The 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier has 82 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.
82
Airbags complaints
11%
Share of year
42
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.
“RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V146000 AND CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE GIVEN. REPAIRS FOR AIRBAG WAS DONE. WAS DRIVING 45MPH & KEEPING TIME TO MUSIC BY HITTING STEERING WHEEL, WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT & THEN LEFT & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD ARM & KNEE INJURIES. EMERGENCY ROOM…”
NHTSA has 82 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier airbags — 11% 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.