Problems · by component

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system problems

45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier cite electrical system, 18% of all 247 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
45
18% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DENTIST APPOINTMENT, SUDDENLY A HISSING NOISE CAME FROM THE CAR.ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE.I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE CITY.I HAD TO ACT IN A SPLIT SECOND AND STEER QUICKLY OFF OF THE NEAREST SIDE RIDE.THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING UP.I HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE STREET IN TIME AND TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND.I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.THE CAR WAS TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE.I BELIEVE IT WAS A FLOODED OUT CAR SOLD TO THE UNSUSPECTITHAT UNSUSPECTING PERSON WAS ME.I GOT SUCKERED OUT OF OVER $2400. I HAVE PAID FOR AT LEAST 2 NEW CARS WITH THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON THIS LEMON.BY THE WAY THE SHADY OWNER DON'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE AT ALL FOR SCAMMING MY MONEY OUT OF ME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2017Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11015464
“TAKATA RECALL: FUEL GAGE NAS NEVER WORKED SINCE BEING BOUGHT, TURN SIGNALS ( BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT) BARELY WORKED WHEN BOUGHT AND WENT OUT COMPLETLY THE NEXT DAY, POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND AND CANT TURN WHEEL,SHIFT GEAR LINKAGES WILL ONLY SHIFT MANUALLY UNDER THE HOOD, CAR WILL DIE OR STRUGGLE TO CONTINUE RUNNING UNLESS FOOT IS ALWAYS PUSHING ON GAS, ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY BACKFIRES, AND NOT QUITE SURE IF THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY OR GONE OUT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2017Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11005891
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2005 WHEN SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT WOULD ALLUDE TO THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK AND TURN INVOLUNTARILY WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND HEADLIGHTS, WERE ALSO FAULTY. THE BULBS IN THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT AND MELTED AFTER THEY WERE USED THREE TO FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT RELATED RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FOUND EIGHT RECALLS FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2010Steering, Fuel system, other, Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10323331
“TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY CAR STARTED SMOKING THROUGH THE AC VENTS ONE DAY AND I DESCRIBED THIS TO A CHEVY 800 # REP AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL # 04002 IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. I GO TO PICK IT UP AND THE BURNED WIRES UNDER THE DASH WERE NOT REPLACED, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I CALLED THE 800# BACK AND TOLD HIM I WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AND NOW THIS GUY CLAIMS THAT HE NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL FITS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH NOT FIXING MY CAR. I WANT IT FIXED! I JUST WANTED TO SEND THIS QUICK EMAIL AND WILL GO IN DEPTH ABOUT IT ONCE I RECEIVE YOUR REPLY. THANKS. *TR UPDATED 09/09/08”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2008Electrical systemODI 10236315
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIRST AND THEN THE DEALER WOULD COMPLETE THE REST OF THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,319 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,019.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2008Electrical systemODI 10214335
“WITH IGNITION KEY IN START POSITION I BEGIN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THIS PROMPTED SITE SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT RE-CALL #02V070000 APPLIES TO MY 1996 CAVALIER. DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTANCE OF RECALL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2007Electrical systemODI 10212190

Showing 6 of 45 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 Jan 27, 2004NHTSA 04V036000
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.