Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints

4,662 consumer complaints on file.

#10417842August 7, 2011
EQUIPMENT
SPEEDOMETER STICKING AT 80 TO 160 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS NEVER EVER BEEN DRIVEN AT THOSE SPEEDS, SPEEDOMETER REGISTARS ANWHERE FROM 10MPH TO OVER THE LIMIT OF THE SPEEDOMETER (180MPH) WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF OR STOPPED. THIS STARTED AT 25,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED REGISTERING OVER THE RED (AND HAS ACTUALLY TOUCHED THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE NEEDLE) APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER STARTED AT 32,000 MILES. AT 39,000 THE GAS GAUGE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A PORTABLE GARMIN NUVI GPS SINCE 2008, JUST TO USE THE ESTIMATED SPEED IN THE HOPES I WILL NOT GET A SPEEDING TICKET. THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY SPEEDOMETER AT 85 MPH, I INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I WAS ONLY GOING 50 MPH AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. I NOW HAVE A TEEN DRIVER, AND I CANNOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE SHE IS NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO ESTIMATE HER SPEEDS. I WILL NEVER KNOW IF MY CAR TRULELY OVERHEATS BECAUSE IT OVERHEATS ON THE GAUGE 3-5 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE TO FILL MY GAS BASED ON WHEN I FILLED IT LAST & HOW MANY MILES I HAVE DRIVEN SINCE AS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH AND INJURY, AS A TOLD YOU MY EXPERIENCE WITH INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF I RUN OUT OF GAS UNKNOWINGLY IN THE 3RD LANE OF AN EXPRESSWAY. I ALSO OWN A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER WHOSE GAS GAUGE REGISTARS 1/4 OF A TANK WHEN IT IS EMPTY. I SPEND OVER $450 AT A GARAGE TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT BREAKING DOWN, BUT WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER OF COURSE HAS THE MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER A MESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VECICLE WAS NOT STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE LOW MILEAGE, AS IT HAD BEEN OVER 3 YEARS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARS? LETS HOPE I'M NOT DRIVING IN FRONT OF YOUR MOTHER OR DAUGHTER TOMORROW. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417843August 7, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT
GAS GAUGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK, IT REGISTARS HIGHER THAN THE AMOUNT OF GAS IN THE CAR. I SPENT OVER $450 DOLLARS AT THE GARAGE TRYING TO TROUBLESHOOT WHY THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. THE GARAGE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. I DISCOVERED MYSELF AFTER THE 3RD TIME, THAT PUTTING GAS IN IT FIXES IT, AND REALIZED THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT REGISTERING EMPTY, WHEN THE CAT WAS EMPTY, AND I WAS SIMPLY RUNNING OUT OF GAS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417426August 2, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T REGISTER THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 65 MPH AND UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416800August 2, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS. IT SAY"S I AM DOING 80MPH WHEN I AM ACTUALLY DOING 40MPH. AND WHEN I AM PARKED IT SAY"S I AM DOING 50MPH. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415586July 29, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS SUFFERED A NUMBER OF DEFECTS SINCE ITS PURCHASE. WHILE THEY DID NOT RESULT IN ANY COLLISIONS OR INJURIES, THEY EASILY COULD HAVE. AT 10,211 MILES (8/31/2004) THE WATER PUMP FAILED; LUCKILY, THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE PUMP, ALONG WITH SEVERAL SEALS AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED. AT 29,522 MILES (5/23/2005), WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. MULTI CHEVROLET IN UNION, NJ DISCOVERED THAT A CYLINDER HEAD WAS DEFECTIVE, THE HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED, AND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS WERE AGAIN COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AT 48,241 MILES (6/9/2006), THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A SUSPENSION BEAM FAILED. LUCKILY, WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THE REPAIRS WERE AGAIN COVERED. FINALLY, AT 74,000 MILES (5/10/10), THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. LUCKILY, MY SON [XXX] WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER OF BILL DEFOUW CHEVROLET IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, INFORMED US THAT EVERY LIFTER WAS BROKEN AND EVERY VALVE WAS BENT, AND THE PISTONS WERE IRREPARABLY DAMAGED AS WELL. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, GM HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO OUT OF POCKET. WE ARE REPORTING THIS IN CASE OTHER BUYERS OF THIS MODEL/YEAR OR LATER HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES, AND ARE CURRENTLY DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415365July 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL GAUGES WORK ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. READ THERE STORIES HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/CAVALIER/2005/ELECTRICAL/GAUGES_HAVE_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413715July 20, 2011
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN SIX PLACES. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS CAVED IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND THE FAILURE WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/08/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413088July 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER GAUGES QUIT WORKING. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE AND DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. PLEASE DO A RECALL SO WE CAN GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED. ONCE MY WARRANTY OF 30 DAYS WAS UP THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING QUIT WORKING. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412105July 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOWER BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V524000; EXTERIOR LIGHTING, TURN SIGNAL. ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE NEW REPAIRS SINCE THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412168July 13, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM FAILED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410711July 6, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OWN 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. AT 25,000 MI THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE CAR TO DEALER AND HAVE IT CHECKED AT A COST OF 100.00 AND IF IT WAS A CLUSTER THEY MIGHT PAY FOR REPAIRS. THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE GOES OVER PAST 110 MI WHEN I AM DOING 20 MPH, THE GAS GAUGE WILL SIT ON EMPTY WHEN THERE IS A HALF TANK, I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT GM RECALLED TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT INCLUDE CARS, THIS HAD TO BE DONE BEFORE 70,000 MILES. I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL CARS AND FIX THE PROBLEM AT ONCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410423July 5, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AND I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLS AS THERE ARE MANY WITH THE SAME 2 PROBLEMS, FIRST EVERY GAUGE IN MY CAR QUIT WORKING NO RPM, NO GAS GUAGE AND NO SPEEDOMETER. SECOND EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR FOR NO REASON AT ALL IT WOULD JUST STALL AT REDLIGHTS WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM, I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS, THE LATEST WAS TODAY I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS THAT SAY THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE FAULTY PLASTIC FUEL PUMP, WHY NO RECALL THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410117June 30, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER AND ONE BY ONE ALL THE GAUGES HAVE STOPPED WORKING. IN DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT TO HAVE A SPEEDOMETER!! I ALSO DO NOT HAVE AN RPM GAUGE, GAS GAUGE OR HEAT GAUGE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409339June 29, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON MAY 31, MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT STALLED ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BUT I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED MY VEHICLE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW. AFTER RECEIVING DIAGNOSTICS AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS AND REPLACING A FUEL FILTER WAS CLOSE TO $1,000. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER 1 YEAR BEFORE AT ANOTHER GM DEALERSHIP, AND I PERFORMED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE USER MANUAL. WHEN I WENT HOME I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR, AND LO AND BEHOLD I CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF PAGES WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I HAD. ON ONE FORUM ALONE, THERE WERE OVER 700 POSTS WHERE OWNERS OF THE 2003 MODEL CAVALIER HAD FUEL PUMPS GO OUT AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AS MY CAR, WITH REPAIR COSTS RANGING FROM $300-$900. I CONTINUED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, AND FOUND THAT THE NHTSA HAD RESEARCHED A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITH THE 2003 MODEL CAVALIER ' INVESTIGATION #EA07015 AND #PE07033. GM DOCUMENTS IN BOTH OF THESE CASES INDICATED A LARGE NUMBER OF MALFUNCTIONS IN MODELS UP TO 2003, THEN A SHARP DECREASE IN FAILURES IN THE 2004 MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409381June 29, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR STUCK ON 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. ENGINE WAS WIDE OPEN AND GAS PEDAL WAS DOWN TO FLOOR. GOT CAR OFF ROAD WITH NO INCIDENT. CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE FRAYED FROM CORROSION AND STUCK INSIDE HOUSING. CALLED GM AND RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE . THEY SAID VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. REPLACE WITH NEW CABLE AT REPAIR SHOP. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A MODERN ERA VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409164June 28, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SUDDENLY THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFT AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE WITH CAUTION. THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408975June 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH CLUSTER PANEL. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE IS, HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. NOTHING WORKS! I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS AND AM TIRED OF IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW CLUSTER, THIS IS A PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH A LOT OF 2005 CAVALIERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408707June 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER DOES NOT WORK. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 60 MPH WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE. AT A COMPLETE STOP THE GAUGE READ 10 MPH. THE AMOUNT IT'S INCORRECT VARIES EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I'M WORRIED THAT I'LL GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10408710June 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS A PROBLEM I INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NEVER ACCURATE. MOST OF THE TIME IT READS PAST FULL AND INTO THE ADJACENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. TWICE I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO WALK TO A GAS STATION BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LOW. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I COULD BE HIT BY A CAR WALKING ALONG A HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET GAS. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FAULTY GAUGE WILL INTERFERE WITH MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT ME KNOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407329June 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2003 CHEVY CAVALIER 2DR/STANDARD. TWO MONTHS AND COUNTING MY CAR STALLS ON STOP LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY, SHAKES WHEN I START, AFTER PUTTING GAS IN, IT WON'T START RIGHT AWAY (IT TAKES FIVE MINS OR LESS)...CHK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON...YES, OIL CHANGE REGULARLY, TUNED-UP DONE, NEW BATTERY, NEW IDLE VALVE, IT HAS BEEN CHECKED, BUT MY CAR STILL STALLS AND I CAN SMELL BURNED OIL WHEN I'M WARMING MY CAR AND GIVE SOME REV...PLEASE NEED HELP MY CAR IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND BY THE WAY I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY EXPENSIVE PARTS IF THE MANUFACTURER MESSED THIS MODEL...HELP PLEASE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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