1997 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TWO WEEKS LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME INCIDENT WHICH HAD OCCURRED.*JB PH

TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHY ABS BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY FOUND THE BEARINGS HAD FALLEN OUT OF ABS BOX. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A SEALED UNIT AND HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE BEARINGS FELL OUT. ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK.

WHEN BRAKING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH FRONT SUSPENSION (RACK AND PINION , SHOCK ABSORBER AND BRAKES). DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. PH

THE WIPERS ON VEHICLE ARE STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. THE WIPERS WORK IN RAIN, BUT WHEN TURNED OFF, THEY STOP RIGHT IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, IMPAIRING DRIVERS VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

FRONT BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR HAS BEEN CHANGED FOUR TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT WHEEL. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER CAUSING INJURIES AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE.

THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN DRIVING AROUND TURNS. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. DEALER SAID NOT URGENT. SHORTLY AFTER SHE CRASHED HER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE STEERING.

FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER TO GO INTO A BRICK WALL. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

WHEN FIRST STARTED STRONG GAS FUMES IN CAR; THEN HESITATION/STALLING WHILE DRIVING, HAS GONE DEAD TWO TIMES; ROUGH IDLING.

HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2 CAVALIERS WENT OUT ONLY HAVE ONE HIGH BEAM ON EACH CAR ON PASSENGER SIDE

INTERMITTENTLY IF VEHICLE STARTS , IT WILL STALL. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY HIGH OIL PRESSURE IN THE ENGINE. PH

DEFECT RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02 V286 000 STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION NOISE AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. SC

CONSUMER WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR FLIPPED FIVE TIMES WHEN NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.

CONSUMER WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR FLIPPED FIVE TIMES WHEN NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. TS

CONSUMER WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR FLIPPED FIVE TIMES WHEN NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. TS

DEFECT RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02V286000 STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION. NOISE AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING. HAVE NOT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. WHEN VEHICLE DOES FINALLY START IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY STALL. IF STARTED SUCCESSFULLY VEHICLE HAS AN EXCESSIVELY ROUGH IDLE. PH THE VEHICLE DID NOT START IN COLD WEATHER, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD DIDN'T LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS COLD START FOLLOWED BY A HARD RESTARTING AND HIGH OIL PRESSURE RELATED TO THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP IN THE ENGINE. TSB#7761-09B. SCC

I HAVE 1997 CHEVROLET, CAVALIER WHICH I TOOK DELIVERY ON JULY 28, 1997. THE CAR IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE. I WENT ON LINE TO THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL LIST AND LOCATED A RECALL FOR CARS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, AND OCTOBER 31, 1997. THE RECALL INVOLVES THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING GEAR MAY SEPARATE, PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF THE PINION SHAFT. REPORT INDICATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE HAVE BEEN 15 REPORT OF CRASHES AND THREE INJURIES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE CONDITION, BUT NO FATAL INJURIES. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, DESCRIBED TO THEM THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, WHICH I HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I GAVE THEM MY VIN # AND THE REPLY I GOT WAS THAT I AM NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE RECALLS FOR MINOR REPAIRS BUT I AM NOT ON THIS RECALL LIST. I AM A BIT DISTURBED WITH THIS REPLY. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITHIN THE TIME FRAME OF WHICH WAS DESCRIBED. DUE TO THIS PROBLEM I WAS NEARLY IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE AND THEN IF MY CAR FELL UNDER THE RECALL I COULD FIGHT TO BE REIMBURSED. SO WHAT THEIR TRYING TO TELL ME IS DRIVE THE CAR, WHICH CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT THIS POINT, GET IN AN ACCIDENT THEN THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT ME THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. THIS IS A VERY POOR WAY OF TAKING CARE OF A PERSON'S LIFE WHEN THEY KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MEANWHILE WE HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK. I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS RECALL ON THE NEWS ON TV BACK IN NOVEMBER 2002. CAN YOU HELP? PLEASE!!!!!!

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RACK OPINION HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CALL THE CONSUMER BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. TS

WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR FEET LIKE FRONT END IS LOOSE

ENGINE COOLANT LEAK. CAR HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC YET. I'VE HAD TO FILL THE RADIATOR WITH FLUID SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. THE LEAK IS BECOMING FASTER NOW, AS I'VE HAD TO FILL IT UP TWO TIMES IN THE PAST 4 DAYS.

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN IS BAD. WHEN CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT ALSO LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT THERE IS A CRANCKING NOISE. PERSONAL AUTO MACHANIC HAS SAID PROBLEM IS IN POWER RACK AND PINION BEARINGS. DT

AFTER RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG WAS COMPLETED THE REMEDY FAILED. THE DEALER AND MANUAFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. TS

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF STALLING WITH THIS VEHICLE, ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS IN A FEW CASES. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THERE HAS BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO DEATH /SERIOUS INJURY, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPLACED FOR ONE SHE CAN TRUST. *SCC *DT

TS

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON , VEHCILE STARTED TO SHAKE AND STALLED OUT. ENGINE HAD BLOWN.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKES GRAB CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. THIS OCCURS ON BOTH WET AND DRY PAVEMENT. IN ADDITION TO THIS, WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR HAS A DELAYED REACTION WITH THE BRAKES, OFTEN REQUIRING ABOUT 10 FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. BRAKES ARE ALSO CONTINUOUSLY SQUEAKING/SQUEALING, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE BRAKES ARE NEW OR WORN.*AK

MY CAR WAS PARKED ALL DAY AT WORK. AFTER WORK I DROVE DOWN TWO BLOCKS TO A STORE WHERE I NEEDED TO RUN IN TO PICK SOMETHING UP. I RETURNED TO MY CAR 10 MINS LATER AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. DASH LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONAL, BUT CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER. INITIALLY IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO DO SO. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START SEVERAL TIMES, IT NO LONGER MADE ANY SOUND WHEN I TURNED THE KEY. TRIED TO JUMPSTART CAR, BUT CAR WOULD NOT TAKE IT. CHECKED ALL FUSES, SEEMED TO BE FINE. DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE BATTERY, AS ALL LIGHTS AND CAR ALARM WORK. THIS PROBLEM CAME WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS, WITH THE OCCASION OF A FEW TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE THE CAR STALLED OUT. NO WARNING SIGNS/PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS CURRENT PROBLEM. TAKING CAR IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST 09/01/02.*AK

VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BROKEN STEERING SYSTEM. *YH

SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE FURTHER I DROVE THE CAR THE WORSE IT GOT, AFFECTING THE RIGHT SIDE AS WELL AND MAKING A HORRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE RACK HAD GONE OUT.*AK

DEALERSHIP CHARGE FOR RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS AFTER WORK WAS DONE. *AK

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, (02V070000) CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE STARTING, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM, AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE WORK PERFORMED AND STATED THAT ALL THE WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY WAS RECALL RELATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A CLAIM WOULD BE SUBMITTED FOR REIMBURSEMENT, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAS WAITED FOR 60 DAYS AND HAS NOT HEARD FROM MANUFACTURER.*JB

WHILE WAITING FOR RECALL 02070000 REPAIRS APPOINTMENT DATE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND DAMAGED OTHER COMPONENTS. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED.*AK

AFTER RELAY SWITCH WAS INSTALLED FOR RECALL O2V070000 STARTED HAVING LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, SUCH AS BATTERY FAILURE, ETC.DEALER CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL/DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE . CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, CAUSING WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERABLE.*AK *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL 02V07, HOWEVER WAS CHARGED 800 DOLLARS FOR A NEW BATTERY, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS SEEMS AWFULLY HIGH. *SLC THE VEHICLE STALLED DUE TO A MINOR ENGINE PROBLEM. THE VALVE COVER GASKET AND THE ARCHING SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *SC

HAVE PUT 3 ALTERNATORS ON THIS CAR, EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY BEFORE 12,000 MILES (APPROXIMATELY). BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. NOW, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS, EXCEPT FOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM. SCHEDULED THAT FOR REPAIR 7/23/02. SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVERS SNAPPED OFF (BELT LOOSE ON ONE AND HIT BY CAR DOOR WHEN SHUTTING IT. THE OTHER ONE JUST POPPED OFF. BELT CONTINUES TO SLIP OFF ENGINE, CAUSES STALLING EVEN IF DRIVING 55 MPH. NOW BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. LEFT FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO HAVE BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATE ON WHEEL COVER. CAR HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT (ENGINE REPAIRED LAST YEAR). CAR IS ALSO OVERHEATING; HAS HAD TSTAT REPLACED, RADIATOR FLUID. WHAT ELSE COULD CAUSE THIS, I DON'T KNOW.

SINCE RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH WERE DONE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS REPAIREDVEHICLE A SECOND TIME, AND CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR THE WORK.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ABOUT 1-2 MONTHS AGO MY WIFE TRIED TO START THE CAR AND SHE SAID THAT ALL OF THE SYSTEMS(I.E. WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES, INTERIOR WARNING LIGHTS, ETC.) STARTED GOING OFF ALL AT ONCE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD'T PUSH IN, THERE WAS A LOUD BUXXING NOISE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. EVER SINCE WE HAVE HAD TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN WE ARE DRIVING ALONG (SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO PLAY A ROLE) AND THE CAR WILL REACT IN A SIMILAR MANNER AND STOP RUNNING. AFTER THIS HAPPENS, IT CAN TAKE US UP TO 10-15 MINUTES TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. JUST THIS MORNING IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND IF THE TRUCK BEHIND US HAD NOT SWERVED AS IT DID, IT WOULD HAVE TOTALLED OUR CAR. WE THEN SPENT ALMOST 20 MINUTES IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO START OUR CAR.(THIS WAS SUBMITTED BY BRIAN QUINNEY - HUSBAND OF SAID OWNER). *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS LOUD SOUND AND MAKING THE TURN WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IT HAD TAKEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD'NT HAVE FAILED. *MJ *SCC

A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN WITHIN 15 MINUTES AFTER TRYING TO GET VEHICLE TO START. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER YET.*AK DEALER FOUND CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AND WATER PUMP LEAKING. REPLACED PUMP AND HEAD GASKETS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER IS AWARE OF SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 1996 MODELS. *TT

PARTS RECALL 02V070000 HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 2 MONTHS, AND CONSUMER WAS SUPPOSE TO BE NOTIFIED OF PARTS DELIVERY,BUT DEALERSHIP NEVER CALLED.*AK

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR. THIS CONTINUED AS I MADE 3 MORE TURNS. IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES. THE NEXT DAY IT RESUMED BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC OF 30 YEARS THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND ALSO QUITE EXPENSIVE. ALMOST $900.00.*AK