1996 Chevrolet Cavalier: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier. The newest campaign is 02V286000. NHTSA received the report on 4 Nov 2002. The NHTSA record gives the component Steering / Rack and Pinion. NHTSA has 496 complaints on file for this model year. 4 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, 02V286000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.

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 29 Mar 2018. 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

7 campaigns, newest first. 3,971,283 units in total.

02V2860004 Nov 2002Steering / Rack and Pinion
02V0700006 Mar 2002Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
98V31900015 Dec 1998Suspension / Rear
98V14600029 Jun 1998Air Bags
98V02700017 Feb 1998Interior Lighting
96V25000017 Dec 1996Exterior Lighting / Hazard Flashing Warning Lights
95V20100023 Oct 1995Vehicle Speed Control

02V286000Received 4 Nov 2002. 1,159,156 units.
Steering / Rack and Pinion
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 02049. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Jan 2003.
02V070000Received 6 Mar 2002. 1,589,948 units.
Electrical System / Ignition / Switch
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Manufacturer campaign number 02008. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 27 Mar 2002.
98V319000Received 15 Dec 1998. 27,083 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts can fatigue and break.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If this were to occur while the vehicle was in motion, a loss of vehicle control can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the rear suspension trailing arm fasteners.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Dec 1998.
98V146000Received 29 Jun 1998. 675,302 units.
Air Bags
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Air bags deploy with great force and can seriously injure unrestrained occupants who are too close to them.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 11 Aug 1998.
98V027000Received 17 Feb 1998. 249,420 units.
Interior Lighting
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with the potential for the interior lamps to come on unexpectedly while the vehicles are being driven. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 101, "controls and displays."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The interior lamps coming on unexpectedly could startle a driver causing a momentary loss of control increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will run a diagnostic test on the lamp control module and, if necessary, replace it.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Feb 1998.
96V250000Received 17 Dec 1996. 270,014 units.
Exterior Lighting / Hazard Flashing Warning Lights
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The front and/or rear hazard warning lamps (four-way flashers) do not flash when the hazard switch is activated. This fails to comply with FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If these lamps were not flashing, other vehicles would not be aware that this vehicle was stopped increasing the risk of an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers or vehicle owners will inspect for proper function of the hazard warning lamps. If necessary, dealers will replace the hazard lamp switch.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Jan 1997.
95V201000Received 23 Oct 1995. 360 units.
Vehicle Speed Control
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The accelerator control cable could have been kinked during assembly causing high accelerator pedal effort, sticking accelerator control cable, or a broken accelerator control cable.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If the accelerator control cable sticks or breaks, unwanted acceleration and/or loss of throttle control can result increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the accelerator control cable assembly.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..

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

496 complaints, 734 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
All 1996 vehicles

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1996 Cavalier	All 1996 vehicles	Cavalier, all years	Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling	188	145.2	138.1	138
Electrical System	145.8	82.2	165.2	107
Air Bags	99.5	66.3	55.1	73
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	79	125.1	111.5	58
Power Train	79	100.3	54.4	58
Steering	70.8	48.5	64.9	52
Visibility	42.2	61	53.6	31
Suspension	36.8	54	32.2	27
Unknown or Other	32.7	21.6	21	24
Seat Belts	28.6	22.6	28.5	21

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 24.

Complaints that report a crash: 55
Complaints that report a fire: 10
Injuries in the complaints: 58
Deaths in the complaints: 1
Date of the newest complaint: 19 Oct 2010

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 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1999, with 79 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP03007	Defect petition	UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION	Fuel System, Other / Delivery	14 Oct 2003	30 Jan 2004
PE02001	Preliminary evaluation	FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA	Electrical System	3 Jan 2002	15 Mar 2002	02V070000
EA98001	Engineering analysis	OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS	Air Bags	23 Jan 1998	31 Jul 1998	98V146000
PE97041	Preliminary evaluation	INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS	Air Bags	9 Sep 1997	23 Jan 1998

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 1996 Chevrolet CavalierThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/cavalier/1996/. 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: 29 Mar 2018
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 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier?: 3,971,283 units in 7 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. 7 of them name the 1996 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 138 of 734 component mentions, or 188 per 1,000. For all 1996 vehicles the figure is 145.2 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier open?: No. Each of the 4 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.