Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#10444715January 20, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I PURCHASED A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER IN OCTOBER 2005. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH BAD OR NO SHOCKS AND WITHIN THE FIRST 1 TO 2 YEARS MY TRUNK INTERIOR LIGHT BLEW OFF THE WIRE SOUNDING LIKE A BOMB. THEN MY DRIVER REAR DOOR WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN (DUE TO THE LINKAGES). SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR WOULD NOT SHUT BECAUSE THE LATCH STUCK (HAD TO BUNGY STRAP IT) THEN GOT IT FIXED TO SHUT THEN IT WOULD NOT OPEN (DUE TO LINKAGES) BOTH FRONT DOORS ARE MESSED UP AS WELL. ( DRVIER SIDE DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND POASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS CATCH WHEN YOU SHUT IT). MY RADIO DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN LIKE IT SHOULD. MY INTERIOR BULB HAD TO BE TAKEN OUT DUE TO NEVER SHUTTING OFF AFTER DOORS WERE CLOSED. MY DRIVER WINDOW MAKES NOISE WHEN OPENING IT.(MANUAL WINDOW CRANK). MY GUAGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY EITHER. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAID TO TAKE MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND REPAIRED BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD THE WORK TO BE DONE, THE PRICE FOR A RENTAL, OR TO MISS WORK. I HAD THE CAR FOR 6.5 YEARS (ALMOST) BUT THE AGE OF THE CAR SHOULD HAVE NTOHING TO DO WITH EVERYTHING GOING WRONG WITH THE LINKAGES AND ELECTRICAL. PASSENGERS HAVE TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEAT TO GET INTO THE BACK. ANY INFORMATION IS APPRECIATED. BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS EMAIL AND I WILL RESPOND IF A NUMBER IS LEFT. I NEED ANSWERS TO WHAT CAN BE DONEFINANCIALLY I CAN NOT AFFORD ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN SOLD A LEMON. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TRUNK LATCH DUE TO IT NOT WANTING TO CLOSE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444038January 17, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A FEW YEARS AGO THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING RANDOMLY, BUT WOULD START WORKING AGAIN. THIS PAST SUMMER MY RPM GAUGE STARTED SAYING MY ENGINE WAS ROTATING AT 7000 RPM WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF. THE RPM GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED SINCE AND THE SPEEDOMETER PICKS AND CHOOSES WHEN IT WANTS TO WORK. THOSE ARE 2 VERY IMPORTANT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT IN A CAR. WHEN I TALKED TO CHEVY ABOUT IT IN 2008 (I THINK), THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE PART AND THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD FILED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST UP TO A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX DUE TO HAVING TO TAKE THE DASH APART TO REPLACE THE GAUGE CLUSTER (WHICH IS $800 ON ITS OWN). I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FORUMS ETC SINCE THEN AND THEY ARE FULL OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS AND STILL CHEVY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443956January 16, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER CONSULTING LICENSED MECHANICS, AND ONE SUCH NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AIRPLANE-ENGINE TECH-MECHANIC, BEING RANKED IN THE TOP THREE (3) OF THE NATION'S AVIATION MECHANICS INDUSTRY FROM 1981-1983 PERIOD (AND STILL HAS QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY), [AND BEFORE MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF], THE CONSENSUS/VERDICT [BY THESE PROFESSIONALS] WAS AGREED THAT IT BORDERS ON CRIMINALITY (AND I QUOTE), THAT AUTOMAKERS ARE USING PLASTIC COVERINGS AND SEALS, AS THE ENGINE'S OIL FILTER HOUSING CAPS. KNOWN (INDUSTRY-WIDE) TO EXERT PRESSURES IN 'POUNDS PER-SQUARE-INCH' ( LBS/PSI) AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT THESE PLASTIC MATERIALS--SUCH AS THE OIL FILTER-HOUSING CAPS, CANNOT WITHSTAND. THEY ALSO STRIP. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE CERTIFIED AIRPLANE MECHANIC THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURIZATION THEORY BEHIND THAT TECHNOLOGY, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT FIFTY-50 TO SIXTY-60 POUNDS (LBS/PSI) OF PRESSURE PER-SQUARE-INCH IS BEING GIVEN TO THE PLASTIC CAPS FROM THE ENGINE'S INTERNAL COMBUSTION WILL CAUSE ANY PLASTIC CAP, HOUSED UNDER SUCH PRESSURES TO FAIL. HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DID NOT CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE TWO(2) YEARS AFTER BEING NEWLY PURCHASED. HE SAID THE SCIENCE THAT INDUSTRY INSIDERS DO NOT WANT US TO KNOW IS THAT THE PROPER SEMI-PRECIOUS METALS, AS ALUMINUM, COPPER AND THE LIKE ARE PERFECT CONDUCTORS OF ELECTRICITY AND HEAT, ALLOWING THE METAL TO EXPAND/CONTRACT ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURES AND/OR TORQUE PRESSURIZATION OF THE 50-60 LBS/PSI BEING RELEASE TO HOUSING. EVEN TAMPERED STEEL WOULD WORK AS IT WOULD CONFORM. BUT PLASTIC ONCE OVERHEATED WILL REMAIN IN WARPED STATE CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE IN THAT AREA. THIS DEPRESSURIZATION OF ENGINE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, A COUPLE-TO-FEW YEARS LATER RESULTS IN ENGINE'S CRANK CASE HOUSING DEPRESSURIZING TO THE POINT OF CRACKING AFTER PISTONS THEMSELVES GIVEWAY RENDERING ENGINE BEING IRREPARABLE. MY CAR SHOULD HAVE FLIPPED @ 70MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442330January 4, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND IS STUCK ON 52 MPH. FUEL GAUGE IS STUCK ON FULL, TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS POINTING TO NOWHERE, AND THE TACOMETER IS POINTING AT ZERO. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442233January 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING LOOKS LIKE THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER CHEVROLET CAVALIERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442249January 3, 2012
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS COULD ONLY BE CLOSED PARTIALLY. THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE DOOR MOTOR AND REGULATOR. THE MOTORS AND THE REGULATORS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442302January 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDE ERRATIC INDICATION OF SPEED. THE SYMPTOMS EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T INDICATE PROPERLY AT ALL. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY. REVIEWED VARIOUS WEBSITES AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOW DEFECT FOR CHEVROLET INSTRUMENT PANELS. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ LOW CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO MAINTAIN SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441771December 30, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I'VE BEEN READING A FORUM ON HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/CAVALIER/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_STOPPED_WORKING.SHTML AND BETWEEN THE MILEAGE RANGE OF 30,000 AND 50,000 THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SIGNIFIGANT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO WAY TO AFFORD GETTING IT FIXED AND CHEVROLET SHOULD BE LIABLE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THEY CANNOT EXPECT TO CHARGE UPWARDS OF $500.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441549December 28, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK OIL AND BATTERY WARNING LAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO TEH CONTACT WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,769. KMJ UPDATED 01/25//12 *BF UPDATED 01/27/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441376December 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ABNORMALLY HIGH ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE TEMPERATURE READINGS, DISPLAYING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING WHEN IT WAS NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 01/10/12*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440387December 19, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THERE'S ALOT OF STUFF WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT RAN GOOD AND IS RELIABLE WHEN RUNNING,BUT RECENTLY STOP RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439349December 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2004 AND I LOVED IT WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT OFF THE CAR LOT. THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM! MY GAUGES MESS UP ALL THE TIME. I CAN GET INTO MY CAR AND START IT UP AND IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 70 MPH AND I'M NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH TWICE IN A YEAR. IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF CHEVROLET WOULD DO A RECALL ON THE GAUGES WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439418December 12, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN HE WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT ONE OF THE WHEELS WAS PROTRUDING OUTWARD ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438689December 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS
I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2.4L WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING TO GET GAS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE LOW AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS I CAME TO A STOP IT GOT WORSE AND THEN I CHECK THE DASH FOR ANY INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION ONLY TO SEE MY AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, CHECK OIL & BATTERY LIGHTS FLICKERING. MOMENTS LATER AS I SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR IT DIES RENDERING ALL SAFETY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO JUMP ME 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE REACHING MY HOME WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437660November 29, 2011
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VECHILE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ABNORMALLY COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND BOTH THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10437773November 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING. I ORDERED 2 USED ONES THEY DID NOT WORK. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REBUILD IT AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. GM HAS RECALLED THIS ITEM ON SEVERAL MODELS BUT NOT ON THE CAVALIER AS OF YET. I HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS AND STILL HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437230November 25, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE BRAKES WOULD BE CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS AND THE ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436212November 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWS INCORRECT SPEED WHILE MOVING OR SPEED WHILE PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436264November 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE BOUGHT OUR '05 CAVALIER USED IN THE FALL OF 2008, THINKING IT WAS A SOLID, RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR OUR YOUNG FAMILY. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG (DATE I POSTED WAS APPROXIMATE, BASED ON WHEN I KNOW FOR SURE IT WAS DOING IT'S THING) FOR THE GAUGES TO START ACTING UP. FROM THEN ON, IT READS LIKE IT'S OVERHEATING ON A REGULAR BASIS (GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE RED SOMETIMES), DESPITE THE COOLING SYSTEM, THERMOSTAT, ETC. BEING FINE. ALSO, THE GAS AND ODOMETER GAUGES ACT UP, TYPICALLY WHEN THE TEMP GAUGE DOES. THEY MOVE AROUND ALL CRAZY AND STICK SOMETIMES. I FIND I OFTEN HAVE TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO THE GAUGES TO RESET THEM, THOUGH THIS TENDS TO REQUIRE SITTING FOR AS MUCH AS 5 MINUTES. ALL THIS JUST TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN HOW FAST YOUR GOING IS RIDICULOUS. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ON THE '05 CAVS DOING THIS, YOU THINK CHEVY WOULD FIX THE ISSUE...IT'S A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE YOUR GAUGES MESS UP THAT BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436150November 16, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GAUGES ON DASHBOARD HAVE FAILED. ALL LIGHTS COME ON AND GAUGES FAIL. SPEEDOMETER SAYS I'M GOING 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. WATER TEMP GAUGE IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE INDICATOR GETS IN THE WAY OFF THE SPEEDOMETER INDICATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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