Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints
4,662 consumer complaints on file.
- #10064551April 5, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
4/1/2004-CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. FUCILLO STATED THAT IT WAS THE EMISSION CONTROL AND THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. TERRY STATED HE DID NOT KNOW WHEN PART WILL BE IN. REAR AXEL RATTLES AND TIRES ARE WORN ON THE INSIDE. FUCILLO STATED THAT THERE IS ANOTHER CAVALIER IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS. THEY CHANGED DEFECTIVE MUFFLER AND REPLACED BRACKETS. 4/5/2004-TOOK CAR TO BRESEE CHEVROLET. THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT BECAUSE FUCILLO DID SO MUCH WORK ON IT. BRESEE HAD NO IDEA OF NATIONAL BACK ORDER ON PART. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SHIP THE PART UP TO FUCILLO. SVC MGR STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE IS NOT ALIGNED. THEY SAID THAT WE HAVE A LEMON AND THAT IF THEY HAD SOLD THIS CAR TO US, THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT BY NOW. CALLED FUCILLO BACK & TALKED TO TERRY RIORDAN AND GOT NOWHERE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10065570April 5, 2004STEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (02-V-286-000) FOR REPLACEMENT OF RACK AND PINION BEARING. THE DEALERSHIP THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS THE SERVICE MANAGER (RICK JACKSON). *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064304April 1, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
FIRE UNDER HOOD - HAD THE RECALL IGNITION WORK DONE ON 09/23/2003 WHILE GETTING THE FIFTH ALTERNATOR REPLACED SINCE MARCH OF 2002. ON 03/28/2004 CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES. FINALLY STARTED, DROVE APPROX. 2 MILES WHEN SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, PARKED AND RAISED HOOD, FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHER. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I READ ABOUT IN THE RECALL NOTICE BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION. CALLED DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK WHO STATED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A FIRE AFTER THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064364April 1, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BROKE. LOOKING AT $2,600 TO FIX, EVEN THOUGH LOW MILES. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10059766April 1, 2004STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE FRICTION ON A LOOSE POWER STEERING PULLEY.*AK CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. CONSUMER FELT THAT BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. MANUFACTURER'S INSPECTOR SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE FRICTION FROM LOOSE PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP. *LA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064146March 30, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED A 1988 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM E[ILOTOS AUTO SALES 2230 FRANKFORT AVE. PHILA. PA. THE CAR WAS SOLD WITHOUT THE DEALER INFORMING THE BUYER OF THE DEFECTS. THERE WERE MANY....TWO MAIN CRUNCHERS WERE THE BRAKES AND HUDDLED SYSTEMS. THE EMISSION STICKERS WERE DUE. THE DEALER SAID,"HE WOULD PUT STICKERS ON AFTER THE SALE," WHICH WHEN THE TIME ARRIVED FOR THE TRANSACTION,HE SAID,"WE COULD BUT THEY'RE HOT." NOW WE ARER HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING A GARAGE TO PUT STICKERS ON IT BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL DEFECTS.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10065245March 30, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING POWER AND BRAKE POWER. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064081March 29, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR HAS BEEN DYING AT RED LIGHTS AND WHILE I AM DRIVING IT! IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES BEFORE THE CAR WILL RESTART. IT IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD. MY CAR DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I CAN BRING IT IN BUT THE WILL PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THEY WILL PROBABLY NOT BE ABLE TO REPAIR ANYTHING. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064029March 27, 2004FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTORS GET CRACKS AND LEAK, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF NOT CHANGED. I HAVE HAD ALL 4 INJECTORS LEAK, AND 2 HAD HAIRLINE CRACKS ALLOWING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS TO LEAK ONTO HOT ENGINE WHICH COULD EASILY START A FIRE.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10063935March 26, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
LEFT TURN AND BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS. POWER STEERING CONSTANTLY GOING OUT. CAR SHAKES BADLY. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064974March 26, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. RECALL 04V036000 WAS ISSUED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10063855March 25, 2004VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
UPON DELIVERY OF NEW 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRUNK LID TO THE VEHICLE WERE BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW HAD TO BE REMOVED AND NEW WEATHER STRIPPING HAD TO BE APPLIED BY THE DEALER BODY SHOP. THE WEATHER STRIPPING THAT WAS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY IN LORDSTOWN WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT WAS SOAKED WITH RAIN WATER THE DAY AFTER DELIVERY TO ME. THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS IN THE BODY SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. CHEVROLET WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF THESE PROBLEMS BY ME. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10063761March 24, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS DIM TO A SOFTER SHADE OF LIGHT. I HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE REAR SINGLE LIGHTS IN MY CAR THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THIS CAR HAS A BAD BRAKE PROBLEM. THE FRONT OF THE CAR SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY. CITY DRIVING IS NOT AS BAD, BUT WHEN THE BRAKES GET WARMED UP THEY PULSATE WHEN I COME TO A STOP. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I PULL MY CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND THE FIRST THING I SMELL WHEN I GET OUT IS A BURNING SMELL FROM THE BACK BRAKES. I CALLED THE FUCILLO CHEVY SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN DECEMBER 2003. I TALKED TO A SERVICEMAN ABOUT MY BRAKE PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT MY PULSATING BRAKES IS THE ABS SYSTEM WORKING IN THE SNOW. NOW THE ROADS ARE DRY AND MY BRAKES ARE STILL PULSATING. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN MY ORIGINAL PAPERWORK ON MY CAR SHOWING THAT IT HAS THE ABS SYSTEM. NOW MY BRAKES ARE SHOT. THE CAR HAD ONLY 6500 HUNDRED MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST CALLED IN DECEMBER OF 2003. IN JUNE OF 2003, I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND TEST DROVE IT. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE A GOOD CAR, EXCEPT FOR THE NOISE THAT I HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE AREA. IT SOUNDED LIKE A RUBBER BAND WHEN IT SNAPS. I BROUGHT IT UP TO MY SALESMEN ROCKY FROM THE CHEVY DEPARTMENT. HE TOLD ME THAT IT'S A NEW CAR. NOW WHEN THE FRONT TIRES ARE TURNED TO THE RIGHT, IT MAKES A CRUNCHING NOISE. WHEN I DRIVE OVER ANY BUMP AT ANY SPEED, IT FEELS LIKE THERE ARE NO SHOCKS OR STRUTS ON THIS CAR AND MAKES A BAD CLUNKING SOUND. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10063762March 24, 2004SUSPENSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE TIRES SHAKE AND VIBRATE AROUND SIXTY MILES/HR. SO I TOOK THEM TO SAM'S CLUB TO THEIR TIRE CENTER IN DECEMBER OF 2003. THEY ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES. I DROVE THE CAR FOR ONE MONTH, THEN THE TIRES STARTED DOING THE SAME THING OVER AGAIN. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER, I WENT BACK TO SAM'S CLUB AND THEY BALANCED MY TIRES AGAIN. SO HERE IT IS MARCH OF 2004, THE TIRES ARE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN SHAKING AND VIBRATING AROUND SIXTY MILES/HR. I CALLED GOODYEAR , THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN. THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRES, AND SAID THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE TIRES FIXED. THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE SPECIFIC ORIGIN OF THE VIBRATION. BASICALLY, FOR A BRAND NEW CAR, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS AT 24,000 MILES (AS STATED BY MECHANICS FROM GOODYEAR, SAM'S CLUB AND FIRESTONE). 5. CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH- IF RIGHT TURN SIGNAL IS USED WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ACTIVATED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATE ITSELF. 6. POWER FAILURE- CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT. 7. A/C & HEATER- A/C AND HEATER MAKE LOUD NOISE. 8. REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT 4 TIMES ON EACH SIDE. GM REPLACEMENT BULBS LAST ONLY 1 TO 1 1/2 MONTH. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064821March 24, 2004AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE DRIVER HIT A POT HOLE WHICH CAUSED BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETERMINED A CAUSE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10064753March 22, 2004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NHTSA 04V036000\ IGNITION \SWITCH. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR RAN AND REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO GET THE REMEDY DONE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062742March 21, 2004VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1992 CHEVY CAVALIER. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEATER CORE 3 TIMES. ONCE A YEAR EVERY YEAR SINCE 2001. I AM REQUESTING A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THAT I OR ANYONE ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE A HEATER CORE/ BLOWN HEAD GASKET ONCE A YEAR. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU OR CHEVY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND VERY VERY COSTLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS INCURRED AND TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I LOVE MY CAR AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. I HAVE INCURRED COSTS OF OVER $2000 AND AM SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING THAT I HAVE BLOWN A HEAD GASKET DUE TO HEATER CORE\COOLING FAILURE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS MATTER ASAP. THANK YOU. SHERI MADRID *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062701March 20, 2004STEERING:COLUMN
SAME DEFECTIVE BEARING PROBLEM IN STEERING AS 2000 AND CHEVROLET CAVILIERS. BEARING IS NOISY WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED. COULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO FREEZE OR LOCKUP UPON BINDING. BEARING IS A UNIVERSAL SWIVAL TYPE BEARING LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN, JUST IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL AND IS COVERED BY A RUBBER BOOT. THE BEARING MAKES A NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THE NOISE GOES AWAY WHEN THE BEARING IS SPRAYED OVER AND OVER WITH WD-40, BUT COMES BACK AFTER A THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING. OTHER 2000 - 2002 CAVALIERS WERE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE 1999 CAVALIERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE AND SHOULD ALSO BE BROUGHT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND RECALLED. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062651March 19, 2004EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
I AM A GM TECHNICIAN. GM IS HAVING A HUGE PROBLEM WITH "J" BODY CARS WITH NEW BODY STYLE. (CAVILER, SUNFIRE YEAR 2001-CURRENT) THE PROBLEM IS WITH POOR TERMINAL CONTACT WITH THE REAR BULBS DUE TO DEFECTIVE BULB SOCKETS. THE RESULT IS LOSS OF REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LAMPS ON ONE OR OFTEN BOTH SIDES. THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS CARS OFTEN WITH LESS THEN 1000 MILES. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND OUR SHOP MUST FIX 8 CARS A WEEK ON AVERAGE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WE ARE NOT A LARGE GM SHOP. NOT HAVING REAR TURN SIGNALS OR BRAKE LAMPS IS SERIOUS FOR RISK OF REAR-END COLLISIONS.*AK
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10062525March 18, 2004WHEELS, TIRES
I PURCHASED MY 2004 CAVALIER LS WITH ONLY 4 MILES ON THE OD. I NOTICED THE VERY SAME DAY ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 & 75, AND DIDDNT TAKE IT IN RIGHT AWAY CAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE COULDNT POSSIBLY BE ANYTHING WRONG CAUSE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. WELL THIS CONTINUED AND GOT WORSE, SO AT 6,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR A ROTATION I HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THEY SAID THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. I DROVE IT AWAY BUT STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FINNALY TOOK IT BACK A MONTH LATER AND TOLD THE DEALER THIS WAS NOT NORMAL, SO THEY DID A FORSE VARATION BALENCE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I JUST THINK GM NEEDS A BETTER INSPECTION PROCESS, CAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT CORRECTLY BALENCED FROM THE FACTORY.*AK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0