Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (1996)

503 consumer complaints on file.

#735457October 30, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN STOPPED OR IN SLOW SPEEDS CAR STALLS AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735312October 28, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
MY HORN WORKS WHEN IT WANTS TO. I DIDN'T WORK WHEN I BOUGHT IT. (WE BOUGHT IT USED). WE REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. THEN ONE DAY IT JUST WORKED AND CONTINUED FOR MONTHS. THEN IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THIS HAPPEN TWICE. SO AT THIS TIME THE HORN IS STILL NOT WORKING. MY OTHER PROBLEM WAS MY COLANT LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. WE WOULD ADD COOLANT ALL THE TIME. (IT WAS NEVER CLOSE TO BEING EMPTY.) IT MOSTLY HAPPEN WHEN I WAS MOVING, BUT IT HAPPEN WHILE SITTING STILL TOO. IT WOULD COME OFF AND ON CONSTANTLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE COOLANT SENSOR. I SAW OTHER PEOPLE ALSO HAD THAT PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735295October 27, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE ABOUT THIS CAR AND THEY ALL SAY IT IS COMMON FOR THIS CAR TO BLOW HEAD GASKETS. I PAID $7000FOR THIS CAR IT SHOULDN'T HAVE COST ANOTHER $801TO KEAP IT ON THE ROAD AT 56.5K MILES. IF IT IS THIS COMMON THERE SHOULD BE A REMBERSMENT (RECALL )ON IT.. I ALSO HAVE A TI. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735092October 25, 2000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
INSIDE TRIM ALONG WINDSHIELD CRACKED THROUGH. REPLACEMENT COST IS $775. I HAVE MY DOUBTS AS WHETHER THIS WAS A NEW CAR AT TIME OF PURCHASE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO MY DAUGHTER SCRAPED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE HAVING IT REPAIRED THE INDEPENDENT COLLISION REPAIR SHOP COMMENTED IF THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PREVIOUS WRECK. I TOLD THE SHOP OWNER THAT THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A WRECK. ON 10 OCT. 2000 I TOOK THE CAR INTO BACHMAN CHEVROLET TO HAVE THE CRACKED DASH TRIM ASSESS (GM CASE C1837827). THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME AT HOME TO INFORM ME THAT IT WOULD COST $775 TO REPLACE THE TRIM. HE PROCEEDED TO QUESTION ME ABOUT THE CAR BEING IN A WRECK. I INFORMED HIM THAT THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A WRECK AND IT WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM HIS EMPLOYER. BASED ON THE ABOVE STATEMENTS I NOW HAVE MY DOUBTS ABOUT THE CAR.. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#735143October 25, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION IN THE PAST AND NOW AGIAN I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#556218October 17, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER HAD HEAD GASKET REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT, CHEVROLET WILL NOT REIMBURSE HER FULLY DUE TO THE REPAIR WORK NOT BEING DONE AT A DEALER. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733900October 10, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BRAKES FAILURE TO STOP, CAR SLIPS IN GEAR WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES, HORN SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK THEN IT STARTS TO WORK , HEADLIGHTS GO DIM WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED ,NOISE IN REAR AREA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#733525October 5, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGHT RECALL 98V027000 IS A VALID RECALL IT IS NOT CONECTED WITH MY VIN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871844September 29, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS AND SHOES ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732304September 23, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. I WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT THE PUMP SHAFT HAS FAILED IN EACH OCCASSION. ALSO NOTE, EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THIS PART, I HAVE HAD TO PAY AT LEAST OVER $1400. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732024September 20, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 OR 50 WHEN THE RIGHT TIRES HIT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER LANDING ON IT'S TOP-SIDE. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD NOR DID THE AIR BAG ACTIVATE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND IS STILL HAVING BACK PROBLEMS. SHE WAS SLUNG TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HER SHOULDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HER HEAD HIT THE TOP OF THE CAR.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#554807September 18, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER NOTICED LIGHT ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLASHING AND STEAM POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAYS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731321September 13, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IT STALLS IN THE RAIN SOME TIMES IT DOES HARD STARTS RUFF IDEAL SOME THING CALL THE COMPTER CONTROLE MODULE OR SOME THING JUST LIKE THAT L GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON THAT. COULD THAT HAVE SOME THING TO DO WITH IT IT WAS REPLACE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729783September 1, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY QUESTION IS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHAT IS THE RATE OF FATILITY IN A HARDTOP CAR VS A CONVERTIBLE. ANY OTHER DATA THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE ON THE SAFETY OF CONVERTIBLES VS HARDTOPS WOULD BE WELCOMED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729724August 31, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IT HAS CONTRIBUTE TO TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST WAS WHEN MY CAR BACKED INTO ANOTHER CAVALIER, SAME YEAR, AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT HER HORN WOULD NOT HONK. THE SECOND WAS WHEN A CAR BACKED INTO ME AND I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TOHONK THE HORN TO WORN THE MAN HE WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THIS HAS CAUSED TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS JUST IN MY CASE. THE HORN WORKS OCCASIONALLY, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK MORE OFTEN THAN IT DOES. THIS COULD REALLY BE A HAZARD.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868901August 28, 2000
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER CAN HEAR A BUMPING IN REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868924August 28, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
HORN HASN'T BEEN WORKING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FUSE WAS REPLACED, BUT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER CLAMED THAT IN DIFFERENT WEATHER &TEMPERATURES IT WILL NOT WORK. VEHICLE STALLED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY & ALTERNATOR THE 1ST TIME. 2ND TIME DEALER INDICATED FUEL PUMP WENT OUT.CONSUMER HAD TO COVER THE COST & FELT THAT THEY SHOULD BEEN ABLE TO DETECT THIS WHEN THEY DID THE DIAGNOSTIC READING A MONTH AGO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553736August 14, 2000
SEAT BELTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
REAR SEAT BELT GUIDE DETACHED FROM THE SEAT. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726161July 28, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 46K MILES, MY TRANSMISSION PANEL LIGHT STARTED GOING ON AND OFF. AT 53K MILES, A GM DEALER READ A P1887 TCC RELEASE SWITCH CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. AT 58K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AT 70 MPH ON I77 NORTH OF CHARLESTON WVA. THE GM DEALERSHIP IN WVA FOUND THAT THE PUMP IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME APART, DAMAGING THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND BILLED ME. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOUGH LUCK, NO OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, I FOUND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN THE NHTSA FILES (SEE NHTSA BULLETIN SB049140). I PRINTED A TSB (SERVICE BULLETIN) FROM A GM DEALER IN OHIO THAT SHOWS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMPS INSTALLED ON CAVALIERS BEFORE 6/96 HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PUMP SEAL FAILURES THAT CAN LEAD TO THE TRANSMISSION BURNING UP EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL. SINCE GM ADMITTED IN THE TSB THAT CARS PRODUCED BEFORE 6/96 (MINE WAS BUILT 4/96) HAD A PUMP PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAVALIER TRANSMISSION, I BELIEVE I STILL SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR. THE COST FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,062.70.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865706July 19, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. IT WAS AROUND THE ENGINE WHERE A TECHNICIAN BELIEVED THERE WAS A HEAD BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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