Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#833022January 5, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO STOP BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. APPLIED A LITTLE PRESSURE OR SLOWLY STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO STOP. SOUNDS OF PUFFS OF AIR AND METAL CLACKING TOGETHER OCCURRED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES AND NO OTHER PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND GETTING WORSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832971January 4, 1999
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE FOR A SHORT OR A LONG PERIOD AND WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED, THERE IS A BURNING SMELL THAT COMES OUT OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#836087January 2, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PRESSURE OF APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832836December 30, 1998
SUSPENSION:REAR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, HEATER CORE HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. IN ADDITION, WHENEVER PUTTING ANTI-FREEZE INTO THE VEHICLE THE ANTI-FREEZE WILL LEAK OUT. IN ADDITION,TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832845December 30, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT APPROX. 35-40MPH, THE ABS BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832864December 30, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STALL AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL MODULE WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. LATEST REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS FOR A SHORT IN THE PCM IGNITION CIRCUIT, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701480December 20, 1998
STEERING:LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STEERING STIFFENED/LOCKED AS DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, CAUSING MINOR CONTACT WITH ADJACENT PARKED VEHICLE. FOLLOWING CONTACT, VEHICLE STOPPED AND STEERING WHEEL REALIGNED (WITH GREAT EFFORT) TO COMPLETE PARKING. AFTER PARKING, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER STARTING (ONLY 1-2 SECONDS). AFTER LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE, SERVICE REP STATED HE "KNEW WHAT HAPPENED" WHEN INCIDENT DESCRIBED AND VEHICLE IDENTIFIED AS '91 CAVALIER. IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NO PROBLEM SINCE. VEHICLE REPAIR COST $327; DAMAGE TO ADJACENT VEHICLE $450. I THINK THIS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MODE, INVOLVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT. AS A MINIMUM, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS AND DAMAGES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701478December 19, 1998
AIR BAGS
ON DECEMBER 12, 1998 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS I FOLLOWED THE OTHER DRIVER TO A NEAR BY PARKING LOT TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE MY AIR BAGS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WENT OFF. I BELIEVE THEY FAILED IN THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY DIDNT INFLATE UNTIL ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT WHEN WE WERE PULLING OFF THE ROAD. WHEN THEY FINALLY DID EJECT AND INFLATE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER BLEW OUT AND SHATTERED MY WINSHIELD CAUSING AN ADDITIONAL $412 WORTH OF DAMAGE!!! I AM JUST GLAD IT WASNT A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD OF BEEN TOTALLY USELESS. I TRUELY BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE INOPERABLE AND CAUSED ME AN ADDITIONAL $412 IN THE COST OF MY REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY I SHOULD BE INTITLED TO SOME SORT OF RETRIBUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND RAPID RESPONSE TO MY PROBLEM AND CONCERN!!!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832471December 18, 1998
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 20-25MPH, GOING UP RAMP, FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BROKE WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRS WILL BE MADE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701443December 17, 1998
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I PEVIOUSLY CALLED THIS IN BUT JUST RECEIVED IT THRU THE MAIL AND IT WAS NOT CORRECT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 7 MINUTES, IT WAS VERY LOW ON GAS I HAVE NEVER LET IT GET THAT LOW BEFORE, THE ROAD CURVED THEN CAME TO A STOP SIGN WHEN I DID STOP THE LIGHT THAT SAID "CHECK GAGES" CAME ON, I LOOKED THE ONLY GAGE THAT WAS LOW WAS THE GAS I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 2-4 MORE MINUTES TO THE GAS STATION. I PULLED IT STOPPED, TURNED OFF CAR, GOT OUT MY CREDIT CARD "TEXACO" PUT IT IN THE SLOT, WAITED FOR IT TO APPROVE, PULLED OUT PUMP, PRESSED BUTTON, UNCAPPED MY GAS TANK, PUT IN PUMP AND PRESSED THE HANDLE SO IT WOULD PUMP AUTOMATICALLY, WENT TO DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR PUT MY CREDIT CARD BACK IN MY PURSE, CAME BACK AROUND TO PUMP AND STARTED TO HOLD THE HANDLE DOWN SO IT WOULD PUMP FASTER, ALL THE SUDDEN FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK, I YANKED OUT PUMPED AND MOVED AWAY. THE EMPLOYEES AT THE STATION CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THE POLICE SHOWED UP BUT DID NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS EXCEPT WAS THAT MY CAR AND WAS I ALRIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND LOOKED AROUND I GUESS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THEY DID MAKE A REMARK ABOUT POSSIBLY THE GAS TANK WAS NOT GROUNDED, WHICH COULD OF CAUSED IT TO GET VERY HOT BECAUSE IT WAS LOW ON GAS. BUT AGAIN THEY DID NOT HAVE A FORENSIC MECHANIC WITH THEM TO LOOK OVER THE CAR, SO THAT WAS MORE OR LESS A "GUESS" ON THEIR PART. I THEN FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF A TOW TRUCK SO THAT THEY COULD TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REFERENCE NO. FOR THE PREVIOUS QUESTIONAIRE THAT WAS MAILED TO ME IS 831265.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#781745December 16, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
SMELL OF BURNING WIRES WHEN DRIVING. RADIATOR HOSE FAILED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. ALSO, TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS 98V013000. IN ADDITION, REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701344December 14, 1998
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOUR DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A POWER DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHENEVER YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, THE A/C WILL SLOW DOWN, AND THE INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS WILL DIM.THE CHEVY DEALER IN INVERNESS FIRST WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM ON 1-23-98 AND STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN ON 2-23-98. AGAIN THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED SO THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY.THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND I RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AGAIN THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE ALTENATOR AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND JUST THIS LAST WEEK 12-7-98 I RETUNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR FOUR DAYS AND SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AGAIN SO THEY CHARGED IT AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY WERE GOING TO DO. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY FAMILY WILL BE OUT AT NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#701304December 12, 1998
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
IN NORMAL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION OF LUG NUTS USING TOOLS SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE, I PERSONALLY HAVE BROKEN 6 OF THE LUG BOLTS OFF. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, NOT ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS BEEN PUT ON OR REMOVED WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THATS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD HAVE BEEN STRESSED LIKE THIS. I WAS NOT, ON ANY OF THE 6 LUGS, PLACING UNDUE PRESSURE NOR WAS I USING "CHEATERS" OR ANY SUCH THING. IN THE NORMAL WAY YOU WOULD REMOVE A TIRE WHEN ROTATING OR CHANGING TO THE SPAIR THEY BROKE. THIS HAS HAPPEND ON 3 SEPERATE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE: 3 LUGS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT, 2 DRIVERS SIDE REAR AND 1 PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE LUG BOLTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#542982December 10, 1998
AIR BAGS
SDM (AIR BAG) FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#830295December 9, 1998
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEATER CORE BROKE, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK OUT. REPLACED 3 HEATER CORES AND A HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER WILLING TO PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKET, BUT STATES THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832041December 9, 1998
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES VERY HARD TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, AND SEAT BELTS FAILED TO TIGHTEN AND TO RESTRAIN HER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832067December 9, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AGAIN,AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED. CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE MILEAGE IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831861December 7, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT CAME ON, AND HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CURRENTLY AT DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831790December 4, 1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUCKS AT ONE POINT AS IF IT LACKS GAS AND IT ALSO STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL TO REPLACED PCM. PCM REPLACED 4 TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#831751December 3, 1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN SMELL THE BRAKES BURNING. CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS/HOOD LATCH AND CALIPERS STICKING. ALSO, HAD THREE MUFFLERS REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WON'T WORK. IN ADDITION, WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ROCHER ARM GASKET, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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