Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1999)

240 consumer complaints on file.

#10212190December 18, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WITH IGNITION KEY IN START POSITION I BEGIN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THIS PROMPTED SITE SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT RE-CALL #02V070000 APPLIES TO MY 1996 CAVALIER. DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTANCE OF RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210719December 3, 2007
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LINE ON THAT SIDE. THE AIR CONDITIONING OVERFLOW TUBE WAS RELEASING WATER ONTO THAT PIECE OF METAL. ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS WAS THE CAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE IS NOT LIKE THAT. COULD HAVE JUST BEEN CHEAP METAL. ON NOV 30 OF 07 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AND IT JUST DID NOT FEEL RIGHT. WHEN YOU DRIVE A CAR EVERYDAY YOU NOTICE THESE THINGS BUT CANNOT PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND THE SUSPENSION FELT VERY LOOSE THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS NOT TURNING CORRECTLY. THE MORE I DROVE THE WORSE IT GOT. ON THE WAY HOME I DROVE ONLY 20 MILES AN HOUR WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON PRAYING I WOULD GET HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. IT FELT LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS GOING TO FALL OFF. THANK THE GOOD LORD I DID GET HOME ALRIGHT. MY HUSBAND PULLED OF BOTH WHEELS STARTING WITH LEFT AND THEN RIGHT AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. WE TOOK PICTURES AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO OUR PREFERRED AUTO SHOP. BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE GUY AT THE SHOP SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT NOTHING BAD HAPPENED THAT WE ACTUALLY COULD HAVE LOST THE FRONT END. IN ALL THE CARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CHEVY WE HAVE HAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195459July 6, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS FOR HER TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FOURTH TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER SOCKETS, LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF HER VEHICLE, HAD BURNED OUT. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 07/26/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193704June 19, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10189316April 30, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN MIDDLE ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IN AND KEPT CRACKING. CALLED DEALERSHIP , WHO SAID NOT A SAFETY ISSUE .DASHBOARD BOARD COLLAPSED ON MY 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ,AND I HAVE SINCE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188117April 17, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
WELL, I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE BASIC MODEL, NOTHING FANCY. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE FRONT END SHOOK, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO VIBRATE, AND SOMETIMES CLICKED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO STOP IT WAS TO STEER THE WHEEL A BIT, BUT THAT MADE ME GO INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO REAR DEFROSTER, MAKING IT VERY HARD TIME TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW WHEN IT WAS ALL FOGGED UP. WHEN I ATTEMPTING TO STOP SOMETIMES THE BRAKES TOOK A MINUTE TO START WORKING OR THEY JUST PULSATED, AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP FAST IF I HAD TO, I COULD GO ON AND ON SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE CAR, BUT I THINK ONE GETS THE DRIFT ABOUT IT . WHEN I WENT TO THE RECALL PAGE THERE WERE MORE THINGS ON IT THEN I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT, THE ONLY RECALLS I KNEW ABOUT WAS THE IGNITION, ,AND THE HOSE FOR THE COOLANT THE WAS LEAKING BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE IGNITION FIXED THEY DIDN'T TIGHTEN THE NUT ON THE STARTER AND I HAD TO SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE STARTER FAILED, BUT THEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE NUT WHICH WAS NOT TIGHTENED DOWN RIGHTLY. I HAVE GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED. I THINK IT WAS SOLD A LEMON. AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183814February 28, 2007
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND WAS HEARING THIS WHINING NOISE. THE NEXT DAY I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT WORK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. I CALLED THE SHOP I TAKE MY CAR TO, AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID A METAL PIECE UNDERNEATH THE CAR HAD RUBBED AGAINST THE TUBE THAT CARRIES THE POWER STEERING FLUID. I ASKED THEM WHAT HAD CAUSED IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159941June 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 1998, AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE NUMBERS SHOW, AND IT IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME I START THE ENGINE. I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY VEHICLE, AND MY GAS GAUGE MOVES BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY... I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT IS A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS FAULTY. I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159943June 15, 2006
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ABOUT A TWO YEARS AGO I NOTICED THE AIR WAS BLOWING WARMER THAN USUAL SO I TOOK MY CAR IN TO GET FREON PUT IN MY CAR THINKING IT WAS LOW....AFTER ABOUT 3 DAYS, IT STARTED BLOWING WARM AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS MAYBE A LEAK, SO THEY PUT DYE IN THE SYSTEM...I TOOK IT BACK 2 DAYS LATER, AND THEY FOUND THERE WERE LEAKS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $1500-$2000 (INCL. LABOR) I WAS OUTRAGED BY THIS, AS THE CAR WASN'T EVEN 5 YEARS OLD!! I MAINTAINED THE CAR JUST AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN. (I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC, AND SO HE ALWAYS DOES THE SERVICE ON MY CAR!) I AM JUST CURIOUS IF THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND IF SO, WHAT WAS DONE ABOUT IT? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158757June 1, 2006
STEERING
STEERING-NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, IN ANY DIRECTION. TOOK TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED NEW BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156130April 26, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK RUST THROUGH FROM OUTSIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151095February 24, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP WAS HEARD ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN THE DASHBOARD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151877February 21, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 CAVALIER ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS. *TS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING IN AND OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS AND WHILE PARKING. THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER PULLS THE ABS FUSE TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146814January 3, 2006
STEERING
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN AROUND FREELY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE COUPLING WHERE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING WHEEL SLID OUT, LEAVING THE BOLT IN THE STEERING COMPLETELY INTACT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT IS STILL AT THE SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST DUE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144925December 11, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BRAKES TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTORS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. NEWER DESIGN OF MOTOR PACK CONSISTS OF ELECTRONIC SOLENOID. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136720September 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TWO ISSUES LEFT CONSUMER STRANDED IN 1999 2.2L CHEVROLET CAVALIER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF INPUT SHAFT/INPUT DRUM ASSEMBLY ON 3T40 TRANSMISSION, LEFT OPERATOR WITHOUT ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE DRIVE GEARS WHILE DRIVE WAS ENGAGED AND ROLLING. MANAGED TO AVOID CRASH. REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. INCIPIENT WORSENING OF STARTING TIMES. POOR FACTORY ECM CALIBRATION IN ALL OR MOST 1999 2.2L CAVALIERS CAN LEAVE OPERATOR STRANDED IN WARM STARTING CONDITION. RESULTS IN POOR INITIAL RUNNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF UNBURNED HYDROARBONS RELEASED TO ATMOSPHERE. A TECHNICAL BROCHURE EXISTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BUT NO RECALL. DEALER WANTS $90 TO REPROGRAM ECM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136724September 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT: THE CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR 3 YEARS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AND TO A REPAIR SHOP 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A WIRING HARNESS KIT, AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WOULD NOT REFUND HER ANY MONEY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999, CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132326August 11, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THREE POWER DOOR WINDOWS ON MY 4 DOOR CHEVROLET CAVALIER DON'T WORK, ONLY DRIVER DOOR WINDOW WILL GO UP AND DOWN. HAD MOTOR ON FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW REPLACED ALREADY. SHORTLY AFTER BEING REPLACED, IT STOPPED WORKING LIKE THE BACK TWO PASSENGER WINDOWS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129254July 18, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
STEERING:RACK AND PINION...WENT OUT. I HEAR THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND YET NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LET EVERYONE I KNOW TO STAY AWAY. 1999 CHEVY CAV.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127801July 7, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE CAVALIER QUIT RUNNING AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP. THIS WAS AT EVENING RUSH HOUR AND SEVERAL CARS WERE BEHIND, TRYING TO EXIT. I COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. CARS WERE HONKING AS I WAS IN THE LANE AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. WE HAD THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP/SENDER UNIT REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO OPERATE OKAY, BUT TWO DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS WAS MORNING RUSH HOUR AND THE EXIT LANE ON THE OFF-RAMP HAD NO SHOULDER... CARS WERE COMING QUICKLY UP THE RAMP AND I WAS NEARLY HIT MORE THAN ONCE, EVEN WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. TOWED VEHICLE AGAIN. TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE. REPLACED FUSE AND TOOK VEHICLE AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A THIRD TIME. I REPLACED FUSE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT WIRE WAS LOOSE FROM FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. THEY SECURED WIRE. HAS NOW HAPPENED FIVE MORE TIMES. I HAVE FUSES IN CAR IN CASE OF PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW AT ELECTRICAL SHOP FOR REVIEW. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED ON JULY 1, I WAS ENTERING THE HOV LANE ON THE FREEWAY! LUCKILY THERE WAS A SMALL AREA IN WHICH TO STOP. REPLACED FUSE AND GET ON... THIS IS VERY SCARY AS IT JUST QUITS WITHOUT NOTICE (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING!)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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