1990 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier, and owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 173,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 19 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Knocking at start up for a good amount of time. When putting on the brake pads the pins wouldn't move to replace the brakes. Had to compress the pins loose with a c-clamp. Also, i've got some kind of”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 25, 2014 · Service brakes
“1990 cavalier gear shift moved to neutral when touched by consumers leg. *ts the consumer was driving about 65 MPH when this occurred. The consumer's son's leg touched the gear shift and caused it to”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 1, 2006 · Power train
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier (Cavalier Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–26 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–22 / 25–33 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.2/3.1 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Cavalier model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier | 5 | 3 |
| 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 8 |
| 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 4 |
| 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 18 |
| 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 24 |
| 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 12 |
| 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 43 |
| 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 55 |
| 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 55 |
| 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 134 |
| 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 146 |
| 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 212 |
| 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 270 |
| 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 503 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 540 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 345 |
| 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 240 |
| 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 315 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 243 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 196 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 678 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 330 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 287 |
Checking a specific 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
How do I know if my 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.