1996 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP , WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD.I TOTALLY LOST POWER AND I PULLED OVER, AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT BY SEVERAL OTHER CARS. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN FOR THIS VECHILE.GM, SHOULD INQUIRE MORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STALLING, PLACED OTHER COMPLAINTS RECENTLY. STEERING LOCKING UP AND FIXED MORE PART IN VECHILE, NOW MIGHT BE RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, WHICH MY MECHANIC HAS FOUND WAS INPROPERLLY PLACED IN CAR. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE IT HAS BEEN OVER 1 YEAR AND 12,000 MILES, THEY WILL CHARGE ME A LABOR FEE AND ALSO THE PART FEE. COULD THIS BECOME ANY WORSE GM??????

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE DIED. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES AND THE CONSUMER WAS TO PULL OVER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS FROM ADVANCED CARE CARE INC IN ORLANDO FLORIDA 9-23-03 THIS CAR IS A LEMON. LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH IT (WAS SOLD TO ME TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT ). *AK PROBLEMS IVE PAID TO FIX SO FAR ENGINE REPLACED HEAD JOB (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) 02 SENSOR TWICE ECM COMPUTER TWICE COIL PACK- 3 TIMES ICM 5 TIMES ENGINE STRUT TRANSMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BRAKES ROTORS MAIN ROD BEARINGS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD , IT IS POURING OUT OIL, I CANT GO PAST 3 RPMS IT HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AS WELL WHICH HAS ALMOST COSTED ME AND MY SON OUR LIFE. ADVANCED CAR CARE INC (SILVERSTAR ROAD) IN ORLANDO FLORIDA SOLD ME THIS CAR NOTIFYING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 7,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS EVEN MORE MESSED UP THAN WHAT IT WAS. EVERYTIME I PAY FOR SOMETHING TO BE FIXED SOMETHING ELSE WRONG SHOWS UP... I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS WERE ALL SHOCKED AT THIS CAR. THEY SD THE HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BUILT THIS MESSED UP BEFORE. THE COMPUTER WAS SHOOTING OUT 13 DIFFERENT CODES. THIS IS A LEMON CAR. I NEED IT FIXED OR REPLACED ALSO S & S AUTOMOTIVE IN APOPKA FLORIDA CHARGED ME 1,515 IN REPAIRS WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OR EVEN ON THE PHONE. THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT PARTS BEING NEW WHEN THEY WERE USED. THEY INSTALLED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WRONG AS WELL. THEY D

HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL , AFTER PLACING NEARLY $800.00 WORTH OF NEW PARTS IN VEHICLE, CHANGING SEVERAL ALTERNATORS AND STARTERS, FROM THE INGNITION SWITH RECALL. I HAD TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHICH, APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER CAVALIERS, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSISED AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, COSTING $100-$200. AND NOW HAVING TO SPEND $400-$600 ON ANOTHER DEFECT FROM THESE RECALLS, IS REALLY FRUSTRATING MY FAMILY, ESPICALLY MY HUSBAND. WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP PLACING IN THIS VECHILE, I'M A FULL TIME STUDENT WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND WORK ONLY PART TIME. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR. I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT HAVE A GUARENTEE THAT THEY WOULDN' FIX THIS PART. I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN SCHOOL,WORK AND OUT ANY WHERE ELSE, HOSPITAL FOR CLINICALS WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY GM MOTORS VECHILES, DUE TO THEM NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES AND HOW I'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED BY THIS MANUFACTOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE- STALLING AT HIGH/LOW SPEEDS. NO STEERING,BRAKES, VERY FRIGHTENING!! ALREADY SPENT ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AT MECHANICS TO FIND PROBLEM. PROBABLY ANOTHER RECALL ON VEHICLE. ALMOST BECOMING MANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. *LA

I AM HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME UNDERSTANDING AND OBTAINING CLEAR INFORMATION ON THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER'S THEFT SYSTEM THAT CAME WITH THE CAR FROM THE FACTORY. SOMETHING IS TRIPPING AND I CANNOT DISENGAGE IT. WHEN TRIPPED, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME AND AT ANY PLACE, AND IT HAS!! I TALKED TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AT THREE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERS AND ALL THREE SAY VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS AND NONE HELP. ALSO, THE OBD DIAGNOSIS SHOWS NOTHING WRONG BUT EACH VISIT COSTS ME OVER $80.00!! I EVEN CALLED THE FACTORY AND NO ONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS. *LA

DEVICE FOR LIGHTS, HIGHBEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL AND BLINKERS WORKS ON AND OFF THEN STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY FOR NO REASON. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE YOU CAR AND NIGHT OR USE ALL THOSE FUNCTIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.*AK

THERE ARE TWO WARNING LABELS ON CHILD SEAT REGARDING WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER.*MR ONE LABEL STATED " 20 LBS FOR REAR FACING." THE OTHER STATED " REAR FACING 5-30 LBS." WHEN A PARENT CONTACTED ENVENFLO AND TRIED TO OBTAIN AN OWNER'S MANUAL, THEY WERE TOLD ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION WAS ON THE CHILD SEAT STICKERS. EVENFLO DIDN'T RESPOND TO PARENT EMAILS. *PH *JB

FOR THE LAST TWO MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STALLING WHEN EITHER THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER IS ON. *LA

I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT ALL THE GM STEERING STUFF AND I JUST WANTED TO WRITE MY COMPLAINT, MY STEERING LOOKED UP ON ME CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE WHICH FLIPPED MY CAR OVER AND TOTALLED OUT MY CAR. I JUST THINK THAT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO FIX BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED OR HURT LIKE ME.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN APART. THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THE BUCKLE. *PH

COSCO EDDIE BAUER MODEL# 02870EBG. RIGHT ARM BROKE ON THE SHIELD CHILD SEAT. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED IT WASN'T A DEFECT. THEY STATED THEY WOULD SEND THE CONSUMER THE APPROPRIATE PARTS TO REPAIR THE CHILD SEAT. *PH *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55MPH, IT SHUT OFF. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. TWO DEALERS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

EXCESSIVE COOLANT LEAKAGE FROM UNDER CAR. CAR HEATS UP, CAUSING TO PULLOVER CONSTANTLY TO GET THE CAR TO COOL DOWN. SEEMS TO BE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHILE ACCELERATING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP - THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME AND I WAS NOT DRIVING THAT FAST. ALSO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE.

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER. NAR 07/02/2003*MR (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM

CAR SUDDENLY LEAKED COOLANT, ENGINE TEMP WAS READING HOT ON DASH. THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO A STUCK THERMOSTAT, REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT. BELT STARTS SLIPPING A COUPLE WEEKS LATER, AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, AND BELT. *NLM

THE DEFROSTER DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. *AK PH *JB

THE ANTIFREEZE IS LEAKING ONTO THE HEAD GASKET AREA OF MY CAR. ANTIFREEZE HAS BEEN REFILLED EVERY WEEK DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER HAVING THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC, I BECAME AWARE THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO THE HEAD GASKETS BEING BLOWN. *JB

WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT ON THE THIRD GEAR. *AK

I AM WONDERING IF THE PROPER RECALL WORK WAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE AT KOON'S CHEVROLET. I ASKED WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CAMPAIGN # 02V070000 (THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL) THE MECHANIC THAT EXPLAINED IT TO ME DID NOT USE THE WORDS RELAY KIT. HE DESCRIBED A CABLE HARNESS TO HOLD WIRES BACK. *NLM

THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *NLM

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER A NEW RACK AND PINION WAS NEEDED.MR *TS *JB

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CAMPAIGN # 02V28600 WITH THE SUBJECT POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THAT RECALL AND A GM REPRESENTATIVE WOULD MAKE CONTACT AND TEST THE VEHICLE. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE CALLED THE CONSUMER AND STATED THAT THE RECALL PART WOULD BE FIXED BUT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. *NLM

FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB

THE RECALL WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. RECALL # 02 V0 70 000. *JB

THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT ALIGNED. *JB

THE STEERING RACK & PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 98 V 319 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

OVER HEATING DUE TO HEAD GASKET/ THERMOSTAT PROBLEMS.*JB

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD THE RACK AND PINION UNIT REPLACED BEFORE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE.

THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG FOR ALMOST A YEAR. (RECALL #98V146000)*JB

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION, RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL 02 V 286 000 . AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE APART INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. PH

FUEL INJECTION HOSE IS LEAKING GASOLINE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH FUEL INJECTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

WHEN CAR FUEL TANK IS READING BELOW 1/4 TANK, CAR WILL NOT START. CAR BACKFIRES, WHILE TRYING TO START AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THIS SINCE I [URCHASED THE CAR IN 1997. EVERYTIME THAT I TAKE THE CAR IN, I AM BEING TOLD IT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THIS ITEM DEFINATELY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CUASE I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS CHEVY CAVELIER OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM.

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH MECHANISM BROKE INTO TWO PIECES AND BECAME UNATTACHED FROM THE MECHANISM BELT LOOP ANCHOR. THIS AUTO HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND RECEIVED LIGHT TO MODERATE USE. IT HAS 118K MILES.

NHTSA#02-V-286-000 CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER VIN # [XXX] THAT HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEMS 1 YEAR AGO. THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE POWER STEERING UNIT QUIT OR WOULD ONLY ALLOW YOU TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. WE HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1500. I THEN LEARNED OF A CAMPAIGN, #02V286000, THAT LISTED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU COULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE OR IF MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY COVERED FOR THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ETS OFF LIGHT CAME ON DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, OFF AGAIN BY THE TIME WE GOT TO HE DEALER. HAPPENED AGAIN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING A WEEK LATER. DEALER FOUND THAT COMPUTER CODE INDICATED FAILURE OF A PUMP SEAL IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (4-SPD OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION). COST TO REPAIR WILL BE AT LEAST $1,305. OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE NHTSA SITE SHOW PROBLEMS WITH PUMPS INSTALLED IN TRANSMISSIONS PRIOR TO JUNE, 1996. CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARK ON THE DRIVE WAY IT COUHT ON FIRE A TOTALY BURNED OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RECAL IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMO EVENT. TS

POWER STEERING FAILED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HAD PROBLEM FIXED FIRST TIME DEALER WANTS TO TOTAL VEHICLE SECOND TIME. GM DID NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. SAID CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL PERIOD, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. *TS **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770164

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NEITHER OF THE ONLY 2 WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN OR UP DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE MOTORS. THE FIRST MOTOR FAILED AT 50K MILES, THE SEOND AT 60K MILES. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, PROGRESS WOULD BE IMPEDED OR PREVENTED DUE TO THESE FAILURES. DT

8/28/98 RECALL AIRBAGS--7/20/01 WATER PUMP REPLACED--9/5/01 STABILIZER LINK REPLACED--HORN WORKS SOMETIMES

CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS REPLACED TWICE. TS *JB