1996 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND COOLANT WAS ADDED. FOUR DAYS LATER, WHEN OIL CHANGE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR LEAK. DEALER SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. OWNER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER.

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION RECALL COMPONENT, HOWEVER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY RECEIVING REPAIR WORK. MJS (98V-319)

A VALVE INSIDE THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM IS STUCK, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE INOPERATIVE AND ALLOWING IT TO JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL LEAK AND FOUND OUT THAT IT HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET AND A CRACKED HEAD. *AK

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MATTER. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED, REQUESTS RECALL INFORMATION. *AK

CAR HAD A "HARD START" WHEN COLD. CONCERNED BECAUSE SOMEONE COULD GET STRANDED, ASSUMING THAT 1/4 FULL TANK OF GAS WAS ENOUGH TO START CAR - ESPECIALLY THOSE TRANSPORTING CHILDREN, LIKE I DO. AFTER FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED (BY DEALER), IT STARTED BETTER THAN WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE. NOTE: WHY DOES THE FUEL PUMP SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLETS. MY FATHER HAS A 1995 CHEVROLET TRUCK, TAHOE THAT ALSO NEEDED THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WORTH INVESTIGATING. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ENGINE MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE THAT INCREASES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS BEING APPLIED. DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. *AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR CRACKED IN SAME SPOT ALONG WITH DOOR SILLS ON ALL DOORS. *AK

HEAD-ON COLLISION AT 60 MPH, HIT TREE RIGHT IN MIDDLE OF THE HOOD, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER, 17 YEARS OLD, SUFFERED SEVERE INTERNAL AND FACIAL INJURIES, PASSENGER,12 YEARS OLD, SUFFERED COMPOUND FRACTURE OF LEG. *AK

FUEL PUMP WENT OUT/OIL PRESSURE VALVE BLEW UP AND OIL IS ALL OVER/COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, AND RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS NOT YET REMEDIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CAR IS FALLING APART, INTERIOR IS FALLING APART, EXAMPLE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT IN TACT, THE PASSENGER CHAIR ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME IS BROKEN, AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT AND WE NEEDED TO INSTALL A NEW AIRCONDITIONER, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, I GUESS EVERY NINE MONTHS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW BRAKE CHANGE, THE CHRYSLER CREDIT CORP HAS NEVER GIVEN US A RECEIPT ON HOW MUCH MORE TO PAY AND WHEN WE CALL THEM UP, THEY WOULD NOT TELL US HOW MUCH MORE TO GO FOR THE PAYMENTS, THEY ALSO KNOW THAT SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THEN THEY WOULD CHANGE CONSTANTLY WHERE THE PAYMENT SHOULD GO. I JUST WISHED THEY WOULD STOP THAT. IT IS LIKE A HOUSE LOAN, WE HAVE CHANGED MORTAGAGER FOUR TIMES AND THIS IS GETTING VERY STRESSFUL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS MATTER.

PART BROKE WITH NO WARNING - RESULTS IN NO POWER AT ALL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC- MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CAVALIERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD STOPPED FOR NO REASON. WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AT 43,000 MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID THAT TRANSMISSION HAD WORN OUT & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

HEADLIGHT WIRING SHORTED ON BRACKET WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS FAILED. CHEVROLET SAID "TOO BAD" CHARGED $73.53 TO FIX WIRING.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY,.WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER'S NECK/BACK AND SPINE. PASSENGER'S AIR BAG SMASHED OUT FRONT WINDSHIELD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. ALSO VEHICLE WAS PART OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE. NHTSA RECALL # 98V 146 000. SEEKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE LIGHTS STAY ON FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THEY GO OFF. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN ALL EFFORT TO RESOLVE SITUATION AND WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER. I AM A 22 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE BOUGHT INCLUDING BRAKE FAILURE AND HORN FAILURE. IN MY ESTIMATION, THIS VECHICLE IS A LEMON

HEAD GASKET FAILED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, ONE INCIDENT DESTROYED WATER PUMP.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAY ON, BUT SEEMS TO BE NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. OCCUPANT IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAVALIER. WHEN USED IN CONJUCTION WITH INFANT CAR SEATS. ALL THE INFANT SEAT MANUFACTURERS HAVE ISSUED WARNINGS AGAINST USING ANY OF THEIR SEATS WITH CARS WHERE THE SEAT BELT IS ANCHORED FORWARD AT THE CREASE, WHICH IS THE CASE WITH THE 96 CAVELIER. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, WHO THEN TOLD ME TO TALK TO THE SEAT MANUFACTURER, GETTING ME NO WHERE AT ALL. INDEED THE ONLY ADVICE I COULD GET WAS TO TIGHTEN IT AS MUCH AS I COULD AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE ALRIGHT. THERE ARE NO PROBABILITY NOR SHOULD THERE BE WHEN WE DEAL WITH THE LIFE OF A CHILD. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY TRANSPORT MY CHILD DUE TO THE ANCHORING OF THE BELT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO AND BUY A NEW CAR. IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT IN THE CAVALIER INFANT CANNOT BE PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT DUE TO THE HUMP. BUT ON TOP OF THIS, TO PLACE THE SEAT BELTS SO THAT NO SEAT WILL WORK AS THEY WERE MEANT TO. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING AND WILL NOT START BACK UP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENT REPLACED BUT NONE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT , CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK

CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY ADVISED OF THE EVAPORATIVE PURGE SOLENOID AND CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT AS CARBON MONOXIDE WAS LEAKING. WE HAVE A WARRANTY AND THEY REPORT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. IF GM HAD TO REPLACE THE SAME PARTS IN MANY OF THEIR OTHER CARS THEN WHY NOT THIS VEHICLE. THE CADILLACS, BUICKS, CUTLASS AND OVER 400,000 VEHICLE THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM IN THE CAVALIER AT NO COST TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. WE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND PURCHASED THE WARRANTY FOR 1,000.00. THE DEALER SAID IT IS NOT COVERED.MY DAUGHTER PURCHASED HER FIRST VEHICLE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND NOW IT HAS A PROBLEM THAT THEY SAY SHE WILL NEEDS TO PAY FOR. I THINK THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY WE PURCHASED AND SHOULD BE RECALLED JUST LIKE THE OTHER VEHICLES WERE AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY DAY TO ANSWER OUR CONCERNS. YVETTE HOLLIS AND AIMEE HOLLIS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO STOBUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL A FEW FEET AWAY. *AK

ENIGINE STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE BLOWING OF THE ENIGINE. *AK

COOLANT LOSS, LOW COOLANT LIGHT, COOLANT LEAK ODOR. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC VERIFED THAT IT IS LEAKING AND DAMAGING THE HEAD GASKET. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 95 CAVALIER HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON RECALL. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED 11/95, HAS THE SAME HEAD GASKET AS THE 95, BUT CHEVROLET WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT.

CLUTCH GETS REPLACED EVERY 26 K MILES, MANU CLAIMS NORMAL WEAR (NO OTHER I EVER HAD NEED A NEW CLUTCH THAT OFTEN).

SUSPENSION SYSTEM CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN YOUR DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A POWER DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHENEVER YOU APPLY THE BRAKES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM, THE A/C WILL SLOW DOWN, AND THE INSTRUMENT DASH LIGHTS WILL DIM.THE CHEVY DEALER IN INVERNESS FIRST WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM ON 1-23-98 AND STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN ON 2-23-98. AGAIN THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED SO THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE BATTERY.THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT AFTER ABOUT TWO MONTHS THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN AND I RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AGAIN THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THEY WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED THE ALTENATOR AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM AND JUST THIS LAST WEEK 12-7-98 I RETUNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR FOUR DAYS AND SAID THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AGAIN SO THEY CHARGED IT AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY WERE GOING TO DO. MY CONCERN IS THAT MY FAMILY WILL BE OUT AT NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START

SDM (AIR BAG) FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION.

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMERS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AGAIN,AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED. CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE MILEAGE IN THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVING. *AK

WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THEY INTERMITTENTLY PULSATE. ALSO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE TO OCCURS CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT. THE BRAKES SEEM TO PREFORM NORMALLY OTHERWISE.

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHICH THE OCCUPANT BELIEVES MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WATER COMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOWS. PASSENGER SEAT COVER NOT ANCHORED. LEATHER PANELS COMING UNDONE. *AK *ML

BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND LOOKS AS IF IT IS ON. WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THERE IS NO SHIELD UNDER THE CAR TO PROTECT THE BRAKES, ENGINE, BATTERY, ETC. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK

THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE COMPLETELY FELL APART. THE BUCKLE FELL APART IN DRIVER'S HAND. THE BUCKLE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. *AK

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT WILL GO OFF. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED,. DEALER STATES THE HARNESS WIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER WET OR PUDDLES THE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACE THE SERPTINE BELT. PROBLEM REOCCURRING. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON WET SURFACE, WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIT CEMENT RETAINING WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK , DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

THE AIRBAG MODULES WERE NO LOGER FUNCTIONAL WHICM MAY RESULT IN THE UNIT NOT WORKING.

AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE DAUGHER WAS SITTING STILL AT THE RED LIGHT. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED PREMATURELY. *AK CONSUMER STATED AFTER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, VEHICLE WENT FOWARD AND STRUCK A VAN, THERE WERE 2 INJURIES IN CONSUMERS VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO AIR BAG COVERING ON PASSENGER SIDE.*JB

HORN FAILED.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS RESULTED IN VEHICLE COLLISION, AIRBAGS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.

THE HORN WILL NOT BLOW. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

ETS LIGHT STAYS ON.

RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 98V146 IN AUGUST 98. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER WEEKLY AFTER RECEIPT OF RECALL . DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS. *AK

IN WET CONDITIONS THE REGULATOR BELT WILL GET WET, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKE LOSS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HORN DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY; INTERMITTENTLY IT WOULD WORK SOMETIMES. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK