Problems · by component

1999 Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier cite steering, 12% of all 247 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
30
12% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“ENGINE SHAKES WHEN FIRST STARTED N WHEN IDLING, BUT NOT WHEN DRIVING. HOSES N BELTS R NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. NOT SURE ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BUT SEEN ON THIS SITE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE OR WHERE, QUIT A FEW RECALLS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. ESPECIALLY SAFETY ONES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2019Steering, Power train, EngineODI 11242805
“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
“I PURCHASED A NEW 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER IN MARCH 1999 AND BEGAN HEARING CREAKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. SINCE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK IT THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FOR REPAIR. THEY GREASED SOME PARTS TO DIMINISH THE NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR IN 2 OTHER TIMES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THE SAME ACTION WAS TAKEN, NO PARTS WERE EVER REPLACED. RECENTLY I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $2300. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND WARNINGS TO MECHANICS THAT CONSUMERS MAY COME TO THEM WITH THESE ISSUES LISTED OVER THE LAST 9 YEARS. THEREFORE, THIS IS A FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE THAT UNTIL NOW CHEVROLET HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE AND I WAS WARNED IF THE WHEEL STARTS TO "STIFFEN UP" TO COME BACK IMMEDIATELY AS THE DANGER OF LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY HIGH. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2008SteeringODI 10246410
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS HEARING THIS WHINING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I CALLED THE SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO, AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID A METAL PIECE UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE TUBE THAT CARRIES THE POWER STEERING FLUID. I ASKED THEM WHAT HAD CAUSED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 28, 2007SteeringODI 10183814
“DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND FREELY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE COUPLING WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING WHEEL SLID OUT, LEAVING THE BOLT IN THE STEERING COMPLETELY INTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT IS STILL AT THE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST DUE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2006SteeringODI 10146814
“STEERING:RACK AND PINION...WENT OUT. I HEAR THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND YET NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LET EVERYONE I KNOW TO STAY AWAY. 1999 CHEVY CAV.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2005SteeringODI 10129254

Showing 6 of 30 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

Steering

Free remedy

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

SteeringReported Oct 17, 2008NHTSA 08E063000
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.