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2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,415,259 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 04V036000 2004-01-27 1,415,231 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO…

INTERIOR LIGHTING 00V201000 2000-07-20 28 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE BI-FUEL OPTION FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION." THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE AT FULL ILLUMINATION LEVELS AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THE STANDARD REQUIRES AT LEAST TWO LEVELS OF…

Consequence

THIS COULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TYPE INDICATOR SWITCH ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION CONTROL.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
22
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
19
1fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
19
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
17
STEERING
17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
15
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
15
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
15
5crashes1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
14
STRUCTURE
14
Total complaints447

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 2000 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the interior passenger side directional signal began blinking rapidly while activated. Additionally, the contact stated that an onlooker observed that the exterior driver side indicator light was…”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:BULBS · reported 2019-01-30

“Ignition gets very hot when key is turned can smell plastic ignition or batt 1 circuit problem.clearcoat is peeling.lug nuts coming loose”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2018-02-06

“Ignition gets very hot when key is turned can smell plastic ignition or batt 1 circuit problem.clearcoat is peeling.lug nuts coming loose”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2018-02-06

“Ignition gets very hot when key is turned can smell plastic ignition or batt 1 circuit problem.clearcoat is peeling.lug nuts coming loose”

ENGINE · reported 2018-02-06

“Tl* the contact owns a 2000 chevrolet cavalier. While stopped at a red light, the contact was informed that the rear brake lamps failed to illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · reported 2016-03-17

“Unnecessary gas odors. Seat belts keep unlocking. Steering”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2015-12-24

“Unnecessary gas odors. Seat belts keep unlocking. Steering”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2015-12-24

“Unnecessary gas odors. Seat belts keep unlocking. Steering”

STEERING · reported 2015-12-24

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02028 Opened 2002-09-30 · closed 2003-12-30

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS…

Investigation EA02028 Opened 2002-09-30 · closed 2003-12-30

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS…

Investigation PE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03

ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION

ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…

Investigation PE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03

ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION

ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…

Investigation PE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03

ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION

ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…

Investigation PE02066 Opened 2002-09-06 · closed 2003-11-03

ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION

ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED…

Investigation SQ01002 Opened 2001-01-26 · closed 2002-09-30

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.