Problems · by component

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system problems

94 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier cite electrical system, 18% of all 512 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
94
18% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2014Steering, Electrical system, EngineODI 10567934
“I HAVE JUST GOT A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT DOWN GOING DOWN THE HWY 50 MILES PER HOUR NO BRAKES OR STEERING . THE IGNITION SWITCK IT HAS A CODE SILINDER NOW IT WANT RUN OR NUTHING IT TURNS OVER BUT WANT START. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2009Electrical systemODI 10277045
“INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND/OR STAY ON AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF COMPLAINING AND I REMOVED THE FUSE - SO THAT THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF (OF COURSE THIS IS ALSO A FUSE TO SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE CAR). BUT, IT WAS THEY ONLY WAY I COULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM MYSELF. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2008Electrical system, Interior lightingODI 10219209
“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED HE BOUGHT A CAR ON 6-29-05 FROM KLICK LEWIS INC. ON HIS WAY HOME WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, SUDDENLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. HE CALLED THE DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD HIM THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT ROTORS. ON FRIDAY 7-15-05; BEFORE HE HAD TAKEN IT IN TO HAVE THE ROTORS PUT ON, HE NOTICED THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. HE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. AND THEY CAME OUT AND DIFFUSED THE FIRE AND TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE THEN CALLED THE SALESPERSON THAT SOLD HIM THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE GET BACK TO HIM. HE HAS MADE 5 TELEPHONE CALLS TO THEM AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED HIS CALLS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10129909
“CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHILE HAVING THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#02V286000. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE EVER MADE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 3, 2005Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10124784
“THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS DIM AND IT MADE IT VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS TICKETS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THIS ON TWO OR THREE VEHICLES A WEEK ON CAVALIER'S AND SUNFIRE'S. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRE HARNESS IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2005Electrical systemODI 10119391

Showing 6 of 94 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: switch

Free remedy

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.

Electrical systemReported Mar 6, 2002NHTSA 02V070000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.