Chevrolet Cavalier vs Ford Thunderbird
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Chevrolet Cavalier
- Total complaints
- 4,616
- Avg per model year
- 203
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 7
- Most complained year
- 2003 (678)
Top problems: Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Ford Thunderbird
- Total complaints
- 2,335
- Avg per model year
- 112
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 3
- Most complained year
- 1993 (423)
Top problems: Engine and Engine Cooling, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical System
Complaints by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Cavalier | Ford Thunderbird | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 287 | 27 | ||
| 2004 | 330 | 34 | ||
| 2003 | 678 | 33 | ||
| 2002 | 196 | 93 | ||
| 1998 | 345 | 3 | ||
| 1997 | 540 | 169 | ||
| 1996 | 503 | 233 | ||
| 1995 | 270 | 261 | ||
| 1994 | 212 | 300 | ||
| 1993 | 146 | 423 | ||
| 1992 | 134 | 184 | ||
| 1991 | 55 | 112 | ||
| 1990 | 55 | 140 | ||
| 1989 | 43 | 124 | ||
| 1988 | 12 | 92 | ||
| 1987 | 24 | 61 | ||
| 1986 | 18 | 23 | ||
| 1985 | 4 | 14 | ||
| 1984 | 8 | 26 | ||
| 1983 | 3 | 3 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.