Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1997)

540 consumer complaints on file.

#562114July 17, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, RIGHT AND LEFT REAR DRUM HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS WELL AS THE CYLINDER.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#892788July 13, 2001
STEERING:COLUMN
WHILE DRIVING PINS CAME OUT OF TILT MECHANISM OF STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO DROP DOWN. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NEVER HEARD OF THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747725July 3, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED LETTERS THAT THIS WAS OCCURING ON THESE VEHICLES DUE TO SMALL HOLE FOR OIL TO CHAIN CLOGGING BUT I HAD NO RECALLS OR WARNINGS OF THIS. THIS CAR HAS RELATIVELY FEW MILES ON IT AND AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, I HAD JUST STOPPED TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING THE TURN OR IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AS THE CAR LOST POWER IMMEDIATELY. IF THE DEALERSHIPS ARE RECEIVING LETTERS, WHY AREN'T THE OWNERS. I REALIZE THAT THERE CAN BE FAILURE OF THIS PART, BUT IF THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE CLOGGING OF THE AREA THAT KEEPS THE CHAIN OILED, THEN THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE CAR NOT THE WEAR OF THE PART.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747655July 2, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH PROBLEMS WITH YOUR ENGINE COOLANT, I FINALLY GOT MINE FIXED. AFTER TELLING ME IT WAS THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND THE THERMOSTAT IT ENDED UP BEING A CRACK IN THE RADIATOR CAP, SOMETHING THAT COSTS $10. A GOOD WAY TO PREVENT ENGINE SHUTDOWN IS TO TURN YOUR VENT FAN TO HOT AIR, AS HOT AS U CAN GET IT. THAT WILL BRING DOWN THE TEMPATURE READING, EVERYTIME. SOMETHING TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOUR STUCK IN TRAFFIC ALOT, THATS WHEN IT HAPPENS WHEN YOU IDLE TO LONG.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746841June 14, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN EVER THE CAR IS STARTED THERE IS A BAD KNOCKING/TICKING SOUND AS IF YOUR CAR WAS LOW ON OIL...AND EVEN WHEN THE OIL IS CHANGED AND/OR CHECKED AND THE OIL LEVEL IS FINE...THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS...I HAVE NOTIFIED THE DEALER MORE THAN 20 TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM(WHILE UNDER WARRANTY) AND THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM..THEIR (CHEVY'S)ENGINEER WAS EVEN IN TOWN AT ONE TIME AND THEY HAD TO BRING IT IN THEN AND HE/SHE COULD NOT EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM....IF HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS..THEN I THINK THEY NEED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND PULL THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DOWN THERE COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND WANT THE OWNER TO COVER THE CHARGES WHEN IT IS NOT EVEN THE OWNERS FAULT...CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET A RECALL DONE ON ALL THE CAVALIERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561595June 13, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARM DOES NOT PARK IN THE DOWN POSITION WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF, THE WIPERS WOULD REMAIN IN UPRIGHT POSITION DISTRACTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW, DELAY FEATURE STOPS AT A HIGHER PAUSE LEVEL, ON ONE OCCASION WIPERS FAILED COMPLETELY, DEALER STATES THE ARM WAS DISENGAGED CAUSING FAILURE.*YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746716June 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE PULSATE WHEN USED. ROTORS ARE OUT OF ROUND. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. WE HAD NEW BRAKES AND THE ROTORS TURNED AT 30,000 MILES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889988June 7, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION WHENEVER SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT RETURN TO DOWN POSITION. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED FOR REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746453June 5, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I NOTICED THAT MY 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAD BEEN LEAKING COOLANT, WHEN I PROCEEDED TO FIND THE LEAK I WAS UNSUCESSFUL. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE HAVE PROVEN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE LEAK APPEARS TO BE AROUND THE FRONT HEAD GASKET. IT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE A CRACKED HEAD. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION DUE TO THE VIOLENT VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE, WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND OVERHEATING.THE COOLANT MUST BE LEAKING INTO THE FUEL MIXTURE AT THE HEAD. THE CAR IS AT AN UNDRIVEABLE STATE. DEALERSHIPS WHICH I HAVE CONTACTED TOLD ME ABOUT RECALLS OF A SIMILAR NATURE FOR THE 1995 AND 1996 CAVALIER MODELS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THE 1997 MODEL? THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#889628June 4, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHT WITH CONSUMER'S FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE WILL RUN AT HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPMS AND ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY CODE ON COMPUTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746375June 4, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PISTONS REPLACED AFTER MUCH DEBATING, NOISE IS OCCORRING AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746270June 1, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ON THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2001, THE VEHICLE AILED TO START AND WAS JUMP STARTED. WE THEN DROVE HOME (5 MINS' DRIVE AWAY) AND PARKED THE VEHCLE IN OUR CARPORT. ABOUT 5 MINS LATER A NEIGHBOR CAME TO TELL US THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN (PROBABLY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION) AND DESTROYED THE IGNITION, WIPER SWITCH, TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND THE COVERS. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE WAS DONE WHILE TRYING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE BRIGADE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF THE FIRE HAD NOT BEEN SPOTTED SO QUICKLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#888676May 21, 2001
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP. DEALER IS INSPECTING VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#887932May 10, 2001
SEATS
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN SHE WAS REARENDED WITH 40 MPH IMPACT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS WENT FLYING BACK INTO A RECLINING POSITION, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#744848May 2, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY IN UPRIGHT POSTION, COOLANT LEAKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#744685April 28, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE CINCH PLATES ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT PROPERLY INSTALL MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF OVER $200. I E-MAILED GM TODAY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE CINCH PLATES SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL SO THEY CANNOT BREAK. ADDITIONALLY, SAFETY BELT DEFECTS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. MY CHILD AND I HAVE NOT BEEN IN CAR ACCIDENT, BUT IT'S VERY SCARY KNOWING THAT THE LOCKING CLIP THAT I HAVE TO USE ON THE SEAT BELT TO TRY TO GET THE CAR SEAT IN TIGHT ENOUGH, MAY NOT WORK IN CASE OF A COLLISION. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND I HOPE THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KAREN NEWSOME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886472April 23, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN FIRST STARTING UP. TAKES A FEW TIMES BEFORE VEHICLE WILL STAY RUNNING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND ETS LIGHT HAVE BEEN ON. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886475April 23, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AFTER BEING TURNED OFF, STAY UP IN MIDDLE OF WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER HAS REDUCED VISIBILITY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886186April 18, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
CONSUMER HAD JUST GOTTEN HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE. 5-10 MINUTES LATER, HORN WAS BLOWING. CONSUMER LOOKED OUTSIDE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DASHBOARD AND STEERING COLUMN WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CHEVROLET DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEREFORE, THEY WOULDN'T BE LIABLE. ALLSTATE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TOOK ONE LOOK,AND COULD TELL IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. CHEVROLET DEALER WAS NOT RESPONDING TO INSURANCE ADJUSTER. VEHICLE WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER HAD REPLACED THE OIL PUMP, SOLENOID, AND EXHAUST HOWEVER LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WINDSHIELD WIPER SKIPS AND CHATTERS ACROSS WINDSHIELD, DEALER REPLACED BLADE. TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE LEVER, COMPARTMENT LID RELEASE BROKE. CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#744199April 17, 2001
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION. IT MAKES IT HARD TO SEE THE ROAD. I HAVE ERAD SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS BUT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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