Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#10567934March 8, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567491March 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL COMPLETELY WENT HAY WIRE AND THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE. EVERYTHING WAS FLASHING TO THE POINT IT WAS ACTUALLY SCARY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT STILLED CONTINUED. I FINALLY DECIDED TO CONTINUE HOME AND AFTER ABOUT 6 MILES IT FINALLY JUST STOPPED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT SO MANY MORE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING HAPPENING BUT SOME HAVE HAD THEIR CAR ACTUALLY START ON FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY CONSIDERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567219February 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS IN 2009. IT WAS THAT THE SWITCH OF THE KEY ENGINE DID NOT WANT TO START. SOMEONE CAME TO FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO REPAIR IT. HE HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WOULD BE TUNING THE KEY TO THE ENGINE TO START I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THAT BUTTON TO START THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACING LIGHT BULBS CONSTANCY FROM THE REAR BACK OF THE SINGLE LIGHT. THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM WOULD BE TURNING IT SELF ON WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING. THANKFULLY THERE WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I WOULD BE STRUGGLING TO START MY CAR .I HAD TO WAIT SOME COUPLE OF MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THE RECENT INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS WHEN MY NEIGHBOR HEARD LIKE SOME FIREWORKS IN OUR SIDE OF OUR HOUSE. HE TOOK A LOOK AND HE SEEN THAT OUR CAR WAS SOME SPARKLING LIGHTS OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHAT HE SEEN AND HE TOLD US THAT MORNING. AS I WALK TOWARDS THE CAR I COULD SMELL SMOKE AS IF SOMETHING BURN. I WANTED TO START MY CAR BUT WOULDN'T START. SOME ONE CAME TO FIXED IT AND HAD TO REPLACE SOME CABLE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT CAUSE THE SPARKING OF THE FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566345February 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
RECENTLY GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SOME OF THEIR CARS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS A LIST OF CARS CURRENTLY LISTED, BUT I WANT MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ADDED TO THE RECALL TOO: CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5, SATURN ION, CHEVROLET HHR, PONTIAC SOLSTICE, AND SATURN SKY. MANY YEARS AGO I TRIED TO GET A LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THEY COULD NOT FIX IT, SO WE JUST KEPT DRIVING THE CAR. HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS GETTING DEPLOYED I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU SOONER. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO GET FIXED BY GM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON ALL MODELS LISTED INCLUDING MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE DEFECT ALLOWS THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MOVE FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" IF I HIT A BUMP OR I USE A HEAVY KEY CHAIN. THAT SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND MAY DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THE LOSS OF THE AIR BAG CRASH PROTECTION IS MY BIGGEST WORRY. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS FIXED AND WARN OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565900February 26, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH ANDABS AND TRAC OFF SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS NO COLLISION, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED WITH BOTH FRONT ABS SENSOR HARNESS WAS WORN-OUT HAD TO FIX AND REPLACE AND COST 398.81$
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566028February 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER STEERING GAUGES SHUT OFF EVERYTHING TURNED OFF BUT LIGHTS STAYED ON AND FLASHERS WORKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564734February 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AS I WAS GOING TO TURN THE SWITCH ON TO TURN ON MY CAR IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. I HAD SOME ONE FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO FIX IT. THEY HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO START THE CAR AS I TURN THE SWITCH ON. THERE WAS COUPLE A OF TIMES WHERE THE CAR WOULD GO ON PASSLOCK BY ITSELF AND WOULDN'T START UNTIL A LONG PERIOD OF WAITING. THE EXTERNAL HEADLIGHTS BURN CONSTANTLY AND I WOULD BUY NEW BULBS FOR THE BACK LIGHTS. ONE TIME OUR NEIGHBOR SAID HE HEARD NOISE LIKE FIREWORKS ON OUR PROPERTY AND HE SAID THAT HE SEEN OUR CAR WAS SPARKING LIGHT OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT MORNING OF THAT DAY HE TOLD US AND AS WE WERE CHECKING THE CAR I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNED. AS A RESULT OF THAT THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO START . THE AUTO REPAIR PEOPLE HAD TO COME TO OUR HOUSE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT SOME WIRES INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BURNED BUT MOSTLY I HAVE BEEN FIXING MORE OF ELECTRICAL SWITCHES AND BURNED WIRES. I APPRECIATE FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO READ THIS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560875January 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
THE WEATHER WAS IN THE 10S AND SINGLE DIGITS. I WAS TRAVELING IN PAIR, WE DID NOT EXCEED 35 MILES AN HOUR AS VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR DUE TO SNOW AND WINDS. I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER WAS ACCELERATING, BELIEVED MY TIRES WERE SPINNING ON ICE. I COME TO A STOP AND REALIZED MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL GOING 60 MILES AN HOUR. DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME FOLLOWING MY FRIEND WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY FOLLOWING ME. THE MPH NEEDLE MADE ITS WAY TO POINT STRAIGHT DOWN. I WOULDN'T HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN IF OTHER CHEVY CAVALIER OWNERS HAD TOLD ME TO, BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM TOO. I AM A NEW OWNER OF THIS CAR, BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALERSHIP SO I DON'T KNOW THAT HOW WELL TAKEN CARE OF THIS CAR WAS. I PRIDE MYSELF IN TAKING EXTRA CAR OF MY VEHICLES. I DO NOT THINK THE SPEEDOMETER SHOULD HAVE FAILED UNLESS IT WAS BECAUSE OF OPERATOR MISUSE, AND I HAVE NOT MISUSED MY VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557214December 25, 2013
SUSPENSION
DRIVING DOWN STREET HEARD A BANG GOT OUT FOUND DRIVER SIDE TIRE HITTING FENDER TOE TRUCK CAME AND SHOULD ME THAT SUB FRAME BROKE TALK TO SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556982December 22, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING; TODAY'S EXAMPLE; WE WERE ENTERING AN INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATING TO THE 65 MPH POSTED SPEED LIMIT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER LOCKED AT 45 AND STAYED THERE. DID NOT CHANGE AND REMAINS THERE UNTIL WE GOT THE CAR HOME. THE WORST PART IS MY SON, A STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND HAD NO WAY TO KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS GOING AND HAD TO REMAIN THERE UNTIL WE COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND EXCHANGE PLACES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE, AND SEE MANY MORE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556325December 17, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER TO PROVIDE INCORRECT READING WHEN CONTACT DROVE 55MPH THE SPEEDOMETER READ 30MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO WANTED TO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED BUT WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,211. LI
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555936December 13, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND CAR SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD NOT. WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD CARS HONKING CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555521December 10, 2013
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPON DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS 20-30 MPH WITH FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON,IT BECAME MORE,AND MORE EVIDENT OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. FIRST THERE WAS AN INCREASING BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. A CONNECTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE KICK PANEL HAS MELTED BEING SO CLOSE TO THE CARPET ITS POSSIBLE THAT IT BEING WINTER MOISTURE FROM MELTED SNOW SOMEHOW MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN, A SEARCH ON GOOGLE SEEMS TO PULL MULTIPLE CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO I WANT TO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF MY REAR DEFROSTED WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER SWITCH, I HAD TO PULL THE 30 AMP FUSE THAT STILL HAD A COMPLETE CIRCUIT IN IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552663November 18, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INDICATING INCORRECT SPEEDS BEFORE IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE GAS, RPM, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES INDICATE INCORRECT INFORMATION AS WELL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549984October 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549827October 28, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS IN FOR FRONT BRAKES....MECHANIC PHONED AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR'S SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL CAR. CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CAR (2002) AND MILEAGE (64,500) THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I TOLD GM THAT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. STILL THEY TOLD ME NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHICH I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD MAKE OTHER FOLKS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS TO CONTACT NHTSA. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE THIS TYPE OF CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN IF NOT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY BRAKES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546052September 29, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE HAS GONE SO FAR TO THE RIGHT (AND NOT REGISTERING CORRECT TEMPERATURE) THAT IT INTERFERES WITH THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE THEREFORE, THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE CAN ONLY REGISTER UP TO 15 MPH WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING AT LEAST 45 TO 55 MPH. I HAVE READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE REGARDING THIS SAME PROBLEM BEFORE A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED? IS EVERYONE AT NHTSA AND CHEVROLET/GM JUST WAITING IN HOPES THAT SOON ALL OF THESE CARS WILL BE OFF THE ROAD THEREFORE, THEY WILL NO LONGER BE AN ISSUE? I TRULY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE, NOT KNOWING HOW FAST OR SLOW YOU ARE TRAVELING AND/OR WHETHER YOUR CAR IS BURNING UP OR NOT. THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I DON'T SEE THESE CARS GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON, PEOPLE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO DRIVE THEM AS THEY ARE, WITH THE GAUGE PROBLEMS. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE CHOOSES TO IGNORE BEFORE SOMETHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT?? THEY COST TOO MUCH TO REPAIR AND IT USUALLY DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE OWN TWO OF THESE CARS, THE OTHER ONE IS A 2004 AND IN ADDITION TO THE SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING PROPERLY THE GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING EITHER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543698September 15, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543173September 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; AT FIRST THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT CAUSING US TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND INVESTIGATE, 27 YEARS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN KINDA HELPED ME COME TO THE CONCLUSION REAL QUICK IT WAS NOT OVERHEATING, THEN THE TACHOMETER WOULD GO COMPLETELY AROUND AND PEG FROM THE UNDERSIDE AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS AND HAS STAYED, THE SPEEDOMETER CEASED TO WORK SHORTLY AFTER THE TACHOMETER WENT HAYWIRE AND THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO HAS ITS MOMENTS, SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DON'T AND ALL OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE SOON INDICATORS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN, THE CAR HAS NO TROUBLE CODES AND THERE IS NO REASON GM HASN'T RECALLED THESE AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEMS, FUNNY THEY SENT ME A LETTER ON MY 03 SILVERADO CLUSTER AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT BUT I LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE CAVALIERS AND NO SUCH RECALLS, YOU MIGHT ASK WHY I HAVEN'T FIXED IT MYSELF WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TOO? GM SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX ITS FAULTY CLUSTERS IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ANY OF THESE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS OF THE CLUSTER TO BE FAULTY OR INACCURATE IT CAN CAUSE A MOTORIST TO TRAVEL AT AN UNSAFE SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND BE AT RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER MOTORIST FROM BEHIND THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, ASK YOURSELF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT OR FATALLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY CLUSTERS, WHO KNOWS; BUT ONE WOULD BE ONE TOO MANY DON'T YOU THINK? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534953August 12, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HOOD FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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