Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TOP THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CALIPER ON THE VEHICLE. *AK
ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE REAR END JUMPS. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK GM TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS IS NORMAL. *SLC
THE DEFECTIVE PASSENGER'S SHOULDER SEATBELT BROKE FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE SEATBELT TO BE INOPERATIVE, WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT. *AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR AXLE FELL OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE A MAJOR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE HARD PLASTIC COVER THAT COVERS THE METAL RING THAT THE SEAT BELT STRAP COMES THROUGH, CAUSING INJURY.
HORN IS INOPERABLE WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION. DEALER REPLACED THE HORN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHICH DID NOT REMDEY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS FAILED.
DESIGN OF THE BRAKE LIGHT (REAR WINDOW LOCATION) CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
EMMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED.
GAUGE COVER CRACKED CAUSING IT TO RATTLE, REPAIRED ONCE AND FAILED AGAIN.
HORN FAILED.
DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR LOCK DOESN'T WORK.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WAS GOING AROUND CORNER A DEER JUMPED OUT, HIT DEER HEAD-ON. TRIED TO MOVE TO THE SIDE, ENDED UP, HITTING TREE. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING DRIVER TO SUSTAIN HEAD/SHOULDER INJURIES AND BRUISES. BUMPER WAS BENTED, INCLUDING HOOD FRONT SIDE PANEL. *AK
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURY TO LEFT ARM.
RACK AND PINION BROKE CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK.
ENGINE FAILED WHILE IN MOTION AND WOULD NOT RESTART. *AK
PE97041; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT (10) MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WILL START TO VIBRATE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SQUEAKY NOISE. *AK
FRONT DOOR WINDOW CHANNEL FAILED.
BRAKES NOT BOLTED PROPERLY.
ABS BRAKE LIGHTS COMES ON.
PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, VEHICLE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELLING 40 MPH, HIT/SHATTERED FRONT WINDSHIELD; ACCORDING TO MANUAL, NORMAL REACTION FOR AIRBAG. *AK
STEREO CASSETTE PLAYER FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.
DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK
MAKING A LEFT TURN AROUND A CORNER ON A CITY STREET AND ABOUT 50 TO 100 FEET THE AIRBAGS EXPLODED (NO BUMPS WERE HIT AND STREETS WERE SMOOTH, CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING SLIGHT HEARING LOSS AND RING IN THE LEFT HEAR. *AK
AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, BRAKES STUCK AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR- DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AUTOMOBILE. HE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP AUTOMOBILE BY SHUTING THE IGNITION OFF. HE ALSO STATES AT THAT TIME HE COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS SO HE COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK
UNSPECIFIED.
NOISE AROUND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN.
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE APPROX. 20 MPH WHEN TURNING A CONER THE ENGINE FELL APART, (LITERALLY EXPLODED). *AK
DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH & ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT PASSENGER'S SIDE; AIR BAG DEPLOYED & HIT SHOULDER/CHIN AND CONSOLE; BOUNCED TO MERIDIAN; SEAT BELT AROUND NECK; SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER IN NORMAL POSITION; FACE CONTINUED TOWARDS CONSOLE. AT DEALER PRIOR & TOLD WAS PROBLEM & ORDERING PARTS. *AK
WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN THROUGH A PUDDLE THE SERPENTINE BELT GETS WET, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE STEERED, AND THE DRIVER CANNOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK
FRONT ABS BRAKES FAILED/NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 17000 MILES. *AK
APPLIED BRAKES AT ABOUT 2 OR 3 MPH AND DID NOT STOP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE ABOUT 50 TO 55MPH, APPLIED BRAKES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS AN OIL LEAK AROUND THE GASKET. DEALERSHIP REPLACED OIL PAN AND GASKET. STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. THE OIL LEAK IS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR ENGINE DUE TO IMPROPER SERVICE. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIRS, NO PROBLEM FOUND. *AK
OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HIT TWO TREES AND ONE TREE FELL DOWN. BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
CLICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE.
TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE/SEALS FAILED.
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT AND INJURY.
ENGINE FAILED.
STARTED TO STOP, ABS BRAKES GAVE OUT; KICKED IN FEW MINUTES LATER. STEERING WHEEL W/ STRONG PULLING, HARD TURNING OR CORRECTING; HARD TURNING R/L. RPMS REVVED BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE, GEARS SHIFTED HARD FROM 2ND TO 3RD. *AK
ENGINE STALLED DUE TO FAILED THROTTLE SENSOR.
WAS DRIVING AND CAR LOST POWER AND SMOKE COME OUT OF CAR. TOOK TO DEALER, HE SAID THAT CLUTCH FLUID WAS OVERFILLED NOT KEPT RIGHT CLUTCH, HAS DAMAGE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
OWNER STATES THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT CLEAR WINDOWS ONLY WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS TO ABOUT 25 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LOWER. SERVICE PEOPLE CLAIM IT IS A PROBLEM ON 95, 96 AND 97 CAVALIERS. *AK
HORN WIRE SHORTED OUT, CAUSING HORN TO BLOW.
HORN IS NOT WORKING. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier → · Every Cavalier year → · How the figures are calculated →