1987 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
The Chevrolet Cavalier is a line of compact cars produced by Chevrolet. Serving as the replacement of the Chevrolet Monza, the Cavalier was the second Chevrolet model line to adopt front-wheel drive. Three versions of the Cavalier have been sold, including three generations sold in North America from model years 1982 to 2005, a version produced by SAIC-GM for China from 2016 to 2021, and a SAIC-GM version produced for Mexico since the 2019 model year.
The Cavalier was among the inaugural vehicles of the GM J platform. One of the first "world cars" of General Motors, the J platform was developed for use by each North American GM division (with the exception of GMC), alongside international models for Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden. Though sharing chassis underpinnings, J-body cars from Europe and Australia used slightly different body designs and different powertrains; in Europe, the Vauxhall Cavalier and Opel Ascona were marketed as mid-size cars. Initially a divisional counterpart of the Buick Skyhawk, Cadillac Cimarron, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Pontiac J2000, the Cavalier was primarily marketed alongside the Pontiac Sunbird (renamed the Pontiac Sunfire for 1995).
The 1982-2005 Cavalier was produced by multiple GM facilities across North America. For 2005, the Chevrolet Cobalt replaced the model line in North America.
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Common 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier, several common problems have been reported:
- Transmission Troubles: Many owners have experienced transmission problems with the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier, typically occurring around the 90,000-mile mark or earlier. These issues range from minor repairs to major rebuilds or complete replacements, with an average repair cost exceeding $3,000.
- Electrical Problems: The Cavalier is known to have various electrical issues, including starting failures, malfunctioning windows and door mirrors, sudden battery drain, and even instances of fires. The average cost to fix electrical problems in the Cavalier is around $450.
- Power Steering Failure: Owners of the Chevy Malibu, a model closely related to the Cavalier, have reported sudden power steering failures. In many cases, the only solution is to replace the entire steering system, which can cost an average of $910.
- Instrument Panel Failures: Chevrolet Silverados and Trailblazers, which share similarities with the Cavalier, have experienced issues with their instrument panels failing around the 64,000-mile mark. Repairing this problem often involves replacing the instrument cluster at a cost of approximately $440.
These common problems with the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier highlight some of the challenges faced by owners of this vehicle, ranging from security system malfunctions to significant mechanical and electrical issues.
How many miles will a Cavalier last?
There are reports of 2003 Cavaliers topping 300,000 miles with the original powertrain and engine. One mechanic at Car Gurus even claims to have worked on an engine with 440,000 miles on it. But, as you can't vouch for the previous owner's maintenance habits, expect a lifespan of around 250,000 miles.
Why did Chevy stop making Cavaliers?
Contrary to the American markets, however, the cavalier remained on sale in other regions like Mexico for example. Stopping the Cavalier's production was a logical decision based on the declining sedan sales in the United States, a decision that left only the Malibu to represent the sedan segment in Chevrolet's lineup.
How much horsepower does a 1987 Chevy Cavalier Z24 have?
The Z24 is motivated by a 130-hp 2.8L V6 with multiport fuel-injection.
How many MPG does a Chevy Cavalier get?
2018 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG
Based on data from 1 vehicles, 18 fuel-ups and 5,453 miles of driving, the 2018 Chevrolet Cavalier gets a combined Avg MPG of 32.33 with a 1.21 MPG margin of error. Below you can see a distribution of the fuel-ups with 1 outliers (5.26%) removed.
How long can a Chevy Cavalier last?
There are reports of 2003 Cavaliers topping 300,000 miles with the original powertrain and engine. One mechanic at Car Gurus even claims to have worked on an engine with 440,000 miles on it. But, as you can't vouch for the previous owner's maintenance habits, expect a lifespan of around 250,000 miles.
Why did Chevy stop making Cavaliers?
Contrary to the American markets, however, the cavalier remained on sale in other regions like Mexico for example. Stopping the Cavalier's production was a logical decision based on the declining sedan sales in the United States, a decision that left only the Malibu to represent the sedan segment in Chevrolet's lineup.
What kind of engine does a Chevy Cavalier have?
The chassis was revised for 2003. All Cavaliers are powered by GM's newly developed Ecotec 2.2-liter engine, which offers responsive performance, excellent fuel economy, and low emissions. Chevrolet Cavalier is designed to offer a compelling value.
What engine is in the Toyota Cavalier?
2.4-liter LD9 four-cylinder engine
Predictably, Toyota also opted for the top spec of Cavalier, equipped with the 2.4-liter LD9 four-cylinder engine and four-speed automatic transmission.
1987 Chevrolet Cavalier car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Chevrolet Cavalier problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Steering problems
- Seat belts problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Tires problems
- Seats problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier
The NHTSA has received 26 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier vehicles.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-06-09
- VIN: 1G1JC5114HJ
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY EVENING. I WAS DOING BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY TIRES FOR A FLAT OR SEE IF SOMETHING WAS HANGING BELOW MY CAR. NO FLAT, NOTHING HANGING. BUT MY TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM MY TIRE. I PURCHASED THOSE TIRES BRAND NEW FROM FIRESTONE ON 05/24/2002. *AK
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-09-15
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1G1JD5214HJ
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING CONSTANT BLOWOUTS AND FLATS WITH THE TIRES. ONE INCIDENT LED TO THE VEHICLE SLAMMING INTO A STREET CURB. *JG
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-08-12
- VIN: 1G1JD5117HK
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: BELT THAT HOLDS DRIVERS SEAT TO THE FLOOR BROKE AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE SOMETIMES WILL NOT PULL OUT.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: THE BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN ARE LOOSE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MOVE FREELY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS HIT FROM REAR BY A PICKUP TRUCK, RESULTING IN THE REAR BACK OF THE DRIVERS SEAT BREAKING, AND CONSUMER WAS IN A RECLINING POSITION, NOT ABLE TO GET THE SEAT UP OR SEE THE ROAD. ONLY THE LAP PART OF THE SEAT BELT WAS HOLDING HER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED CONCERNING INCIDENT. *AK
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-12-16
- VIN: 1G1JC1117HJ
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: DOOR HINGE SEPERATED FROM MOUNTING PLATE IN DOOR.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G1JC5116HK
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES FAIL AT TIMES. YH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G1JE8111HJ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES HAVE MALFUNCTED SINCE PURCHASE.
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G1JD5118H7
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: WHILE ADJUSTING DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME, RENDERING SEAT INOPERATIVE. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G1JF11W1HJ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER INOPERATIVE..
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1G1JF11W1HJ
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: SUN-ROOF LEAKS.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-01
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 1G1JF11W4HJ
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: SEAT BELT FAILED DURING VEHICLE ROLLOVER, CAUSING INJURY.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-06-01
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1GLJS11W4HJ
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM IN THE SEAT*AK CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD AND HE CAME OVER AH HILL AND CAUGHT THE PILE OF GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHIC THEN TURNED OVER THREE OR FOUR TIMES AND DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE,THE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN.*JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-10-05
- VIN: 1G1JE811XHJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS IN FREEZING WEATHER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-08-23
- VIN: 1G1JE3118H7
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-02-01
- VIN: 1G1JE81W0HJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: ENGINE SURGED TWICE.
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-21
- VIN: 1G1JD5111H7
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN TO LOCK UP. *AK
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-02-25
- VIN: 1G1JC111XH7
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION FAILED. *SD
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-12-25
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: EXTREME FORCE NEEDED TO TURN STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER. MORE REASONABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. TT
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-12-25
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: EXTREME FORCE NEEDED TO TURN STEERING DURING COLD WEATHER. MORE REASONABLE WHEN TURNING TO THE LEFT. TT
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-04-10
- VIN: 1G1JD511XHJ
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-06-07
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE FRONT PASSENGER AND OCCASIONALLY DRIVERS SEATBELT LOCKS UP BEFORE IT LATCHES MAKING IT NOT LATCH. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1992-10-01
- VIN: 1G1JE5115HJ
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: FRONT SEATBELT'S RESTRAINTS LOCK AND PREVENTS SEATBELTS FROM BUCKLING. TT
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-05-10
- VIN: 1G1JC1110H7
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: STEERING WHEEL VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO LEFT DURING LOW RPM ORV AT LOW SPEEDS. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-06-27
- VIN: 1G1JC81W1JJ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: TRANSMISSION STICKS IN GEAR. CAUSING AN INABILITY TO STOP THE CAR. TT
1987 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier.
- Manufacturer: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: 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, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
- Consequence: 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).
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE MAY CONTAIN WATER WHICH COULD FREEZE WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED CAUSING TRAVEL OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE TO BECOME RESTRICTED WHEN THROTTLE IS INITIALLY OPENED.
- Consequence: ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT DECREASE WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSSOF ACCELERATOR CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
- Remedy: REPLACE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE.
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
- Summary: PARKING BRAKE LEVER MECHANISMS MAY NOT PROPERLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLE COULD UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL AWAY UNCONTROLLED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy: REPLACE PARKING BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY.
Other years of Chevrolet Cavalier
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