1997 Chevrolet Cavalier: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 751 complaints
751
Total Complaints
84,197mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Top Issue
86
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

52,000 25th Percentile
84,197 Median Mileage
117,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
47
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
44
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
36
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
32
AIR BAGS
32
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
31
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
29
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
23
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
17

Severity Assessment

86
Crashes
33
Fires
98
Injuries
5
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"A FAULTY ASSEMBLY ON THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE MODULATOR CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK *SLC"
"AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK UNLESS SEATS ARE ALL THE WAY FORWARD OR ALL THE WAY BACK. PASSENGER'S SIDE OCCUPANT HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS MADE, SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK"
"THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT CORNER SUPPORTS, THAT HOLD UP THE ROOF AND WINDSHIELD, OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEW."

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