1984 Chevrolet Cavalier
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.
1984 Chevrolet Cavalier at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1984 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls 3
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 C…
Fix: 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).
THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, ALLOWING THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR.
Fix: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET ON THE FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR AT THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER POSITION OF THE DRIVERS SEAT.
SOME VEHICLES HAVE BUCKET SEAT BACK LOCKS THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 207, ANCHORAGE OF SEATS. IN EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK LOCK MAY NOT FUNCTION.
Fix: INSPECTION OF SEAT BACK LOCKS WILL BE PERFORMED. LOCKS THAT HAVE BENT, BROKEN OR MISSING HOOKS WILL BE REPLACED.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1984 Chevrolet Cavalier common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1984 Chevrolet Cavalier MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 7 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier — ranges cover the 5 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 8
HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE Closed
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NHTSA #PE88027 · Exterior Lighting · opened Feb 1988 · closed May 1988SUDDEN ACCEL Closed
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ANALYSIS:STATUS: GM RESPONDED BY LETTER DATED 12 FEBRUARY 1987. EA CLOSED ON8/7/87.===
NHTSA #EA87007 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Dec 1986 · closed Aug 1987POWER ST. ASSIST Closed
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER: GM HAS DEVELOPED A SPLITRING FIELD REPAIR KIT AND IS EXTENDING THE WARRANRY ON ALL 1982-84 A,J, AND X, BODY CARS AND 1985 C,BODY CARS. THE WARRANTY APPLIES TO CARSTHAT ARE FOR 50,000 MILES OR 5 YRS. IT INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSREPAIRS.ANALYSIS: WEARING OF THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING AND LOW AMBIENT TEMPCAN CAUSE TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER ASSIST. TEFLON O RINGS FAI…
NHTSA #EA87006 · Steering · opened Dec 1986 · closed Sep 1988SUDDEN ACCELERATION Closed
NHTSA #DP86019 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Sep 1986 · closed Dec 1986POWER STEERING FAILURE Closed
POWER STEERING FAILURE
NHTSA #DP86018 · opened Sep 1986 · closed Dec 1986SEAT TRACK LOCK Closed
NHTSA #EA86023 · Seats · opened Aug 1986 · closed Jun 1987SEAT TRACK LOCK Closed
ANALYSIS: EIGHT (8) OF THE 13 COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURREDPRIOR TO ANY IMPACT/ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT. ONE (1) OF THE FAILURES MAY HAVECAUSED OR AT LEAST INFLUENCED THE DRIVERS INVOLVEMENT IN AN ACCIDENT. THEDRIVER'S SUDDEN TEMPORARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL MAY HAVE RESULTED FROMHIS INABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES DUE TO THE SEATS REARWARD MOVEMENT.FOUR (4) OF THE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED DURING AN ACCID…
NHTSA #PE86049 · Seats · opened Apr 1986 · closed Aug 1986ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES Closed
NHTSA #PE85016 · Engine And Engine Cooling · opened Dec 1984 · closed Mar 1985An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CAVALIER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 2
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Structure
ON VEHICLES WITH A MANUALLY ADJUSTED DRIVER'S SEAT, THE METAL FLOOR PAN ANCHOR BAR COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK AROUND THE LEFT FRONT OUTER SEAT ADJUSTER STUD. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STUD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ANCHOR BAR AND CAUSE THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TIP REARWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: A REINFORCEMENT BR…
Transport Canada #1987053 · May 1987Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, the front seat back locks may not lock under forward load conditions and are therefore not in compliance with CMVSS 207 - Seat Anchorages.
Transport Canada #1984027 · Feb 1984Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Chevrolet Cavalier
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.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.