Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Owners filed 326 complaints about the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier with NHTSA between Sep 1999 and Mar 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (70).
Complaints
326
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system70
- Engine and engine cooling54
- Service brakes, hydraulic41
- Structure28
- Fuel system, gasoline28
- Steering27
- Power train25
- Suspension21
- Air bags18
- Exterior lighting14
- Visibility14
- Fuel system, other13
- Vehicle speed control11
- Equipment9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
27
47
47
50
64
23
15
8
10
4
5
7
2
2
5
4
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 27 |
| 2001 | 47 |
| 2002 | 47 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2004 | 64 |
| 2005 | 23 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
70 reports6 fires1 related recall
“AFTER ACCELERATING OVER 35MPH VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE ABLE TO STOP BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR AND FEEL THE MOTOR TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AROUND. ITS VERY UNSAFE AND NO ONE AT THE CAR SHOP ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG. I'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS FIXED AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES AFTER STARTING UP WILL ACCELERATE ON IT OWN. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
54 reports1 fire
“THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOVINGLY CARED FOR SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE UNDERBODY IS PERFECT BUT THE SUBFRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) IS BADLY RUSTED, WITH PITTING, SCALING AND A RUSTED THROUGH HOLE. I AM HEARTBROKEN! THIS CAR IS VERY NICE BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
41 reports7 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. DURING THE FAILURE THE BRAKE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINES FRACTURED AND WERE POSITIONED IN A MANNER IN WHICH THEY WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.”
Structure
28 reports1 fire
“REPORTING THIS AS A DEFECT ON CAR LIST ABOVE .I'M PA. STATE INSPECTION STATION. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY WE SEE AND REJECT FOR RUST OUT UNIT BODY REAR FRAMES . I FEEL THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEY OWN ONE THESE MODELS CAR COULD BUCKLE ON A REAR END COLLISION. I DID NOT SEE THIS ON YOUR SITE TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED THANKS KEN AT C&W PERFORMANCE PA. STATION # E7 .”
Fuel system, gasoline
28 reports
“THIS CAR WILL NOT START. AND WHEN IT DOES START IT BACK FIRES. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER, THE FLEX PLATE THE SENSORS, AND THE MUFFLER, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK AND NO MECHANIC CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH. I EVEN WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A CAR CODE READER AND IT SAYS EMISSIONS BUT STILL NO LUCK. *TR”
Steering
27 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.