Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Daughter was driving to go to another location when stopped for light. Light turned green had some one in front of her and since it is a stick shift she just let the car roll. She panicked I think and hit clutch instead of brake. She rolled into the back of the SUV ahead of her and the airbags exploded in the car. She was only going 4 miles an hour. No damage to the car in front of her no front damage to our car except the air bags and breakage of front window. Daughter was hit in face by airbag and the fingers cut with with the window breaking. She has received 2 black eyes and said she was very disoriented when the airbag hit her. We are very concerned about this. We have had the car for 3 years and have not been in any accidents fontal wise. I went through to see if we had a carfax on this car. The company told that there had not been in any accidents. …
Please call about these problems with these cars, [redacted] is how I think anything will get done, just called today 02-20-15. Gas gauge went out 02-07-15 ( mileage 40000) and is hitting against my temp gauge so I don't know how hit my car is getting. I replaced my temp gauge back in 01-07-12 mileage(29111) cause it was hitting against my speedometer<--- this was not replaced but I dont think till this day it shows the right speed. Air bags did not work back in 2006 crash no fault of the car then, someone hit me, so dont even know if they will. Called GM about that in 2012 and told me there was nothing that could be done. Forgot to tell kimmy about this problem today. Good luck getting these problems fixed. I have to drive my kids and family around only car I have so I hope something is fixed before we get hurt. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that the drivers seat malfunctioned and the air bag did not deploy when a truck crashed into her vehicle from the rear. She also crashed into the vehicle in front of her. The contact and a passenger were injured and had to go to the hospital the following day. The police was there but no report was filed. The GM manufacturer was notified and a claim was filed. A representative was scheduled to inspect the vehicle but they never came. The failure mileage was 45,000. Updated 03/05/10
Tl contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 40 MPH the consumers husband crashed into the back of another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The contact suffered injuries to his head, neck and shoulders. The vehicle has not been diagnosed. There were no prior warnings. The current and failure mileages were 81,000. Updated 02/1710 the vehicle was totaled. Updated 02/19/10.
Mva occurred while swerving to miss a deer. Driver unable to negotiate the right hand turn resulting in a head on collision in an embankment. Car skidded across the road over a ditch appx 3 feet wide and apxx 1-2 feet deep, then hit the embankment head on at an unknown speed. Driver stated she was going appx 40-50 MPH prior to swerving for the deer, she thinks she might have slowed down to appx 30-40 MPH prior to hitting the embankment. After the initial impact with the embankment the car rolled appx 1.5 - 2 times landing on the driver side door. The air bags did not deploy, unrestrained driver hit the windshield causing bruising, concussion, abrasions, laceration to the scalp. No passengers noted to be in the vehicle other then driver. Car is totaled. Driver is currently off of work due to closed head injury as advised per er physician.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 55 MPH in dry conditions the contact swerved in order to avoid hitting a deer. As a result, the vehicle struck a tree head on and then swerved and struck a second tree on the driver's side door. The front air bags and side air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed, and the contact sustained severe injuries. The contact was wearing a seat belt. A police report was taken. The contact has pictures of the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 62,207. The consumers son was driving the vehicle. The seat belt did not lock into place as the brakes were applied for about 40 deet before impact. Updated 12/04/07
Was in a horrible car wreck yesterday and none of my airbag is avoid but yet my no check engine light none of my lights were on so I don't understand the problem you could have nearly killed me is what I got spent around three times and put back at the gas station that I left
During first snow in dec 02, the ABS in my 2mo old car activated for the first time. The normal pedal vibs occured, but there was a patterned pinging of a spring at the pedals location. All braking power was lost during this, and I had to run a red light because I could not stop, even after pressing the brake again, with the same effect (this also occured while pulling into my garage on a dry surface, so I had to use emergency brake to keep from running into the back wall). I took the vehicle to the dealership, where they checked it twice on the road, and once with the sensor checks (no codes were found, they said). Of course I had them document this. On jan 21 '03, I was forced to slam on my brakes because the vehicle in front of me stopped too fast. Although the pedal felt pressurized as it should be, there was again no braking power, although the ABS did not activate. …
Related recalls (1)
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
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Cavalier years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (78), 1996 (73), 1998 (34), 1999 (24) and 2001 (21) model years. Airbag complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Cavalier airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 98V-146 (air bags, Jun 29, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Cavalier airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (197 mentions), followed by the side/window (10).
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.