACCEL	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	16 Dec 1986	7 Aug 1987
EA87006	Engineering analysis	POWER ST. ASSIST	Steering	16 Dec 1986	19 Sep 1988
DP86019	Defect petition	SUDDEN ACCELERATION	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	12 Sep 1986	22 Dec 1986
DP86018	Defect petition	POWER STEERING FAILURE	Unknown or Other	5 Sep 1986	19 Dec 1986
EA86023	Engineering analysis	SEAT TRACK LOCK	Seats	1 Aug 1986	1 Jun 1987	87V079000
PE85016	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	Engine and Engine Cooling	3 Dec 1984	22 Mar 1985	85V034000

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1983 Chevrolet CavalierThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/cavalier/1983/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier?: 1,627,795 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Cavalier have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 40 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Cavalier, model years 1982 to 2005. 5 of them name the 1983 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier name most often?: Electrical System: 5 of 17 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier open?: No. Each of the 6 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.