Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#10396022April 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DASH CLUSTER ABNORMAL OPERATION, IN REGARDS TO FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE SAYS I AM CURRENTLY TRAVELING MORE THE 110 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STATE OF REST. FUEL GAUGE ALSO INACCURATE STICKS WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, WHEN RESTARTED THE FUEL GAUGE MOVES IN EXCESS OF ITS LIMITS PINNING AGAINST TEMPERATURE GAUGE. DURING WARMER WEATHER THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK AND NEITHER WILL THE TACHOMETER. VERY DISAPPOINTED. CONTACTED GM AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. CUSTOMER CARE NOTED THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DEFECT ON THESE VEHICLES. VERY UNSAFE, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE AND HAVE RESORTED IN USING A GPS FOR SPEED REFERENCE. RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396038April 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A WHILE WAS JUST THE SPEEDOMETER NOW THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395493April 11, 2011
STEERING, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE IN ANY SELECTED GEAR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 1/18/2012 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394434April 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. IT HAS 120000 MILES ON IT. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I NOTICED MY GAS GAGE SEEMED TO BE STUCK, THE CAR HAD APPROX 90000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER MY RPM GAUGE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THAT MY SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO ALSO GO HAYWIRE FOLLOWED BY MY OIL GAUGE. MY WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NO LONGER WORKS. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. BUT AFTER LOOKING AT HOW MANY CAVALIER HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393861March 31, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR FAILED TO START 8/21/08 SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THANK GOODNESS. HE DETERMINED IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL. SINGLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, I KNEW THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH TO THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE SWITCH WITH A NAPA OE PART. NOW, ON 3/29/11, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND THEN FIND A WAY HOME FROM WORK. I THEN HAD TO BORROW A FRIEND'S CAR JUST TO GET TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. AS DISCOVERD BY MY MECHANIC, IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. THIS REPAIR COMPLETED ON 3/30/11 WAS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM A CHEVY DEALER HOPING THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CARS AND NOT ONE TIME HAVE I EVER HAD TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH IN ANY OF THEM MUCH LESS TWICE IN JUST 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS LIKE HAVE HAD TO WITH THIS CAR! THIS REPAIR COST ME $280 THIS TIME AND THE INCOVENIENCE OF FINDING AN ALTERNATE WAY TO AND FROM WORK. I AM DISGUSTED AT THE FAULTINESS OF THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDING HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND REPLACING THE ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH TWICE. I TRULY FEEL CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS MY ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393539March 28, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AUTOMOBILE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED MOTOR. GM INSTALLED FAULTY OIL NOZZLE AS WELL AS TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MOTOR ORIGINALLY BUT REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH CHECKED AT GM CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER 4 MONTHS PRIOR COMPLAINING OF TIMING SYMPTOMS. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL VEHICLES FROM 2002 AND 2003 THAT HAVE 2.2L ECOTEC MOTORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392805March 24, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WE HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND THE SPEEDOMETER HAS COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN. EVERYTHING IS JUST AS IT WAS WHEN MY HUSBAND PURCHASED IT NEW. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANYTHING DON E TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392550March 22, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
MVA OCCURRED WHILE SWERVING TO MISS A DEER. DRIVER UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE RIGHT HAND TURN RESULTING IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN AN EMBANKMENT. CAR SKIDDED ACROSS THE ROAD OVER A DITCH APPX 3 FEET WIDE AND APXX 1-2 FEET DEEP, THEN HIT THE EMBANKMENT HEAD ON AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. DRIVER STATED SHE WAS GOING APPX 40-50 MPH PRIOR TO SWERVING FOR THE DEER, SHE THINKS SHE MIGHT HAVE SLOWED DOWN TO APPX 30-40 MPH PRIOR TO HITTING THE EMBANKMENT. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE EMBANKMENT THE CAR ROLLED APPX 1.5 - 2 TIMES LANDING ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, UNRESTRAINED DRIVER HIT THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING BRUISING, CONCUSSION, ABRASIONS, LACERATION TO THE SCALP. NO PASSENGERS NOTED TO BE IN THE VEHICLE OTHER THEN DRIVER. CAR IS TOTALED. DRIVER IS CURRENTLY OFF OF WORK DUE TO CLOSED HEAD INJURY AS ADVISED PER ER PHYSICIAN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10392339March 21, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING AFTER NO WARNINGS! I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER AND SOME TYPE OF MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $900.00!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392207March 19, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY WIFE WAS PICKING OUR CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL. WHEN SHE PULLED OUT INTO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC HER CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS OF THE SECOND TIME THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 60K MILES THE CAR NOW HAS 95K AND I ALREADY HAVE TO REPLACE IT. I'VE READ ABOUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IS WONDERING WHY NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390569March 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT WILL GET STUCK AT 20 MPH OR IT WILL JUST SPUTTER UP AND SO I AM NOW CONSTANTLY HAVING TO GUESS WHAT SPEED I AM GOING. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS OF PEOPLE WITH A 2005 CAVALIER HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF CARS, IT SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER TO FIX IT. THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO SO MANY PEOPLE, IT OBVIOUSLY MEANS IT IS A FAULTY PART. PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390337March 16, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PURCHASED USED 2000 CAVALIER IN 2006. FIRST PROBLEM (WHICH HAS CONTINUED FOR 5 YEARS) IS THAT THE SERVICE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS CRANKED UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FIRST TURNED ON. IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. IT WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT (WITH HEADLIGHTS ON). SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT FUEL HAND DOES NOT REFLECT ACCURATE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE IN TANK. IT GOES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING (WITH THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT ON). OR SOMETIMES IT IS STUCK ON E OR STUCK ON F REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIRD PROBLEM IS THAT CAR INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEATS AND IS ALWAYS LOSING COOLANT. I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, & RADIATOR. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS CANNOT FIND A LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM (DESPITE PRESSURE TESTING, COMPRESSION TESTING, & BLOCK TESTING). WE ARE BAFFLED WHY IT CANNOT RETAIN CONSTANT COOLANT LEVELS. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION AS I AM LEFT WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390397March 16, 2011
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT AND LOCKED. WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT DUE TO ANY TYPE OF DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10389732March 10, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS BEEN FAILING ON ME SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2005. FIRST THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THAT USING THE TRIP ODOMETER. NEXT, IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSS-COUNTRY DRIVE, MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING! IT WOULD DO SO OCCASIONALLY, BUT NOW IT NEVER WORKS AT ALL, AND THE OTHER GAUGES HAVE NOW QUIT AS WELL. I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A SNOW STORM, AND THIS INCIDENT BLOCKED TRAFFIC AND RISKED MY LIFE FROM BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR OR FREEZING TO DEATH. I'VE GOTTEN COUNTLESS TICKETS BECAUSE OF THESE DEFECTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 2005 CAVALIERS, VERY COMMON, AND I AM APPALLED THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I'VE HAD THE GAUGES REPLACED BUT BEFORE LONG THE PROBLEM STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. IT HAS COST ME HUNDREDS, AND I'M SURE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I OR SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM END UP INJURED FROM BEING OUT OF FUEL, SPEED, ETC. THE GAUGES IN MY CAR NOW DO NOT WORK AT ALL, I HAVE TO RELY ON A GPS FOR SPEED AND JUST FILL UP MY CAR EVERY OTHER DAY TO ENSURE I DON'T RUN OUT OF GAS AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF STORIES JUST LIKE MINE WITH THE VERY SAME VEHICLE. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386973March 9, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386852March 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENTIRE DASH CLUSTER DOESN'T WORK!! SPEEDOMETER SAYS GOING 80MPH WHEN SITTING STILL. TEMP GAUGE SAYS IT'S OVERHEATING WHEN CAR IS OFF. GAS GAUGE IS NOW GOING HAYWIRE. GOING ON VACATION IS HARD WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A CLUSTER FOR THIS CAR IS $270. THEN PAY SOMEONE TO PUT IT IN. THERE ARE TOO MANY 2004 CAVALIERS HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR THIS TO NOT BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386759March 7, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WITH NO WARNING IT STALLED OUT. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE GARAGE WITH AN ESTIMATE OF 700-900 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. I DO NOT HAVE THIS MONEY SO I AM NOW A SINGLE PARENT WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED PREVIOUSLY. I THANK GOD MY CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386620March 6, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FUEL PUMP FAILURE. ON MARCH 2ND 2011 I HAD A FUEL PUMP FAIL AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR CAVALIER OWNERS SUCH AS MYSELF. IS THERE ANYTHING AT ALL THAT IS BEING DONE TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384854February 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2004 CHEVY CAVALIER LS SPORT WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR THE SPEEDOMETER SHOOTS UP PAST 80MPH AT STANDSTILL. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. NEVER KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY SIT THERE AND COUNT. TAKES ABOUT 4 OR 5 DAYS BEFORE THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES ITS WAY BACK TO 0MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384195February 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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