1988 Chevrolet Cavalier
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Chevrolet › Cavalier › 1988
These records cover every 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier. Newest first.
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (to see the school bus engine sizes…
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
Remedy
Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. the recall began on october 18, 2006. owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1).
There may be poor bond adhesion between windshield glass and mounting.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Windshield could separate during a 30 mph frontal barriertest required by fmvss 212. such separation during an accident could result inan unbelted occupant being ejected and injuried.
Remedy
Reinstall windshield assuring proper adhesion.
Rear lamp wiring harness may contain open or intermittent circuits affecting back up lamp or license plate lamp operation.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Lamps would flash or be inoperative; cars would notcomply with fmvss 108.
Remedy
Install new wiring harness.
Owner complaints
12 complaints1 involved a crash1 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Visibility › Windshield
Dt: the contact stated there IS wind blowing around the front windshield sealants, allowing cold drafts to enter into the vehicle. the contact discovered nhtsa recall 88v121000, but this vehicle was not included in the recall due to the vin. however, the vehicle had the same symptoms as indicated in the recall. no repairs or corrections have been made at this time. *ak
- Visibility › Windshield
Windshield bonding does not meet fmvss 212, 1988, chevrolet cavalier, nhtsa campaign no: 88v121000. *ak
- Electrical system
Purchased a 1988 chevrolet cavalier from e[ilotos auto sales 2230 frankfort ave. Phila. Pa. the car was sold without the dealer informing the buyer of the defects. there were many....two main crunchers were the brakes and huddled systems. the emission stickers were due. the dealer said,"he…
Purchased a 1988 chevrolet cavalier from e[ilotos auto sales 2230 frankfort ave. Phila. Pa. the car was sold without the dealer informing the buyer of the defects. there were many....two main crunchers were the brakes and huddled systems. the emission stickers were due. the dealer said,"he would put stickers on after the sale," which when the time arrived for the transaction,he said,"we could but they're hot." now we arer having a difficult time finding a garage to put stickers on it because of the mechanical defects.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Back up lights · Exterior lighting › Brake lights · Exterior lighting › Tail lights
No summary listed for above vehicle. *Ak
- Wheels
Water leaks into the spare tire well in the trunk.
- Steering › Rack and pinion › Rack
Due to the aluminum construction of the steering rack and its internal components, the steering fails on left turns in cold weather.
- Suspension › Front
Suspension/body problems. Vehicle was in a wrecked before driver purchased it. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
The elctronic instrument panel goes out while driving. *Ak consumer states the cluster goes out while driving consumer has to pukk over to wait for the cluster to come back on, consumer has contacted dealership and they refuse to fix problem, consumer states he has anothr vehicle that has this same problem and the cluster has been fixed once already on that vehicle.*jb
- Steering
'Cold power steering'. *Dh
- Seat belts › Front
During a frontal impact collision, the driver's side lap seat belt broke apart. please describe. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
While driving, vehicle caught fire in front dash, electrical. tt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Was driving the car came to a stop light put on brake it feel like car IS already to go. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Engine compartment fires
There is no summary currently available
- Sticking throttle
There is no summary currently available
- Brake performance
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- Stop lamps
Summary:a chevrolet service bulletin dated july 1988 indicates that bothsockets must be replaced using part number 5972532.this service stockuses a new heat resistant material.production stock was also correctedbeginning with vins j7163799 and jj187909.===
- Brake ineffectiveness
There is no summary currently available
- Poor braking
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 613590Information regarding snow intrusion into rear drum brake assemblies. **Mr
Every Chevrolet Cavalier model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.