Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1996)

503 consumer complaints on file.

#10068233May 3, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
CHILD SAFETY LOCK WILL NOT UNDO ON THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR. MECHANIC COULD NOT REPAIR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067894April 27, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WOULDNT START. TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. DISCONNECTED /RECONNECTED BATTERY ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS. TRIED TO START AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND CAR STARTED JUST FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED.NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY SEEMED WRONG CAR DROVE JUST FINE. THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN THIS HAPPENING WETHER WE JUST DROVE IT OR IT SAT ALL NIGHT IT HAS OCCURED EITHER WAY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER AND WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY THEFT SYSTEM AT ALL. AS FAR AS WE KNOW THERE ISNT ONE IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067638April 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
134,000 MILES ON CHEVROLET CAVALIER, STALLED ON ROAD-TIMING CHAIN BROKEN BUT THIS IS A SECONDARY PROBLEM TO LOSS OF COMPRESSION. PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS?. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10068661April 21, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066842April 8, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
HEAD LAMP WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE HIGH AND LOW BEAMS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064029March 27, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS GET CRACKS AND LEAK, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF NOT CHANGED. I HAVE HAD ALL 4 INJECTORS LEAK, AND 2 HAD HAIRLINE CRACKS ALLOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO LEAK ONTO HOT ENGINE WHICH COULD EASILY START A FIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10054318January 16, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
GUESS WHAT, HERE IS ANOTHER PROBLEM FOR MY VEHICLE GM. (ANOTHER COMPLAINT)WE'VE ALREADY SPENT NEARLY A $1,000, ON THIS CAR. NOW, TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC AGAIN, THE HAD SPENT A HOUR AND A HALF LOOKING FOR NOW WHAT IS THE FUEL PUMP THAT HAD GONE BAD. I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS IN A VEHICLE HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED. SO WHEN WE FOUND THIS OUT , WE REALLY ENJOYED YOUR COMPANY'S "MONEY MAKING" SCHEME TO HAVE THE CAVALIERS, NEW FUEL PUMP COST AROUND $500. WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY, OTHER MANUFACTURE HAVE LIFETIME WARRANTIES, WHICH WE WILL BE REPLACING WITH. ( CARTER, OR MASTER). NOT INCLUDING THE LABOR AND A CUSTOMER CANNOT JUST REPLACE THIS PUMP SEPARATELY, NO YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE MODULE TOGETHER WITH THE FUEL PUMP!!! USUALLY, IT WOULD COST AROUND $80.00-$100.00, FOR A FUEL PUMP. THANKS GM, HOPE YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY. BECAUSE, I WILL BUY FOREIGN AND "WORD OF MOUTH", IS LOUDER. MEL *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070972January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
JULY 2002 MANUAL TRANSAXLE LEAK- REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT SEALS; MARCH 2003, LEFT SEAL REPLACED; OCTOBER 2003 RIGHT SEAL REPLACED. OCTOBER 2003, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING UP HILLS IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR AND SOMETIMES ON FLATS- SAME GEARS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, MEANWHILE I TOOK IT IN FOR THE LEAKING TRANSAXLE- I CAN'T WIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069950January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, WHEELS, SEAT BELTS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MOTOR STOPS RUNNING AND I LOST ALL POWER BOTH STEERING AND ELECTRICAL. GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAITED 2 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP IT WAS FINE. ONLY DID THIS 2 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK PERIOD. ENGINE IDLE ROUGH SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1998. TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. CAME BACK SEVERAL TIMES THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID THAY COULD DO NOTHING THATS JUST HOW THEY RUN. MOTOR SURGES AND LAGS AFTER START UP. REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. PUSH PEDAL MOTOR BOGS DOWN AND THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. REPLACED ALMOST EVERY SENSOR UNDER THE HOOD PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. BATTERY TOOK A DUMP AT ALMOST 4 YEARS. ENGINE SPUN #3 AND #4 BEARINGS ON A COLD START UP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AT THE SAME TIME.PASS POWER WINDOW WAS ALWAYS SLOW. REPLACED APPROX MID 2002 REAR SUSPENSION CLUNKS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS LUMBER IN THE TRUNK. WHEEL STUDS SNAP EASILY AS I HAVE REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 10. REAR BRAKES DRAG AND GRAB EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. FRONT BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY. RUBBER MUFFLER HANGER WEARS OUT. REPLACED 2 TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053046January 13, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
REAR TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS FAILED, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS TO MALFUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND BAD ELECTRICAL CORROSION INSIDE THE BULB SOCKETS, PREVENTING A PROPER ELECTRICAL CONTACT. I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE LEFT SIDE BY CLEANING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, WHILE THE RIGHT SIDE IS UNREPAIRABLE. MALFUNCTION OF BOTH REAR BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053074January 13, 2004
STEERING
MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP , WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD.I TOTALLY LOST POWER AND I PULLED OVER, AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT BY SEVERAL OTHER CARS. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN FOR THIS VECHILE.GM, SHOULD INQUIRE MORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053076January 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STALLING, PLACED OTHER COMPLAINTS RECENTLY. STEERING LOCKING UP AND FIXED MORE PART IN VECHILE, NOW MIGHT BE RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, WHICH MY MECHANIC HAS FOUND WAS INPROPERLLY PLACED IN CAR. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE IT HAS BEEN OVER 1 YEAR AND 12,000 MILES, THEY WILL CHARGE ME A LABOR FEE AND ALSO THE PART FEE. COULD THIS BECOME ANY WORSE GM??????
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031830January 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE DIED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND THE CONSUMER WAS TO PULL OVER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051139December 26, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, CHILD SEAT, BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS FROM ADVANCED CARE CARE INC IN ORLANDO FLORIDA 9-23-03 THIS CAR IS A LEMON. LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH IT (WAS SOLD TO ME TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT ). *AK PROBLEMS IVE PAID TO FIX SO FAR ENGINE REPLACED HEAD JOB (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) 02 SENSOR TWICE ECM COMPUTER TWICE COIL PACK- 3 TIMES ICM 5 TIMES ENGINE STRUT TRANSMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BRAKES ROTORS MAIN ROD BEARINGS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD , IT IS POURING OUT OIL, I CANT GO PAST 3 RPMS IT HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AS WELL WHICH HAS ALMOST COSTED ME AND MY SON OUR LIFE. ADVANCED CAR CARE INC (SILVERSTAR ROAD) IN ORLANDO FLORIDA SOLD ME THIS CAR NOTIFYING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 7,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS EVEN MORE MESSED UP THAN WHAT IT WAS. EVERYTIME I PAY FOR SOMETHING TO BE FIXED SOMETHING ELSE WRONG SHOWS UP... I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS WERE ALL SHOCKED AT THIS CAR. THEY SD THE HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BUILT THIS MESSED UP BEFORE. THE COMPUTER WAS SHOOTING OUT 13 DIFFERENT CODES. THIS IS A LEMON CAR. I NEED IT FIXED OR REPLACED ALSO S & S AUTOMOTIVE IN APOPKA FLORIDA CHARGED ME 1,515 IN REPAIRS WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OR EVEN ON THE PHONE. THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT PARTS BEING NEW WHEN THEY WERE USED. THEY INSTALLED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WRONG AS WELL. THEY DID WORK AND LABOR TO THE CAR AND CHARGED ME FOR IT WITHOUT MY CONCENT.. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND I TEST DROVE IT I WAS SHOCKED THAT NOW THE CRANK SHAFT IS ALL OF A SUDDEN BAD AND IT WILL COST ME 2,000 THERE OR 5,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A DOLLAR TO MY NAME RIGHT NOW. COULDNT BUY MY SON ANY GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER PAYING ALL OF THESE CAR BILLS AND NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS LEMON OF A CAR .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049640December 12, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL , AFTER PLACING NEARLY $800.00 WORTH OF NEW PARTS IN VEHICLE, CHANGING SEVERAL ALTERNATORS AND STARTERS, FROM THE INGNITION SWITH RECALL. I HAD TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHICH, APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER CAVALIERS, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSISED AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, COSTING $100-$200. AND NOW HAVING TO SPEND $400-$600 ON ANOTHER DEFECT FROM THESE RECALLS, IS REALLY FRUSTRATING MY FAMILY, ESPICALLY MY HUSBAND. WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP PLACING IN THIS VECHILE, I'M A FULL TIME STUDENT WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND WORK ONLY PART TIME. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR. I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT HAVE A GUARENTEE THAT THEY WOULDN' FIX THIS PART. I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN SCHOOL,WORK AND OUT ANY WHERE ELSE, HOSPITAL FOR CLINICALS WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY GM MOTORS VECHILES, DUE TO THEM NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES AND HOW I'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED BY THIS MANUFACTOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047108November 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE- STALLING AT HIGH/LOW SPEEDS. NO STEERING,BRAKES, VERY FRIGHTENING!! ALREADY SPENT ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AT MECHANICS TO FIND PROBLEM. PROBABLY ANOTHER RECALL ON VEHICLE. ALMOST BECOMING MANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10045681November 7, 2003
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
I AM HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING AND OBTAINING CLEAR INFORMATION ON THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER'S THEFT SYSTEM THAT CAME WITH THE CAR FROM THE FACTORY. SOMETHING IS TRIPPING AND I CANNOT DISENGAGE IT. WHEN TRIPPED, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY PLACE, AND IT HAS!! I TALKED TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT THREE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERS AND ALL THREE SAY VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS AND NONE HELP. ALSO, THE OBD DIAGNOSIS SHOWS NOTHING WRONG BUT EACH VISIT COSTS ME OVER $80.00!! I EVEN CALLED THE FACTORY AND NO ONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043822October 28, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DEVICE FOR LIGHTS, HIGHBEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL AND BLINKERS WORKS ON AND OFF THEN STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY FOR NO REASON. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE YOU CAR AND NIGHT OR USE ALL THOSE FUNCTIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043924October 15, 2003
CHILD SEAT, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
THERE ARE TWO WARNING LABELS ON CHILD SEAT REGARDING WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER.*MR ONE LABEL STATED " 20 LBS FOR REAR FACING." THE OTHER STATED " REAR FACING 5-30 LBS." WHEN A PARENT CONTACTED ENVENFLO AND TRIED TO OBTAIN AN OWNER'S MANUAL, THEY WERE TOLD ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION WAS ON THE CHILD SEAT STICKERS. EVENFLO DIDN'T RESPOND TO PARENT EMAILS. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041259October 5, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FOR THE LAST TWO MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STALLING WHEN EITHER THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IS ON. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1

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