Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#10106955January 6, 2005
SUSPENSION
A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE NOISE ESCALATED REPEATEDLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DEALERSHIP HAD NO FIXED IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105655January 3, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1/2/05-CAR WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT BEGAN TO LUNGE INTO TRAFFIC, CAR WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL WHERE IT CONTINUED TO LUNGE UNTIL A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, CAR IS IN SERVICE TODAY 1/3/05. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104890January 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I ALWAYS NOTICED ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER THAT THE LOW TRAC LIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY COME ON WHEN I BRAKED. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A NICER VEHICLE THAN MY PREVIOUS ONE (AN OLD FORD ESCORT). I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (INTEGRITY CHEVROLET IN PARMA HEIGHTS, OH) FOR 2 RECALLS. WHEN THEY FINISHED DOING THE RECALL WORK, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY FRONT BRAKES WERE LOW. I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNUSUAL SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 23,000 MILES. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I INQUIRED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT GETTING THE BRAKES REPAIRED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS JUST PART OF THE "NORMAL MAINTENANCE" WORK AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NOT USUAL MAINTENANCE SINCE A PERSON SHOULD NOT NEED NEW BRAKES AFTER 23,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO CHECK MY BRAKES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOT ONLY DID I NEED NEW BRAKES, BUT I ALSO NEEDED NEW ROTORS BECAUSE MINE WERE RUSTED. THIS TRIP TO THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER COST ME $423.14. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT IS ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES! THE SERVICE CENTER ATTENDANT HAD INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NOTICED THIS WITH MANY OF THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS. THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES AND ROTORS IS INDICATIVE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104865December 31, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10104754December 30, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING OUT COMPLETELY ON 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. OK, WHOM, HAS WHAT LEGISLATOR, IN, WHOM'S BACK POCKET? THERE WAS A RECALL BY CHEVROLET IN NOVEMBER, OF 2004- I AM BETTING COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY, OF COURSE. THIS RECALL, WAS, FOR TAILLIGHTS AND LIGHTBULB GREASE. RIGHT, SOMEBODY GOING TO GET KILLED IN THOSE VEHICLES, IF THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS ARE NOT CORRECTED. HERE IS A HINT, READ THIER TSB REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING PROBLEM. WHAT A LOAD THAT IS. I WILL TELL YOU WHY, I THINK THEY PUT THAT TSB OUT. IT WAS JUST SIMPLY TO COVER THIER OWN YOU KNOW WHAT. I WONDER HOW MANY FIRES, OR DEATHS HAVE OCCURED DUE TO THE LIGHT HEARTED APPROACH GM HAS TOWARDS THE LIGHTING PROBLEMS ON THE 2003 MODELS? DON'T YOU LOVE HUBEROUS. HAVE YOU GONE TO YOUR DEALER ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE LATELY. OH, CHECK OUT THE BRAKE ROTORS THERE IS STRESS AND HEAT FRACTURES AT LESS THAN THIRTY THOUSAND MILES. COME ON! ARE WE WAITING FOR 1000 WHEELS TO CATCH ON FIRE, OR JUST MY PREGNANT WIFE LOOSING CONTROL DUE THE SHIMMY. AH HECK, I'LL JUST GO BUY A AN OLD PINTO AND HAVE REAL EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT FULLY INSURED OF COURSE, FOR THE NEXT THREE LONG YEARS. DID I MENTION THE STEREO FACE BURNING ONES FINGERS, BUT THE DEALER SAYS, THAT WAS OK TOO. FORGET THE KICKBACKS AND DO YOUR JOBS. REMEMBER THE TAXPAYER AND PUBLIC SERVENT, NOT CORPORATION AND PUBLIC SERVENT. SLEEP WELL, I AM GLAD SOMEONE CAN. I GOT GO CHANGE SOME DIAPERS NOW. YEH, THREE KIDS; NONE OF THEM RIDE IN THAT DEATH TRAP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104706December 29, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASE (PURCHASED NEW) CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AT TIMES, PRE-SET RADIO STATIONS CHANGE AT TIMES, AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF AT TIMES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104712December 29, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2002 VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ALREADY PUT A NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TIRES (ACCEPTABLE) TWO SETS OF BRAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHY SO THEREFORE I CAN'T GET AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT IS OFF. HELP. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101234December 29, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND, LATER THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AND IT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER THE ENGINE WAS TICKING AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT PUT ON CORRECTLY BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105432December 28, 2004
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104497December 26, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING TO WORKING ON NOVEMBER 19 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30AM WHEN MY CAR STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT ON A MAJOR STREET. I TRIED TO GIVE IT GAS BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCERATE. I TRIED TO START IT A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE CAR WAS ON A 1/4 OF GAS WHEN THIS HAPPENED SO I THOUGHT IT WASN'T THE FUEL. I HAD TO CALL MY BOSS, WHO CAME OUT TO TRY TO HELP BUT HAD NO LUCK IN GETTING IT TO START OR FIGURING OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS SO WE HAD TO CALL AAA AND HAVE THEM TOW MY CAR TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. AFTER 2 DAYS OF HAVING MY CAR IN THE SHOP, I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS COMPLETELY SHOT DUE TO MY FUEL GUAGE READINGS NOT READING CORRECTLY. WHEN MY FUEL READING WAS AT 1/4 IT WAS ACTUALLY OF EMPTY. MY MECHANIC THEN INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN DEFECT FOR MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL CAR. I WAS THEN INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD COST $675.00 WHICH INCLUDED PARTS AND LABOR TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME, I CALLED THE GM DEALER BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT SINCE THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE IT COVERED UNDER SOME KIND OF WARRANTY. I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT THAT ITS NOT UNDER ANY KIND OF EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN I HEARD THAT, I WAS VERY ANGRY BECAUSE I FELT THAT IF THIS IS A KNOWN COMPLAINT/DEFECT THAT THESE CERTAIN CARS MAY HAVE, WHY SHOULD I, THE CUSTOMER OF CHEVROLET, HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS? SINCE I AM IN NEED OF MY "RELIABLE" TRANSPORTATION, I PAID FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP (ALL $675.00 WORTH OF IT).*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104461December 24, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INFORMATION REGARDING GM RECALL 04083, REGARDING THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVING FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE FINALLY BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN: [XXX] IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. IS THERE ANY THING THAT I CAN DO SHORT OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR PARTS MYSELF?*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
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
#10104414December 23, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
MY 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 1999. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWELVE INCIDENTS WITH THE FAILURE OF MY TAIL LIGHTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SHORTAGE IN THE LINE BECAUSE I HAVE PURCHASED MORE BULBS THAN I WOULD LIKE TO REMEMBER. I HAVE ALSO RECEIVED ONE CITATION AS WELL AS TWO WARNINGS IN REFERENCE TO THE BROKEN TAIL LIGHT. RECENTLY I SAW THAT THE MORE NEWER MODELS OF THE CAVALIER HAVE BEEN RECALLED TO FIX THE TAIL LIGHT BUT NOT THE LATER ONES. HOPEFULLY THIS COMPLAINT WILL HELP TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059550December 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK THE TRUNK WOULD LOCK WITHOUT THE REMOTE ENTRY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104108December 19, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IS NOT WORKING. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, I DO NOT FEEL THAT AFTER 2 YEARS THE MOTOR SHOULD BE BAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105410December 13, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN 97 CAVALIER, CAUSED AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN EXTREME INJURIES. *BF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LATE STRIKING THE CONSUMERS LEFT EYE. *TC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10108948December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I OWN A NEW 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. HAD TO REPLACED 2 SPACERS, A STRUT MOUNT, SEVERAL STEERING PARTS AND PART OF THE REAR LIGHT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CAN SLIGHTLY ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF AN OCCASIONAL POPPING IN THE STEERING IS NORMAL IN HER VEHICLE AFTER TESTING FOUR OF THE SAME MODELS. *TC
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
#10103359December 8, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT ABOUT 45 MPH, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL. RESULTS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER SHOWED THAT TIMING CHAIN SHATTERED, TEARING UP THE ENGINE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102330December 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
THE 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 32,000 MILEAGE. ON DECEMBER 25, 2003 WITH 34,016 MILEAGE THE BRAKE DASH LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE FLUID WAS BARELY VISIBLE WHEN CHECKED. THE MECHANIC LATER DETERMINED THE PROPORTIONING VALUE WAS LOSING A DROP OF BRAKE FLUID WITH THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND RECEIVED FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. THE REPAIRED CAR WAS COMPLETED ON JANUARY 2, 2004. HE DIFFERENCE WAS REMARKABLE. IT WASN'T UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED THAT I REALIZE HOW MUCH IT HAD LOST IT BRAKING ABILITY. TODAY I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER ONLY THE DEALER COULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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