Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1996)

503 consumer complaints on file.

#8007202April 9, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT CONNECT WHEN APPLYING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005887March 19, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
REAR SEATBELT BUCKLE KEEPS LOOSENING AND CAUSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO TIP OVER WHEN TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005804March 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN FRONT END OF ENGINE. *AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759078March 8, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
06/99 BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TIMING CHAIN, MINOR VALVE DAMAGE, REPLACE WHOLE TOP PART OF ENGINE. 10/01 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO MINOR OIL LEAK, ADVISED TO KEEP EYE ON LEAK, WILL FIX IF GETS WORSE. 01/02 OIL LEAK WORSE , REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND STARTER. 02/02 IGNITION WIRES SMOKING, REPLACED IGNITION WIRES, FRIED STARTER AND CYLINOD. 03/02 (55243 MILES,) ENGINE PULLING IN AIR FROM BAD HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED ENGINE AND IS SPITTING OUT ANTIFREEZE FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS STILLING DETERMINING EXACT PROBLEM. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. NEED A MAJOR RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004893March 4, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD TO REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.*AK . *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004264February 20, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL, ALSO LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757864February 6, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AT 61,000 MILES. THE REAR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION. HOWEVER THE INSIDE DASH AND FRONT LIGHTS DID WORK PROPERLY. I WAS HAVING THE CAR TOWED AT THE TIME AND HE IS THE ONE TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I DID CALL GM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PART HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 29,000 MILES. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE FAIL AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES LATER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001176December 28, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, INTERMITTENTLY, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE. *JG *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#563725October 19, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES IT TOOK FOUR YEARS BEFORE ANYONE COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER CASUING CONSUMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP, DRIVING SEVERAL FEET WITH THE ABS LIGHT ON, THE DEALER FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C AND THE COMPRESSOR WERE PROGRAMMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE COMPRESSOR, BRAKES, AND POWER, AND THE MECHANIC FOUND A WAY TO GET THE A/C AND COMPRESSOR TO STAY OFF, CAUSING THE PROBLEMS TO CEASE.JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753443October 19, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AFTER LISTENING TO A SQUEEK NOISE FROM TRUNK AREA PROCEED TO A CLUNKING NOISE, I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT REAR STRUT AND IT'S MOUNT HAD FAILED REQUIRING BOTH TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $800. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MUFFLER FAILED PREMATURELY. WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURLEY. STARTING TO THINK 1996 CAVALIER WAS NOT ENGINEERED VERY WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753322October 17, 2001
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
THERE ARE 2 KNOWN SERVICE BULLITINS OUT ON THESE PROBLEMS AND CHEVROLET NOR THE DEALER WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785581September 9, 2001
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER STATES NOW STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785582September 9, 2001
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
SHOCKS COMPRESS ALL THE WAY AND MAKE A LOUD SLAMMING NOISE, HAPPENS AT VERY SLOW RATE OF TRAVEL ON VERY SMALL BUMPS, AND GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR LARGER BUMPS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895551August 30, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JUMP AS IF STALLING OUT WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED. VEHICLE TAKES TIME BEFORE ENGAGING TO MOVE. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS LEAKING. MECHANIC INDICATED SERVICE BULLETIN ON VEHICLE, BUT MANUFACTURER DENIED CLAIM OF SERVICE BULLETIN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562669August 27, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WAS UNABLE TO STOP, THERE WERE NO BRAKES, ALSO VEHICLE WOULD MAKE LOUD SOUNDS AND THEN STALL, CONSUMER WAS ALWAYS BEING TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT IT WAS A SENSOR AND THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS ALWAYS BEING REPLACED, BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A MANAGER AT THE CHEVROLET SHOP THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, WHICH CAUSED THESE MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL AS BURNING OUT THE CARBURETOR, THE MANAGER FIXED THE DIAL SO THE A/C WOULD NOT BE ON, BUT STILL INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY REPROGRAMMED, CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES SINCE THE DIAL WAS READJUSTED, CONSUMER HAS OBTAINED LEGAL REPRESENATION AND FEELS SHE SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACUTER CREATED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562590August 22, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT (HIGH MOUNT) KEEPS BLOWING BULBS,WHEN PULLING THE BULBS OUT THE TOP OF THE BULB IS MELTED TO THE INSIDE OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#562282July 31, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE AIR CONDITION TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, WHICH CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO MALFUNCTION, ABS BRAKE TO FAIL, AND VEHICLE TO STALL AND LOOSE ALL POWER.*YD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#893210July 31, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS SITTING ALL DAY UNTIL THE EVENING WHEN CONSUEMR WENT OUT AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE. CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT WIRIING HARNESS UNDER DASH CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH INCIDENT, BUT INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT CONSUMER WAS SEEKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748445July 14, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CYLINDER HEAD GASKET BLEW WHILE DRIVING. DEALER SAID THIS WAS COVERED UNDER A RECALL, BUT WATER PUMP FAILED BECAUSE OF GASKET, BUT WOULDN'T COVER THE PUMP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748231July 10, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
MY CAR WAS PROGRAMMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE A/C ON AT ALL TIMES. SO, DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MY A/C WAS ALWAYS ON, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME. THIS CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO MALFUNCTION THIS FALL. THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR FINALLY REVEALED ITSELF, AND A MECHANIC AT DON RINGLER'S CHEVROLET FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE A/C NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED SO THAT IT WAS NOT ON AT ALL TIMES. MEANWHILE, ALL DURING THE FIVE YEARS, THE BRAKES KEPT FAILING AT VARIOUS TIMES, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY CRASH OR RUN OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MANY TIMES I WAS BRUISED FROM THE INCIDENTS. MY CAR ALSO STOPPED RUNNING ALTOGETHER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OPERATING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND JUST AS THE POWER WOULD SHUT OFF, THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING. I HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS, ALMOST BEING KILLED. EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETECTED OR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED. BEING ONLY THE SECOND CAR IN MY LIFE (THE FIRST ONE, A GEO METRO, CAUSED NO PROBLEMS AT ALL), I TRUSTED THE VERDICT EACH TIME, AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DEEPER, UNDERLYING PROBLEM TO REPORT. IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO UNCOVER THIS. BELIEVING THE MECHANICS AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS EACH TIME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED, I CONTINUED TO KEEP CAREFUL MAINTENANCE ON IT WITH THE VERY BEST QUALITY CARE. THIS FALL, I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, THAT IT WAS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE REAL SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND AFTER ANOTHER $500 AND A TEST DRIVE WITH THE HEAD MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER FAILED ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C WAS MISPROGRAMMED AND CAUSING POWER FAILURE. EVIDENCE OF THIS LIES IN THE FACT THAT WHEN THE A/C IS KEPT OFF, THE CAR RUNS FINE. THE COMPRESSOR IS RUINED. I AM CONCERNED THAT ALL THE OTHER 1996 CAVALIER COMPLAINTS (NHTSA) ON POWER/BRAKE FAILURE MAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A/C MISPROGRAMMING. THOSE CUSTOMERS COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE REASON EITHER. A RECALL MAY BE NECESSARY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE--GM STAFF IS IGNORING ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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