The 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier has 77 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
77
Airbags complaints
10%
Share of year
35
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
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.
Consequence
AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE.
“RECALL 98V146; WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE MOVED TO RIGHT AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT A FRONTAL IMPACT, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CALLED MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS COVERED BY THE RECALL. AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND…”
NHTSA has 77 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier airbags — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 98V146000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.