Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 state of pennsylvania on July, 01, 2016. Shortly after the vehicle was involved in auto accident while parked stationary in a parking lot. The Chevrolet Cavalier failed the enhanced state inspection thence after due to air bag safety feature. The car is in fair condition appraised above blue book value and mechanically runs better than it did 4 or 5 years ago. There is a salvage title currently on the motor vehicle. All the vehicle needs is new air bags.
Inadvertent driver side air bag deployment killed driver by causing loss of control. While traveling the speed limit in the center lane of the interstate the driver side air bag suddenly deployed for no apparent reason, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The car slid sideways through the median and was struck on the broadside by oncoming traffic killing the driver and injuring three occupants of the other vehicle. The car was purchased new three months earlier and had been driven less than 3000 miles. This vehicle was not in the inital recall according to consumer but did receive notification after the allegation of the front bags deployed and the driver crossed the path of traffic resulting in a crash. Accodring to the complainant, the vehicle was impacted on the passenger's side door. The driver sustained internal head trama resulting in death. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact was sitting at a traffic stop when her foot slipped off the brake and caused her to lightly crash into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The contact stated there was no damage to either vehicle but the air bags deployed erroneously, causing burns to the contact's hands and face. The contact inquired with the manufacturer regarding NHTSA campaign id number: 98V146000 (air bags) that was supposed to correct the calibration that would have prevented the air bag deployment. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was repaired previously under the recall, but the repair failed. The failure and the current mileages were 98,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 10 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. There was snow on the road. Despite the low impact of the crash, the air bags deployed. There is recall # 98V146000 (air bags) for this failure. The manufacturer stated that this vehicle was excluded from the recall. The contact felt his vehicle should be included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 110,000. Updated 08/28/07.
When trying to avoid a crash at 15 MPH vehicle went into a ditch. The frontal air bags deployed after the vehicle came to a complete stop. Consumer suffered injuries. Had the vehicle towed to dealership, who could not resolve the problem.
Dt recall 00V053000 was issued concerning the fuel system. This vehicle was not included due to VIN. Gasoline was leaking from the return and the feed line. The return line started leaking first and then a month later, the feed line started leaking. Noticed it on July 29, 2005 this is when the return metal fitting was leaking and the return started leaking on August 29, 2005. Contacted the dealer, the part that has to be replaced, including the whole unit, and with labor would cost $600.00 or $700.00. Also, ignition switch recall 02V070000. This vehicle failed to start. The vehicle would not turn over it completely. The dash warning lights would come on. The dealer has not looked at any of these problems. There was also a recall 98V146000 concerning air bags. Vehicle's air bag light was on. Did not have the dealer check this.
The airbags on the vehicle in questions were supposed to be repaired due to a recall. They instead deployed under 5 m.p.h. When the car ahead was bumped. The only damage to either car was the damage caused by the airbag. It shattered the windshield and jammed the moon roof open. The airbag also slightly injured the driver ( scraping & bruising her chin ). Chevrolet initially provided kristen with a cost free rental car and promised to fix the vehicle. Overnight their position changed. They took back the rental car and have been " bouncing " the claim from department to department causing the car to be untouched for more than 9 days now. The car was purchased at voss but now sits in smedley's Chevrolet's - vandalia, ohio - lot.
Driving down a paved dirt road (leveled no pot holes) at 10-15 MPH the air bags deployed unexpectedly. Consumer lost control of vehicle. The passenger occupant a six year old, sustained a broken right risk and scratches on his face. The driver jumped out of the vehicle after the air bag deployed. She has broken tooth and facial lacerations. The vehicle is now in seatle for repairs, and an agent from the manufacturer is going to go to washington state to investigate the vehicle as soon as it arives in washington state.
While sitting at a red light a police cruiser hit the vehicle head-on, causing the air bags to deploy, hitting the consumer on her chest. Consumer's son was in the booster seat with his safelty belt on, booster seat ejected the consumer's son and made him fly toward the front seat and the passager's seat, causing the passager's air bag to strike both consumer and son on their faces and injuring them. Both of them had to be taken to the hospital.
Loss of steering and air bags deployed before vehicle came into contact with anything. Regarding jannie welch. Prior to the accident a recall was issued and was repair by the dealer on oct. 7, 1998. The vehicle tape player sounded garbled and the speakers were not very loud. The horn wire inside the steering column broke. A leaking seal within the power steering shaft caused a whining sound. (bradley banks attorney for client).
Related recalls
Air bags
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.
NHTSA investigations
Inadvertent air bag deployments
There is no summary currently available
Oversensitive air bag deployments
There is no summary currently available
Airbag complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 78 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 14% of the model year's 540 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-146 (air bags, Jun 29, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 42 crashes, 0 fires and 49 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.