Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1991)
55 consumer complaints on file.
- #10109852February 4, 2005SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
MY SON LOST CONTROL OF A 1991 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND WAS EJECTED AFTER HE WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENTERING THE MEDIAN, HIS CAR WAS SKIDDING BROADSIDE AND EVENTUALLY ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. AS THE CAR ROLLED, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHICH DEFEATED THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT BELT TO HOLD HIM INSIDE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT DESIGN HAD THE SHOULDER HARNESS ANCHORED TO THE TOP OF THE DOOR/WINDOW FRAME AND THE LAP BELT ANCHORED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 1
- #10071378January 15, 2004STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THE POOR BODY OF THE CAR. THE PANELS BELOW THE CAR HAVE COMPLETELY DIMINISHED. ANYTHING REMAINING OF THEM IS EITHER ROTTING AND RUSTING AWAY, OR HAS PAINT REMOVED FROM THEM. THE PAINT IS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE FRONT PLASTIC BUMPER AND FROM THE FRONT HOOD OF THE CAR. SOME RUST IS ALSO APPEARING AT THE SIDES. WHEN I STEP INTO THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED OF A MINIMUM 100 KM/H, THIS TRASH IS ANYTHING BUT QUIET. APART FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH IS NOW BROKEN, THE GASKETS OR WHATEVER KEEPS THE AIR OUT DOESN'T KEEP IT OUT. INSTEAD, SOME AIR COMES IN AND THUS MAKING THAT NOISE; LIKE HAVING YOUR WINDOWS OPEN AND GETTING ALL THAT NOISE OF THE AIR. IT'S NO DIFFERENT WHEN CLOSED. THE RUBBER SEAL OF THE DOORS IS EXTREMELY POOR IN THIS REGARD. MY SECOND PROBLEM HAS BEEN THE ENGINE. MY ENGINE'S MOTOR IS BROKEN DOWN. NO MECHANIC CAN FIX IT. I TRIED TO GO THROUGH CHEVROLET AND ONE OF THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. BUT JUST THE COST OF REFURBISHING MY ENGINE WOULD APROXIMATILY ADD UP TO $2,500 (MIGHT AS WELL BUY A NEW CAR INSTEAD!).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10041855December 10, 2003WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE TIGHTENING UP THE LUG NUTS ON THE WHEEL, PIECES OF METAL SHEARED OFF AND DROPPED SMALL PIECES OF METAL ON THE GROUND. *AK THE LUG NUTS IN QUESTION WERE NEWLY PURCHASED. PART#254 ABN 10.9 MANUFACTURED BY R+B INC. *SCC *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10034494August 25, 2003FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING DOWN 25-35MPH VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP FILTER. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10033496August 25, 2003TIRES:TREAD/BELT
NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD ALMOST GOT THERE WHEN I HEARD A BANG ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND SAW THE TREAD FLY OFF BACK BEHIND FROM MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE. TIRE STAYED AIRED UP AS I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE I80, AND PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT. I GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. THE GROUND EFFECTS ON MY DRIVERS SIDE WERE HANGING BY LIKE ONE SCREW. THE TIRE WAS STILL AIRED UP BUT THERE WAS NO TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. IT RIPPED HALF OF MY FRONT BUMPER OFF DENTED MY FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND DRIVERS DOOR AND GROUND EFFECTS WERE DESTROYED. FIRESTONE ,P205/60R15 90S M+S FIREHAWK SS10 MY CAR 1991 CHEVROLET, Z24 CAVALIER. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #741426February 24, 2001SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BACK SEAT IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CAR AND REAR SEAT BELTS ARE MISSING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #727996August 15, 2000VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE REAR WINDOW OF THIS VEHICLE BLEW OUT AS ONE LARGE PIECE (WITH GASKET MATERIAL) AND SHATTERED INTO NUMEROUS PIECES UPON ROAD IMPACT. I SUSPECT THAT THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AND SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH THE MANUFACTURE & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. ALSO, IF A PROBLEM EXIST WITH THIS VEHICLE, MAYBE THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE THE PART.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #718722February 13, 2000STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
AN '88 BLUE DODGE VAN (VIN 2B6GB113Y3JK56747)CRASHED INTO MY LITTLE GIRLS CAR THE 1991 CAVALIER. EXPERT RECONSTRUCTIONIST (TX DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY) BLAME MY LITTLE GIRL FOR HAVING RAN THE STOP SIGN AND HITTING THE VAN, CAUSING AN INDIRECT DEATH OF THREE AND THE DIRECT DEATH WAS AN ABANDON UTILITY POLE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IF THE CAR WAS TO HIT THE VAN IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED SO MUCH DAMAGE. MY DAUGHTER STATES THAT SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PROCEEDED ENTERING THE INTERSECTION AT 6 MPH. HOW CAN A SMALL CAR DO SO MUCH DAMAGE EVEN IF IT WAS TO HAVE RUNNED THE STOP SIGN. I BELIEVE THAT THE VAN HIT THE CAR CAUSING THE ROOF OF THE CAVALIER TO COLLAPSE AND DOING IRREPAIRABLE DAMAGE TO MY LITTLE GIRLS FRIEND. MY LITTLE GIRL HAD MULTIPLE CONTURSIONS TO THE HEAD WHEN THE ROOF CAVED IN AND HER ANKLE HAD THREE FRACTURES ON HER LEFT ANKLE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE IN THE DRIVER SIDE THAT THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE DOOR WAS PINGED INWARD AND THE ROOF OVER HER HEAD WAS CAVED IN. LUCKILY THE TWO GIRLS SURVIVED. EVEN THOUGH ONE IS A VEGETABLE MY LITTLE GIRL IS NOT THE SAME AND HER YOUTH HAS BEEN STOLEN BY THIS ACCIDENT. SHE HAS RECURRING NIGHTMARES AND A BRAIN CONTUSSION THAT MIGHT NOT GO AWAY UNTIL ALL THE PRESSURE HAS BEEN RELIEVED AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TIME. WHY DID THE ROOF COLLAPSE INJURING BOTH OCCUPANTS WHO WERE WEARING SEATBELTS? WHY DID THEY HAVE TO USE THE JAWS-OF-LIFE TO RESCUE BOTH GIRLS? *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 3
- #851764October 26, 1999STEERING:COLUMN
WHILE DRIVING A PIN WITHIN THE TILT STEERING WHEEL CAME LOOSE,NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #848793September 27, 1999ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER WAS REPLACED, AND DID NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE STARTER TO COM ELOOSE/ SHAKE. BOLTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #848316September 22, 1999VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT DURING OPERATION, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #843023July 22, 1999SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRAVELING THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMANTION. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #701195January 21, 1999ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR A TEENAGE DRIVER. I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $L,000 TO BRING IT UP TO SPEED - FUEL FILTER, OIL & AIR FILTERS, SERPENTINE BELT RADIATOR IGNITION SWITCH (KEY & TUMBLER), TIRES, FRONT BRAKE PADS, FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, REAR BRAKE SHOES. IT WILL SOON NEED A NEW MUFFLER, AND MY MECHANIC NOW INFORMS ME THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING. HE SAID HE SEES QUITE A FEW OF CAVALIERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WONDERS IF THERE IS A SILENT RECALL THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THE POSSIBLE $600.00 COST TO REPAIR. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #701480December 20, 1998STEERING:LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
STEERING STIFFENED/LOCKED AS DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, CAUSING MINOR CONTACT WITH ADJACENT PARKED VEHICLE. FOLLOWING CONTACT, VEHICLE STOPPED AND STEERING WHEEL REALIGNED (WITH GREAT EFFORT) TO COMPLETE PARKING. AFTER PARKING, KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION SWITCH, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER STARTING (ONLY 1-2 SECONDS). AFTER LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP RETRIEVED VEHICLE, SERVICE REP STATED HE "KNEW WHAT HAPPENED" WHEN INCIDENT DESCRIBED AND VEHICLE IDENTIFIED AS '91 CAVALIER. IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NO PROBLEM SINCE. VEHICLE REPAIR COST $327; DAMAGE TO ADJACENT VEHICLE $450. I THINK THIS IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE MODE, INVOLVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKING, IS A DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT. AS A MINIMUM, I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL REPAIR COSTS AND DAMAGES.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #830717November 13, 1998ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
DEFECTIVE FAN MOTOR MELTED WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #828224September 25, 1998AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER THE GURDRAIL. THE CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. *AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 1
- #539379August 26, 1998VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL WITHOUT ADDING PRESSURE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, ONLY OPERATE WHEN HOLDING IGNITION SWITCH.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #538970August 2, 1998ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DRIVER'S SIDE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED FUNCTIONING AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED FROM THE BACK OF THE DASH FOREWARD. FRONT SUSPENSION MELTED AND THE FRONT BRAKES FUSED INTO ONE PIECE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #824834June 30, 1998SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS ON PASSENGER SIDE ARE CRACKED. NOTICED RECALL ON WEBSITE (#92V003000). CALLED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & WAS TOLD BY BOTH VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. OWNER WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #537205June 22, 1998ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STARTER AND FLYWHEEL BECOME NOISY AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0