1996 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

NO SUMMARY. DT

IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON 16 AUGUST 2002. ON 23 AUGUST 2002 AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES VEHICLE IGNITED KEY WAS NOT IN IGNITION. PLEASE ADD DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. MR

FAN THAT CONTROLS INTERIOR INSIDE OF CAR ONLY OPERATES ON "HIGH" POSITION. DT

ANOTHER CAVALIER WITH A FAILED HEAD GASKET THAT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. GOOD THING I PUT OFF BUYING THAT 2003. THE NEON IS LOOKING BETTER EVERY DAY. MR

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMERS VEHICLE STALLED OUT ON THE STREET. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SAFETY RECALL 02002-S. *JG

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CAR ENGINE CUT OUT, WITH NOINDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICE COULD FIND NO REASON WHY THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS: ENGINE PISTON CRACKED, NUMBER 1 SPARK PLUG CRACKED AND BURN, SPUN ROD IN LIFTERS CAUSING CAR NOT TO START, ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $4,500. AFTER CONSULTING WITH ANOTHER MECHANIC, I REPLACED THE ENGINE ELSEWHERE. THE MECHANIC THERE COULD NOT OFFER A EXPLAINATION OTHER THAN A DEFECT FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. BOTH MECHANICS NOTED HOW WELL THE ENGINE LOOKED DESPITE THE FAILURE. REGULAR ENGINE MAINTENENCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THE CAR HAD CLEARLY BEEN DRIVEN ABUSIVELY. TS

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT A REFUND WOULD BE IN ORDER, HOWEVER CONSUMER STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE REIMBUSEMENT WAS DENIED STATING THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT COVERED.*JB *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGAE ,THEIRS WAS SMOKE COMING FORM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED , MAYBE SMOKE CAME FOR ANTI LOCK BRAKES OR ENGINE. CAUSE STILL UNKNWOWN.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE WATING ON AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH DONE, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALERSHIP IS GIVING HER THE RUN AROUND.*JB

CONSUMER CAN SMELL FUMES IN CAR AFTER ENGINE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF FOR A SHORT TIME. MECHANIC STATED THAT GAS WAS DRIPPING ON INTAKE MANIFOLD. MAY CAUSE A FIRE. *AK FUEL INJECTOR NUMBER 4 HAS A HAIR LINE CRACK EXTERNALLY, THIS ALLOWS FUEL UNDER PRESSURE TO LEAK OUT OF INJECTOR ONTO INTAKE MANIFOLD, AFTER ENGINE IS SHUT OFF FOR A SHORT TIME, FUEL CAN BE SMELLED IN AND ABOUT THE CAR DUE TO FUEL LEAKAGE OUT OF THE INJECTOR. *SLC

IN APRIL 2002 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TEH RECALL INFORMATION PROCESSING CENTER, ROYAL OAK, MI IN REGARDS TO A DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN I CHECKED THE INTERNET "NHTSA" I FOUND OUT THAT IN FACT THIS WAS NOT THE ONLY RECALL ON MY CAR. THE IS ALSO AN AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MUD FLIP KIT RECALL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO REPAIR ALL THESE DEFECTS. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL AND THAT THE RECALL FOR THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS FIXED THE DAY BEFORE AND I HAVE TO PAY IF I WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THAT LIGHT TO COME ON. I AM NOT SATISFIED AT ALL. FIRST OF ALL, I WAS NEVER CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO ALL THESE OTHER RECALLS. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR EVERYSINCE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF 2002. WHEN I DRIVE AND TAKE MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR KEEPS GOING THE SAME SPEED WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN, SOMETIMES IT EVEN SPEEDS UP. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS REAL ROUGH. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE CAR KEEPS JERKING, LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING THE BRAKES AND THEN SPEEDS UPS RIGHT AFTERWARDS. ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED. PLEASE BE SO KIND AND ASSIST ME IN THIS MATTER OR ADVISE ME WHO I HAVE TO CONTACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BEST REGARDS, MANUELA M. LENO. *AK

NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM VEHICLE .TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT ANALIZED. LEAK WAS COMING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING, WHICH TOTALLY DAMAGED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP AT 10 MPH. MANUFAUCTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

APPROX. 1 MONTH AGO, THE CAR BEGAN TO "KNOCK" AND SHAKE VERY BADLY. I DROVE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH 5 BROKEN BOLTS IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THIS WAS FIXED. YESTERDAY (7/24/02), AT APPROX. 12:00 NOON, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN NORTHBOUND ON ROUTE 18 IN EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ, WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO KNOCK AND SHAKE AGAIN, AND MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL JUST FELL OFF. LUCKILY, DUE TO TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND NOT TRAVELLING VERY FAST (@ 20-25 MPH). LUCKILY, I WAS RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO A MOBIL STATION WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND THE WHEEL ROLLED INTO THEIR PARKING LOT; I FOUND THE PIECES OF THE BOLTS THAT WERE BROKEN ALL AROUND THE PARKING LOT. THE WHEEL CAUSED A SMALL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE BACK OF A CAR (A BACKUP SENSOR WAS BROKEN) THAT WAS IN THE LOT. THIS DAMAGE WAS AROUND $200; THE COST TO PUT MY WHEEL BACK ON, AND FOR ALL NEW BOLTS ON THAT WHEEL WAS ABOUT $100. THERE IS ALSO DAMAGE TO MY PASSENGER SIDE FENDER, FOR WHICH I HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE FOR, MY HUSBAND IS GUESSING ABOUT $700; COULD I FURNISH YOU WITH AN EXACT ESTIMATE AT A LATER DATE? ADDITIONALLY, UPON PUTTINGTHE WHEEL BACK ON, THEY DISCOVERED DAMAGE TO THE "U-JOINT". WE TRANSFERED THE CAR TO OUR OWN MECHANIC TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ADDRESSED; I WILL HAVE MORE RECEIPTS, PROBABLY TOMORROW. I AM ALSO HAVING THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE BOLTS AND LUGNUTS ON BOTH REAR WHEELS - I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE BOLTS FOR THEM

THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND THE DEALER THOUGHT I SHOULD OF EXPECTED IT. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL 02V070000 REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED AT DEALER SHIP. HOWEVER, AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT REFUSED TO SERVICE VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE WILL CRANK BUT NOT START, DEALER FOUND BAD STARTER AND REPLACED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FULL REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER. *TT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. UPDATED*JB

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER BEING UNUSED FOR 1-2 WEEKS. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD OF A RECALL FOR INADVERTANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT , SO I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO DO THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS A CODE IN THE COMPUTER TELLING THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THE CAR SHOULD BE DRIVEN TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THIS FIT THE RECALL FOR INADVERTANT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM AND WOULD COST AROUND $400 TO REPAIR. I THEN ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO TRY AND GET THIS FIXED BY CHEVROLET AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT I WAS GIVEN A PHONE NUMBER FOR CHEVROLET TO TALK TO THEM MYSELF. I CALLED AND SPOKE TO STEVE LEFCOURT WHO AGREED THAT MY COMPLAINT SEEMED TO BE WHAT WAS RECALLED, BUT WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY THAT MY PROBLEM WAS DIFFERENT THAN THE RECALL BECAUSE IN THE RECALL THEY REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER,BUT SINCE MY CARS COMPUTER WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE REPROGRAMING IT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. *AK

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (024070000) ON DEFECTIVE IGNITION. CONSUMER IS ASKING THE DEALER TO GIVE HER AN EARLIER DATE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *YH

CONSUMER STATES AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 02V070000, REGARDING A RELAY KIT FOR IGNITION, THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED CONSUMER THE STARTER WAS DRAGGING AND VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT GOOD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT ON ANOTHER ONE. *YD

CONSUMER WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH WORK DONE ON VEHICLE. AFTER RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS WERE DONE, , VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. ALMOST LOST HIS LIVE TWICE.*AK

BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE PARKED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55-60 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND CUT OFF. DEALER CONTACTED, AND INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 2.4L ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

2.4L ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES SHOW SIGNS OF TROUBLE. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH STRAPS HOLDING FUEL TANK BROKE, FUEL TANK WAS DRAGGED UNTIL CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. DEALER DETERMINED BOTH STRAPS HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE.*AK

VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO RECALL 02V07, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HARD STARTS AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, WOULD STALL AND HAD NO POWER, DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THIS AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE UNNECESSARY REPLACEMENT PARTS. *SLC

CONSUMER SPOKE WITH MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA RECALL NOTICE O2V070000, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 14779. HOWEVER, VECIHLE WAS INOPERABLE, CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT CHEVROLET HAVE VEHICLE TOWED, CHEVROLET REFUSED. *AK *YH

NO PARTS AVALIABLE FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH. KIT WON'T BE AVALIABLE UNTIL JULY. LEE MITSUBUSHI, CONSUMER, WILL FILL IN FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND THEY CORRECTED PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THERE WAS A SMELL LIKE WIRES BURNING. THEN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED. CONSUMER FELT THERE A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

UPON RECEIVING NHTSA RECALL LETTER 02V070000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALLL 14779. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER CALLED TO PICK VEHICLE UP FROM DEALER, BUT DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. UPON TAKING VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS VEHICLE WAS SMOKING VERY BADLY. DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED GAS AND VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. WHEN ACCELERATING VEHICLE IS VERY SLOW IN PICKING UP SPEED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. WHILE DRIVING TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM OVERHEATING HAS TO TURN FAN ON FOR AIR CONDITIONING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

RECAL 02 V 070 000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER STATED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL JUNE. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE MAY CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA RECALL 02-V-070-000/ MANUFACTURER RECALL 02008 ON IGNITION SWITCH. RECALL COULD NOT BE SERVICED DUE TO PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DANDY BROTHERS CHEVROLET: 276-386-3111 UNTIL JUNE OF 2002 CONSUMER BEING CONCERN IF PROBLEM OCCURS BEFORE PART IS AVAILABLE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. SOMEONE CAME TO HELP GT IT BACK ON THE ROAD BUT THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A MAJOR TRANSMISSION JOB WAS NEEDED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR SERVICES. *JG

WAS DRIVING 25MPH AND WAS STARTING TO TURN INTO DRIVEWAY, WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED WITH A LOT OF SMOKE & CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUFFER BURNS ON CHEST. NLM TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *YH

THERE IS A BURNING SMELL IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON A GRAVEL ROAD BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THEN EXPLODED. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED BURNS ON FACE AND CHEST.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH WILL NOT CONNECT WHEN APPLYING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

REAR SEATBELT BUCKLE KEEPS LOOSENING AND CAUSING CHILD SAFETY SEAT TO TIP OVER WHEN TURNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN FRONT END OF ENGINE. *AK *YH

06/99 BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TIMING CHAIN, MINOR VALVE DAMAGE, REPLACE WHOLE TOP PART OF ENGINE. 10/01 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO MINOR OIL LEAK, ADVISED TO KEEP EYE ON LEAK, WILL FIX IF GETS WORSE. 01/02 OIL LEAK WORSE , REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND STARTER. 02/02 IGNITION WIRES SMOKING, REPLACED IGNITION WIRES, FRIED STARTER AND CYLINOD. 03/02 (55243 MILES,) ENGINE PULLING IN AIR FROM BAD HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED ENGINE AND IS SPITTING OUT ANTIFREEZE FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS STILLING DETERMINING EXACT PROBLEM. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. NEED A MAJOR RECALL. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD TO REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.*AK . *JB

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL, ALSO LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AT 61,000 MILES. THE REAR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION. HOWEVER THE INSIDE DASH AND FRONT LIGHTS DID WORK PROPERLY. I WAS HAVING THE CAR TOWED AT THE TIME AND HE IS THE ONE TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I DID CALL GM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PART HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 29,000 MILES. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE FAIL AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES LATER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU! *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, INTERMITTENTLY, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE. *JG *AK

AFTER LISTENING TO A SQUEEK NOISE FROM TRUNK AREA PROCEED TO A CLUNKING NOISE, I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT REAR STRUT AND IT'S MOUNT HAD FAILED REQUIRING BOTH TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $800. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MUFFLER FAILED PREMATURELY. WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURLEY. STARTING TO THINK 1996 CAVALIER WAS NOT ENGINEERED VERY WELL.

CONSUMER STATES IT TOOK FOUR YEARS BEFORE ANYONE COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER CASUING CONSUMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP, DRIVING SEVERAL FEET WITH THE ABS LIGHT ON, THE DEALER FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C AND THE COMPRESSOR WERE PROGRAMMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE COMPRESSOR, BRAKES, AND POWER, AND THE MECHANIC FOUND A WAY TO GET THE A/C AND COMPRESSOR TO STAY OFF, CAUSING THE PROBLEMS TO CEASE.JB