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

To know if your 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 Chevrolet Cavalier VIN for free by entering it into our Safety Recall Checker.

What happens if my Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?

If your 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 Chevrolet Cavalier does not need to be under warranty to get recalls fixed. Recalls for safety-related items on your 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.

Chevrolet Cavalier 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.

Chevrolet Cavalier

24 Recalls

AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Vehicles Affected: 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2003 Pontiac Sunfire

IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Vehicles Affected: 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2004 Pontiac Sunfire

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Vehicles Affected: 1998 Buick Skylark, 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier and 9 others

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: 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1998 Pontiac Sunfire and 16 others

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

THIS COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

Vehicles Affected: 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier

ABRASION FROM CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LEAK IN THE BRAKE PIPE, FUEL PIPE, OR BOTH. A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD DISABLE A PORTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM A FUEL PIPE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Vehicles Affected: 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

Recalls

Model Recalls By Year

Recall FAQs

If your 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 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 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 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 Chevrolet Cavalier for safety recalls frequently.

Use our Safety Recall Checker to check your 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 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 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 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 Chevrolet Cavalier, enter its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker here. Your 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

24 Recalls

Vehicles Affected: 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2003 Pontiac Sunfire

IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Vehicles Affected: 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, 2004 Pontiac Sunfire

Vehicles Affected: 1998 Buick Skylark, 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier and 9 others

Vehicles Affected: 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, 1998 Pontiac Sunfire and 16 others

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

THIS COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

Vehicles Affected: 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier

Vehicles Affected: 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

Why should you check for safety recalls?

Road Safety Risks

Mail Delays

Risk of Costly Damage

Chevrolet Cavalier

24 Recalls

NHTSA 04V-524 · OEM 04083

Brake Lights and Turn Signals May Not Work

256,025 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 04V-300 · OEM 04056

Rear Safety Belt May Be Installed with an Incorrect Fastener

37 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 04V-036 · OEM 04002

1998-2001 Buick Skylark Chevrolet Cavalier Oldsmobile Achieva Recall 04V036000

1,415,231 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 02V-286 · OEM 02049

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

1,159,156 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 02V-070 · OEM 02008

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

1,589,948 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 00V-201 · OEM 00062

Chevrolet Recalls 2000 Cavalier Because of Dash Lighting Illumination Issue

28 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 00V-053 · OEM 00002

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Recall 00V053000

391 Potential Units Affected

Recall FAQs

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

How do I check my VIN for recalls for free?

What happens if my Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?

How long does a recall take to fix?

Do you need a warranty for a recall?

How long does a recall last on a car?

Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

There are 24 recalls that may affect your Chevrolet Cavalier.

Chevrolet Cavalier

24 Recalls

NHTSA 04V-524 · OEM 04083

Brake Lights and Turn Signals May Not Work

256,025 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 04V-300 · OEM 04056

Rear Safety Belt May Be Installed with an Incorrect Fastener

37 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 04V-036 · OEM 04002

1998-2001 Buick Skylark Chevrolet Cavalier Oldsmobile Achieva Recall 04V036000

1,415,231 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 02V-286 · OEM 02049

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

1,159,156 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 02V-070 · OEM 02008

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

1,589,948 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 00V-201 · OEM 00062

Chevrolet Recalls 2000 Cavalier Because of Dash Lighting Illumination Issue

28 Potential Units Affected

NHTSA 00V-053 · OEM 00002

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Recall 00V053000

391 Potential Units Affected