Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1997)

540 consumer complaints on file.

#757528January 30, 2002
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT THESE RECALLS WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TRAVEL 17 MILES OR MORE TO AND FROM WORK EACH DAY ON THE FREEWAY. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIXED ASAP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757269January 24, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
I AM VERY FRUSTRATED. I AM NOW LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS MY HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND CRUISE CONTROL YET AGAIN, AND THIS TIME ONLY 3 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS LAST REPLACED, WHICH WAS 1/2/02 AND THAT WAS ONLY 2 AND 1/2 MONTHS AFTER I LAST HAD IT REPLACED IN OCTOBER, AND BEFORE THAT, IT WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST (IN ALL MY CAR HAS HAD 5 SWITCHES SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW AND NOW LOOKING AT HAVING A 6TH). FOR A SWITCH TO BURN OUT LIKE THIS SO FREQUENTLY, IS A HAZARD AND NOT SAFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE HAD, IN THE PAST, MY HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE I WAS ON A FREE-WAY AT NIGHT. MY MECHANIC, ON 1/2/02 ALSO REPLACED THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHTS AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A CHEVY DEALER MECHANIC, WHO TOLD HIM THAT APPARENTLY THE TRAILBLAZERS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME SWITCH. I THINK THE CHEVY DEALER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR IN EVERY MONTH OR TWO TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. IT IS NOT FAIR TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS TO DO IT FREE, AND NOT FAIR TO ME BECAUSE IT IS A BIG INCONVENIENCE, NOT TO MENTION UNSAFE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OCCURING SO FREQUENTLY. PERHAPS A RECOMMENDATION FROM YOU WOULD GET CHEVY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756036December 26, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
ON 12/2/98 AT 26,332 MILES I REPORTED A GRINDING AND THUD NOISE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. I WAS GIVEN A LOANER CAR AND THE RACK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 6/29/99 AT 34, 556 MILES, I AGAIN REPORTED THE SAME GRINDING AND THUD NOISE UPON TURNING. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND GIVEN A LOANER CAR. AGAIN THE RACK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. ON 11/15/00, AT 60,152 MILES I AGAIN REPORTED THE EXACT SAME GRINDING AND THUD NOISE UPON TURNING. THIS TIME HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON 2/15/01 AT 64,434 MILES I AGAIN REPORTED THE GRINDING AND THUD UPON TURNING AND ASKED THAT THE CAR BE CHECKED. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE GRINDING AND THUD NOISE IN THE STEERING SINCE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE EXACT SAME NOISE AS THE PRIOR TWO TIMES THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. ON 11/21/01, AT 81,218 MILES, I AGAIN REPORTED THE GRINDING AND THUD NOISE UPON TURNING, AS IT WAS GETTING WORSE AND CONTINUED TO MAKE ME VERY UNEASY AS TO THE CARS SAFETY. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT YES, NOW THE RACK AGAIN NEEDED REPLACED, HOWEVER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT AS IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755306December 5, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY HORN DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, A FRIEND RECENTLY RENTED A 2001 OR 2002 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. HAS THIS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER CHEVROLETS? DEFINITELY COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD!! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754472November 13, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WAS IN ACCIDENT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#898721November 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT SLOW SPEEDS AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WILL START AGAIN AFTER 5-15 MINUTES. TAKEN TO DEALER, CANNOT REMEDY. VEHICLE HAS STALLED ABOUT 15 TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898576October 31, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON WET ROADS VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THREE PASSENGERS RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES, BACK AND NECK STRAINS. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED TO DETERMINE IF AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#753589October 23, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
HIGHLY UNUSUAL REPAIR FOR 'NEWER' VEHICLE-1997 80,000-& UNUSUAL THAT BOTH FRONT RIGHT/FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS SUGGESTED AS REASON FOR PART FAILURE SO SOON. PLEASE REVIEW MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753372October 18, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
THE CAR JERKS WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AT AROUND 25,000 MILES. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WAS AT AROUND 40,000 MILES. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ROTORS. AT AROUND 64,000 MILES IT HAS STARTED AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME I HAD TO TAKE THIS TO THE DEALER, THEY KNEW WITH OUT LOOKING AT THE CAR WHAT IT WAS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THESE ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753191October 13, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THIS PAST THURSDAY, 10/11/01, FOR THE THIRD TIME, MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED TWICE BEFORE AND AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE IT REPLACED A THIRD TIME. THIS SWITCH RUNS MY HEADLIGHTS, BRIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS EXCEPT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONNECTION APPEARS TO BE BURNING OUT. I DO NOT THINK IT SHOULD BE BURNING OUT SO OFTEN OR IN THIS CASE, SO QUICKLY - 3 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST TIME I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED. I HAVE DECIDED THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SWITCH AND THE ENGINE THAT IS CAUSING THIS, THEREFORE SOMETHING CHEVY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF AND IN MY CASE, REIMBURSE ME FOR, SINCE THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS IN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. I ALSO FEEL, HOWEVER, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE, TO BE DRIVING ALONG AT NIGHT AND HAVE YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. MY REAR LIGHTS STAY ON, WHICH I AM GRATEFUL FOR, BUT HAVING NO HEADLIGHTS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897547October 10, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM LEAK. USUALLY LEAKS AFTER CONSUMER PARKS OR STOPS FOR A LONG TIME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896877September 26, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLES COMPLETELY FELL APART, PIECES OF METAL FELL OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT BUCKLES. DEALER PUT SAME MODEL OF BUCKLE THAT HAD FALLEN APART ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND REPLACED DRIVER'S SIDE WITH A NEW MODEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752333September 18, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DEALER STATED THAT IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS HE HAS CORRECTED TWO PRIOR CASES WITH SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL.NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895422August 29, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. LAST WINTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON DURING A SNOW STORM WIPERS WERE STUCK ON WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895233August 27, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, SUSPENSION
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE WILL PULL STRONGLY TO RIGHT, ALSO HARD TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#894660August 17, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
WAS INFORMED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT SEAL AROUND CROSSMEMBER WAS MISSING DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT/NEGLECT. THIS CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004373August 16, 2001
SEATS
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED IN A STOPPED POSITION BY OTHER AUTO AT 20+ MPH, DRIVERS' SEAT BACK COLLAPSED, CAUSING HUSBAND TO RECEIVE A BAD WHIP LASH INQUIRY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#750587August 16, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
MID-WAY THROUGH A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. INITIALLY THE CAR STEERED FREELY TO THE RIGHT AND ONLY LOCKED LEFT; THEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LOCKED UP. MECHANIC SAYS THE STEERING GEAR ON THE POWER ASSIST RACK & PINION FAILED CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893991August 9, 2001
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEAR CABLE BROKE WHILE GETTING OUT OF A PARKED SPOT. VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE SPOT WHERE IT HAD STOPPED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#750070August 8, 2001
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHEN I TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME.I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP AS TO HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THE GUY TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 30MPH THE STERRING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND THE WHOLE CAR SKIDDED FORWARD.I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND COMPARE IT WITH OTHER CARS.I HOPE NHTSA MAKES DEALERSHIPS REPORT TO NHTSA WHEN A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE HAPENS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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