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.
The worst 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes51
- Electrical47
- Engine47
- Steering31
- Airbags24
- Transmission20
- Fuel system17
- Visibility15
- Lights13
- Acceleration11
- Suspension11
- Body8
- Seat belts8
- Locks2
- Tires2
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
ABS 15Stalling 14No deployment 9Headlights 9Brake failure 8Premature wear 7Grinding brakes 6Fuel gauge 5
Recalls 2
Electrical system: ignition: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
Recall number 04V036000 · Recall details
Interior lighting
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination." the instrument panel backlighting may not function after adjusting the interior light intensity.
- Risk
- If the instrument panel is not lit at night, the driver may not be able to see the controls and displays.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the body control module, and if necessary, replace it.
Recall number 99V218000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier 112
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Fuel system, gasoline
- This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Procedures to Unlock Delco...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Fuel system, gasoline
- Equipment
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Power train
- Vehicle Recalls
1999 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20-21 | 26-31 | 22-25 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-20 | 28-30 | 23-24 |
What 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet cavalier. While driving approximately 35 MPH and depressing the brake pedal to make a sudden stop, the pedal traveled to the floorboard. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Normal driving my fathers car the frame broke on the right hand side just past the lower control arm. Looks to be metal fatigue. I can send pictures if needed.
Driving down street heard a bang got out found driver side tire hitting fender toe truck came and should me that sub frame broke talk to several people said should never happen.
1999 chevrolet cavalier. Consumer writes in regards to transmission problems and vehicle sometimes emits white smoke through the vents. *smd the consumer stated the transmission and radiator needed to be serviced. Also, a serpentine belt and fuel pan was needed.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that when depressing the brakes, the vehicle slid and hesitated to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the brakes were readjusted. The vehicle was also taken to a private mechanic, who replaced the brake pads, drums and rotors. The failure recurred frequently. The failure was reported to the manufacturer, who refused to provide any assistance. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was 176,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the ABS light illuminated on the instrument panel and the rear brakes would not respond. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. The technician stated that the electronic brake control module would have to be replaced and the brakes would be cleaned and adjusted. The failure continued after the repairs and the electronic tracking system light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on three different occasions. The technician replaced the crank shaft sensor and the computer. The failure continued. The approximate failure mileage was 213,000.
My 1999 chevy cavalier's fuel gauge just stopped working out of the blue. It reads that the fuel tank is full and doesn't drop. We didn't know that this had occurred until my car ran out of fuel on a 4-lane highway while sitting at stop light. We were almost got rear ended by approaching high-speed traffic multiple times, and we were forced to leave my vehicle in the middle of the road to get to safety. Luckily my husband was able to push the danged car off of the roadway/intersection once a passerby stopped behind us and turned his hazard flashers on. The nice gentleman also got out of his vehicle and helped my husband push the car off of the roadway. Thank god for good samaritans! The fuel gauge never leaves "full". After talking to a dealer and several auto shops, we decided it made more sense to go by the odometer from now on, which is a gigantic inconvenience. This decision was made based upon the ridiculously high cost for repair, along with the fact that most mechanic's told us that the fix would only be temporary, as fuel gauge failures across the board is a well-known common general motors product problem, and that a fuel gauge failure will likely rear it's ugly head again sooner or later.
Compare the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
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Questions about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
Is the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
Owners have filed 240 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier, fewer than a typical Cavalier model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Brakes, with 51 complaints, typically around 176,000 miles. Next is electrical (47).
How many recalls does the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system and interior lighting.
What year does the Chevrolet Cavalier have bad brakes?
The Chevrolet Cavalier model years with the most brakes complaints are 1994 (65 complaints), 1997 (64 complaints) and 1996 (60 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier range from 22 to 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20-21 city and 26-31 highway.
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