"How reliable is the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier?"

"Based on 70 NHTSA complaints, the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier has a median complaint mileage of 0 miles. The most common issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD."

"What are common problems with the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, accounting for a significant portion of the 70 total complaints filed."

1990 Chevrolet Cavalier: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 70 complaints

Total Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

Top Issue

Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SEAT BELTS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"STEERING COLUNM STARTS SMOKING AND THERE IS NO WINDSHEILD WIPER. TT"

"WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER SMOKE COMES FROM STEERING COLUMN WHILE USING TURN SIGNAL AND ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY TURN SIGNAL STALK. TT"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28