Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1998)

345 consumer complaints on file.

#10146496December 22, 2005
TIRES
1998 CHEVY CAVALIER RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142519November 12, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ON 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BUILD IN 4-01-1997 TO 10-31-1997 MINE WAS MADE 11-01-1997. I KNOW THAT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH MINE BECAUSE AT TIMES I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL WHEN I SLOW DOWN. THE REASON I'M WRITING ABOUT THIS IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER 98 CAVALIERS MADE AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE A REPORT SENT TO GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THEY WILL GO GOOD FOR THIS PART. I HAVE A CHILD AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY THAT THEY SHOULD GO GOOD FOR IT AND HAVE IT FIX BY A DEALER AND THEY SHOULD PAY THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK . YOU HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR BACK ON THIS REAL SOON. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138116September 29, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED SHE THERE WAS A CRACK IN GAS TANK. IF THE CONTACT FILLED THE TANK 3/4 FULL THE TANK LEAKED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A CRACK IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. SHE NOTICED THIS A WHILE BACK. SHE ALWAYS KEPT TANK FULL. BUT WHEN GAS PRICES WENT UP EXCESSIVELY SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO FILL IT UP. WHEN GAS PRICES WENT DOWN, THE CONTACT FILLED IT UP AGAIN, AND THAT WAS WHEN THE TANK STARTED TO LEAK. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127698August 23, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT: THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN TWO YEARS BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL O4V036000 NOTICE CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MARCH 2004. THE OWNER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A RELAY KIT AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND WORKED FINE FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. THE OWNER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY DRAINING, AND HAVING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT LEAST ONE OTHER TIME IN NOVEMBER 2004. THE OWNER TALKED WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER ACTUALLY WANTED TO CHARGE FOR CHECKING AS TO WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. OWNER HAS TALKED WITH RONALD BERKAN AT GENERAL MOTORS, WHO CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE AS REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. MR. BERKAN ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT INVOLVED. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT GM WOULD DO UNDER THIS RECALL.*AK CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT IF RECALL WORK IS NOT PERFORMED THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND NOW HAS TO JUMP START VEHICLE EVERY 24 HOURS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130414July 28, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
DT: CALLER HAD SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING RACK AN DPINION STEERING. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130070July 26, 2005
STEERING
ON 08.25.2003 SUN CHEVROLET (IN PITTSBURGH, PA) PERFORMED RECALL WORK ON MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER. THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS "RACK AND PINION CAMPAIGN 02049, MA-96-V0948.7". AT THAT TIME THE ONLY PART LISTED ON MY RECEIPT AS BEING INSTALLED ON THE CAVALIER WAS BEARING K 6.835 A. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHERE IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING HAS BECOME DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS VERY STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS, AND HAS LED TO SEVERAL "NEAR MISSES" IN TRAFFIC WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS. SO, ON 07.21.2005, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SUN CHEVROLET FOR THEM TO EVALUATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW "STEERING GEAR" FOR $1168.95, AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CALLED PRICILLA LUNDQUIST (FROM CHEVROLET 866.952.4368 X 58092, SERVICE REQUEST # 1-351040321) ON SATURDAY 07.23.2005, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK WILL SUN CHEVROLET THEN GET BACK TO US ON MONDAY (07.25.2005). AT THAT TIME SHE TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, IT WAS COMPLETELY OUR PROBLEM TO FIX AND PAY FOR. FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THIS RACK AND PINION RECALL, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE STEERING GEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL (08.25.2003) ALONG WITH THE BEARING TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM NOW. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128471July 12, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PURCHASED A 98 CHEV CAVALIER FROM DRIVE TIME IN 2002 - FOUND OUT LAST WEEK VIA CARFAX THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A 20,000 MILE ODOMETER ROLL BACK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127506July 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE, IT STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES. COMPLAINS OF ENGINE NOT WORKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126314June 23, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE SHOWED MORE FUEL IN TANK THAN THERE REALLY WAS- THE CAR STALLED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY SHOWING 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN IT WAS EMPTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126221June 22, 2005
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, SEATS
(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SHE WAS STRUCK, HER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE FURTHER PREVENTED HER STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY SAFETY DEVICE IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED MISERABLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10124849June 9, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER MY TIMING BELT TENTION PULLEY HAS BROKEN TWICE,ALSO MY IDLER PULLEY HAS ALSO BROKEN TWICE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124100June 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PATTERN OF OVERHEATING AND VEHICLE FAILURES IN 98 CAVALIERS. A SECOND CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS IS NOW BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NEXT TO MINE AT FOX CHEVROLET TIMONIUM. 410-667-6666. CAR WITH 100,049 MILES OVERHEATED FOR FIRST TIME AFTER ORDINARY FLUSH AND FILL 2 DAYS PRIOR. (THE SERPENTINE BELT AND AN OIL CHANGE WERE ALSO PERFORMED FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT OF SMELLING ANTIFREEZE NO OTHER EVIDENCE OF ANY COOLING PROBLEMS) FOLLOWING THE OVERHEATING, THE CAR WAS PROMPTLY PULLED OVER WITHIN 2 MILES AND FLATBEDDED BACK TO THE SERVICE STATION. AFTER REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP (SIGNS OF LOW COOLANT FLOW - TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL IN THE UPPER AND LOWER HOSES) CAR CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE CAR WAS FLATBEDDED TO THE DEALER: NO LEAKS OR DAMAGE WERE FOUND IN THE HEATER CORE, RADIATOR, HEAD GASKET, OR CYLINDER HEAD. DEALER CONCLUSION IS THAT THERE ARE MICRO CRACKS INSIDE THE ENGINE BECAUSE ENGINE GASES ARE MIXING WITH THE ANTIFREEZE, ALTHOUGH OIL IS NOT ENTERING THE COOLING SYSTEM. DEALER INSISTS ONLY POSSIBLE REPAIR IS AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120996May 16, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. AT ANY SPEED, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ABS KICKS ON AND DOES NOT CATCH, BUT STARTS TO JOLT. BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO CATCH/RELEASE OVER AND OVER, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. ALSO CAUSES ROLLING FOWARD OR BACKWARD IN ANY WEATHER CONDITION OR UNDER ANY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSUMER HAS BARELY HAD AN ACCIDENT UP TO THIS POINT. VEHICLE HAS ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115546March 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM IN HER 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *NM *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110571February 15, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHEN THE WEATHER BEGAN TO WARM UP LAST SUMMER MY CAR STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING. I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND MY ENGINE WOULD TURN AND TURN BUT NOT FIRE CORRECTLY. AFTER A FEW TRIES, IT WOULD FINALLY START UP. I DIDN'T THINK ANY THING OF THIS PROBLEM AT FIRST, BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED MISFIRING LIKE THIS QUITE FREQENTLY AFTER THE WEATHER BEGAN TO GET REALLY WARM AND HUMID OUTSIDE AND I HAD PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN MY VEHICLE THAT DAY. I HAVE HAD ALL THE RECALLS FIXED ON MY CAR, INCLUDING THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THIS PROBLEM WITH STARTING MY CAR STILL PERSISTED. ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START AT ALL AND IT ENDED UP MY BATTERY HAD DIED AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ABOVE STATED PROBLEM, BUT I'M SURE THE ROUGH STARTS WERE NOT GOOD ON MY BATTERY EITHER. I FINALLY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER I HAD THEM INSTALL A NEW BATTERY AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NOT SUPRISINGLY, THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, IT STARTED ROUGH AGAIN. I BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE MANUALS THAT HELPS YOU IDENTIFY AND CORRECT AUTOMOBILE PROBLEMS YOURSELF, SO I HAVE REPLACED COOLANT SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND FLUIDS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 2005 AND THE WEATHER IS COOLER OUTSIDE AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS THUS FAR. I'M AFRAID WHEN IT STARTS TO GET WARMER OUTSIDE, THOUGH, THAT I'LL BEGIN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN GET WITH THIS PROBLEM? ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR HAS ANYBODY ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109985February 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP.... THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK... THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES CAN LOCK UP AND SEVERE CONDITIONS, ON GRAVEL, OR ON EXTREMELY HARD STOPS....*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109709January 18, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILED AND WAS REPLACED TWICE. *NM *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110918January 6, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE SLOWING FROM A SPEED OF 45 MPH THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE AIR BAG WAS BLOCKING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN A DITCH. TWO WITNESSES ASSISTED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION UNTIL THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105284December 23, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER TO DO RECALL REPAIRS AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102369December 8, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
CHEY CAVALIER HAS ABS LIGHT ON FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. ALSO IT HAS FAIL MANY TIMES I CALLED THE COMPANY FOR ANSWERS BUT NO ONE HAS HELP. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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