How do I know if my 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has a recall?

To know if your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall, start by entering your vehicle's VIN or license plate in our Safety Recall Checker. We will find recalls that affect your vehicle and need to be repaired.

How do I check my VIN for recalls for free?

Check your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN for free by entering it into our Safety Recall Checker.

What happens if my 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?

If your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier is affected by a recall, it means that NHTSA and the manufacturer have identified an issue with your vehicle. After you check your vehicle, you can contact a dealership to schedule a repair.

How long does a recall take to fix?

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on the exact repairs needed. Something simple like a software update can be done in minutes, but complex mechanical repairs may take days or weeks. Ask the dealership when you schedule your appointment.

Do you need a warranty for a recall?

Your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier does not need to be under warranty to get recalls fixed. Recalls for safety-related items on your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier are taken care of by Chevrolet at no cost to you even if your vehicle warranty has expired or if you are not the original owner of the vehicle.

How long does a recall last on a car?

A recall does not expire as long as the vehicle manufacturer remains in business or continues to make the replacement parts. Generally, recalls can be fixed for free up to 15 years after your car's date of manufacture.

Why should you check for safety recalls?

Road Safety Risks

Open recalls can be dangerous for you and your family.

Mail Delays

Older or used cars can be more difficult for manufacturers to locate.

Risk of Costly Damage

We'll connect you with a dealership near you to fix the recall at no cost.

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier

7 Recalls

NHTSA 02V-286 · OEM 02049

1996-1998 Chevrolet Venture Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Trans Sport Recall 02V286000

1,159,156 Potential Units Affected

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.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier and 16 others

NHTSA 02V-070 · OEM 02008

1995-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Buick Skylark Recall 02V070000

1,589,948 Potential Units Affected

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 10 others

NHTSA 98V-319

1996-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 98V319000

27,083 Potential Units Affected

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 2 others

NHTSA 98V-146

1996-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 98V146000

675,302 Potential Units Affected

AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 2 others

NHTSA 98V-027

1996 Chevrolet Beretta Pontiac Grand Am Buick Skylark Recall 98V027000

249,420 Potential Units Affected

THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire and 4 others

NHTSA 96V-250

1995-1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Oldsmobile Achieva Recall 96V250000

270,014 Potential Units Affected

IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire and 4 others

NHTSA 95V-201

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 95V201000

360 Potential Units Affected

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.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire

Recalls

Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls by Year

2005 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1995 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1994 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1993 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1992 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

1991 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

Model Recalls By Year

Recall FAQs

If your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier is affected by a new safety recall, Chevrolet will attempt to contact you by sending you a notice in the mail. This notice will detail the defect, when parts for repair will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your unrepaired car is currently safe to drive or not.

If you aren't the original owner, have changed addresses, or have never visited your local dealership for service or maintenance, then you most likely will not receive a recall notice in the mail.

Another way to know whether your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall is to enter your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-digit alphanumeric code that can be found on the bottom edge of your car's windshield, on the driver's side. It can also be found on your vehicle's registration card.

You can check your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier for recalls by entering your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker found above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric identification code on the bottom edge of your car’s windshield, on the driver’s side. It can also be found on your vehicle’s registration card.

Checking your VIN is the best way to find out if your car is affected by any recalls. Identical vehicles of the same make, model, year, and trim may not be affected by the same recall. A VIN is unique to a specific vehicle.

Your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier is affected by a recall if the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that a problem with your car makes it a safety risk or fails to meet safety standards. When this happens, the vehicle manufacturer is obligated to fix your vehicle.

Normally, you will receive a letter in the mail that explains the recall and how to get the defect fixed promptly and at no charge to you. The letter will explain what the exact defect is, when the parts will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your car is safe to drive or not.

But in many cases, the manufacturer won't know you own an affected vehicle, which is why you should check your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier for safety recalls frequently.

Use our Safety Recall Checker to check your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier for open recalls.

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on many different factors:

How many vehicles are affected by the recall? How complex is the problem to fix? How many different parts are involved in the repair? Are the repair parts available? Has the dealership received the parts for the repair yet? Do dealership technicians have training to conduct the specific repair? How many recalled cars can the dealer repair each day (while also doing their daily service business)?

Recalls are unrelated to your warranty coverage. Any recalls that are issued for safety-related items on your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier will be repaired by the vehicle manufacturer at no cost to you. Even if your vehicle's warranty has expired and you are not the original owner of the vehicle, you are still eligible to have any open safety recalls on your vehicle repaired.

You can check for any open recalls on your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier by entering its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Safety recalls that address a defective part or system on your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier that came from the factory do not expire and can generally be fixed up to 15 years after the date of manufacture. Even if you are not the original owner, you can have repairs done to resolve any open recalls. This is important, especially if the recalls are safety-related. The only exceptions are if the carmaker is no longer in business or if the dealership can no longer get the needed parts. Recall repairs are generally free up to 15 years after the date of manufacture.

To check whether there are any open recalls on your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, enter its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker here. Your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN can be found at the base of the windshield or on your registration card. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

Check your specific VIN or plate below.

There are 7 recalls that may affect your 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier.

Check your Chevrolet Cavalier for safety recalls and get them fixed for free at a Chevrolet dealership near you.

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier

7 Recalls

NHTSA 02V-286 · OEM 02049

1996-1998 Chevrolet Venture Oldsmobile Silhouette Pontiac Trans Sport Recall 02V286000

1,159,156 Potential Units Affected

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier and 16 others

NHTSA 02V-070 · OEM 02008

1995-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Buick Skylark Recall 02V070000

1,589,948 Potential Units Affected

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 10 others

NHTSA 98V-319

1996-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 98V319000

27,083 Potential Units Affected

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL CAN OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 2 others

NHTSA 98V-146

1996-1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 98V146000

675,302 Potential Units Affected

AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and 2 others

NHTSA 98V-027

1996 Chevrolet Beretta Pontiac Grand Am Buick Skylark Recall 98V027000

249,420 Potential Units Affected

THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire and 4 others

NHTSA 96V-250

1995-1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Oldsmobile Achieva Recall 96V250000

270,014 Potential Units Affected

IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire and 4 others

NHTSA 95V-201

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Pontiac Sunfire Recall 95V201000

360 Potential Units Affected

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.

Vehicles Affected: 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1996 Pontiac Sunfire