Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1997)

540 consumer complaints on file.

#10170605October 12, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
PASSLOCK/THEFTLOCK SYSTEM ENABLES WITH KNOWN KEY IN SYSTEM PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING OR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING DISABLING POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEMS. A GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS SYSTEM. GM'S ATTITUDE IS LACKADAISICAL TOWARD THIS ISSUE AT BEST. DEALERS WILL NOT DISABLE SYSTEM AND AFTER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON FIXING THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EXISTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167687September 8, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE STEERING:RACK AND PINION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166255August 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR HAS RECENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165692August 16, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THIS ACTUALLY INVOLVES FIRESTONE TIRES. I PUT 4 FIRESTONE LEMANS TOURING BRAND NEW TIRES ON MY CAR AND THEN JUST RECENTLY LAST MONTH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATED WHILE I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY CAUSING MINIMAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR, FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRE AND INSTRUCTED ME TO FILE A CLAIM FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, IN ORDER TO DO SO I HAD TO GET TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE DAMAGE AND SUBMIT THEM ALONG WITH THE TIRE. SO WHILE GATHERING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRED DID THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY AND IT IS A MIRACLE MY BABY OR I WEREN'T KILLED. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID MUCH MORE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I CONTACTED A PARALEGAL AT FIRESTONE AND SHE FINALLY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE, HOWEVER I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE SAME TIRES ON THE BACK AND THEY ONLY REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH THE EXACT BRAND THAT WAS ON THERE. I FEEL LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE TIRES BECAUSE I ALSO FOUND OUT RESEARCHING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TIRES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155995April 24, 2006
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000, REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151945February 24, 2006
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LOCKED UP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM IN JANUARY 2003. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146874January 4, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
I HEARD OF A RECENT RECALL CONCERNING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON GM VEHICLES. IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY SON''S 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT BELOW 10 MILES PER HOUR, FOR NO REASON THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE AND BY-PASS THE SYSTEM TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145214December 14, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED H THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH HE TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SHOULD MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HOWEVER, THESE ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AS A RESULT, HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. AFTERWARDS, HE PULLED THE FUSE AND DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138841September 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMERS FUEL LINE LEAKED AND WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS LATE IT DEVELOPED ANOTHER PIN HOLE LEAK. *TS THE CONSUMER SMELLED FUEL WHILE DRIVING. HE LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN FUEL LINE RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE FULE LINE RNNING UP THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A PIN HOLE LEAK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136553September 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, AIR BAGS
DT RECALL 00V053000 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE RETURN AND THE FEED LINE. THE RETURN LINE STARTED LEAKING FIRST AND THEN A MONTH LATER, THE FEED LINE STARTED LEAKING. NOTICED IT ON JULY 29, 2005 THIS IS WHEN THE RETURN METAL FITTING WAS LEAKING AND THE RETURN STARTED LEAKING ON AUGUST 29, 2005. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE PART THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE WHOLE UNIT, AND WITH LABOR WOULD COST $600.00 OR $700.00. ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V070000. THIS VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER IT COMPLETELY. THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE DEALER HAS NOT LOOKED AT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL 98V146000 CONCERNING AIR BAGS. VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. DID NOT HAVE THE DEALER CHECK THIS. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135391September 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
DT: WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT BEHIND OTHER CARS AND THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY DIED. CONSUMER MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE GAS TANK LEVEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THERE WAS GAS. THERE WAS ABOUT 1/8 OF AN INCH DISPLAY THAT GAS WAS STILL IN THE TANK. CONSUMER REALIZED HE WAS OUT OF GAS AFTER HE COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO SEND HIS NEPHEW TO A CORNER GAS STATION TO GET SOME GAS TO PUT INTO THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE GAS WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE IT RESTARTED AND THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE. CONSUMER DID NOT CONSULT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE EPROBLEM. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE INDICATOR DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO EMPTY WHEN IT WAS EMPTY. *AK THE CONSUMER DID CONTACT THE DEALER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132364August 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED.*MR THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLCED THREE TIMES DUE TO RUST. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REOMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130819August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DT: THE DASH AREA OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT STARTED AROUND THE IGNITION SWITCH. THEY DO HAVE A RECALL NOT SURE IF IT INCLUDES THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AFTER TURNING IT OFF, AND THAT WAS WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 6, 2005. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND INSURANCE COMPANY CAME OUT AND INSPECTED VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130116July 26, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. CAR FAILS TO STEER LEFT AND ALMOST CAUSES A CRASH DUE TO LACK OF BEING ABLE TO STEER. ABILITY TO STEER TO THE RIGHT IS FINE. MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS NOW WORRIES ME WHEN DRIVING. DURING MY COMMUTE I AM CONSTANTLY WORRIED WHETHER OR NOT I CAN MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED THREE ACCIDENTS. WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED CONSIDERING ALL THE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS LISTED WITH THE NHTSA? PLENTY OF GM MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS TAKE THE FALL WHEN IT STEMS BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126654June 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT: CONTACT STATES THE TIMING CHAIN ON HER VEHICLE BROKE ON A BUSY ROAD. THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT WITHIN 6 MONTHS THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, NOW THE VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125045June 12, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 97 CHEVROLET CAVALIER CONVERTIBLE THAT I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IN 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING AND 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW QUITE WORKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119284May 3, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER INQUIRING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE CAN BEEN FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER, IF SO CAN THEY BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. *MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116514April 6, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TAKING A LEFT TURN IN A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER LEFT WITHOUT ABILITY TO CORRECT UNTIL EXPLICIT FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE INCIDENTS LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SLUGGISH CONTROL AND THEREFORE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH ASKED FOR 800$ FOR THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN GM CARS HAS BEEN SEEN THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET, AND A COMPLAINT IS MORE THAN NECESSARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115454March 21, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND RUNNING IDLE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE PUT ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE TO DETERMINE FAULT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113698March 8, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V286000 CONCERNING RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT, HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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