1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, and owners have filed 540 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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7 safety recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Rack and pinion (steering)

   NHTSA 02V286000 Reported November 4, 2002 1,159,156 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Certain passenger vehicles and MINI vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their…

2. Switch (electrical system)

   NHTSA 02V070000 Reported March 6, 2002 1,589,948 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   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.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…

3. Suspension: rear

   NHTSA 98V319000 Reported December 15, 1998 27,083 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. One of the rear suspension trailing arm bolts can fatigue and break.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear suspension trailing arm fasteners.

4. Air bags

   NHTSA 98V146000 Reported June 29, 1998 675,302 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.

   Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.

5. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 98V032000 Reported February 25, 1998 8 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles were built with mis-located welds at the joint between the left rocker panel inner reinforcement and the body side ring. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 214, "side door strength."

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the welds and, if necessary, place five welds between the involved panels and apply primer and topcoat finish materials.

6. Space saver wheel (wheels)

   NHTSA 97V106000 Reported June 28, 1997 652 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The compact spare tire assemblies were assembled with incorrect rims. If the spare tire is underinflated, the bead can separate from the rim causing a rapid loss of air. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 110, "tire selection and rims."

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the rim on the compact spare tire assembly. Owners are requested not to use the spare tire until the rim has been replaced.

7. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

   NHTSA 96V160000 Reported August 29, 1996 50 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

   These vehicles were built with an incorrect wiper blade assembly (17" long instead of 22" long) on the driver's side. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 104, "windshield wiping and washing systems."

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the correct wiper blade assembly and install a correct length wiper blade assembly.

540 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier have filed 540 complaints with NHTSA; 70 describe a crash and 25 describe a fire. Reports cite 78 injuries and 5 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,592 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 82 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline47
• Air bags: frontal44
• Steering: rack and pinion36
• Air bags32
• Electrical system: switch32
• Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip31
• Engine and engine cooling: engine29
• Unknown or other26

What owners are reporting

“Car radiator fan won't kick on cause car to get very dangerously hot causing car to become a bomb”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 20, 2016 · Electrical system

“Air bags deflated september 9, 2012 while in motion turning a 90 degree bend then braking into road bank on a the side of a country dirt road. An early inspection was handed down from the commonwealth”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 8, 2016 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Compare Chevrolet Cavalier model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier

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.