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 1997 record →
BATTERY LEAKED ACID ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. ALSO, RIGHT SIDE MIRROR FELL OFF/WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER MOTOR BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
IF MOISTURE GETS INTO FUSE BOX, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND RADIO WILL BE INOPERATIVE WHILE IN USE, WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY AND RESULTIN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER NOT CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT ROTORS BECOMING WARPED AFTER ABOUT 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES OF USE. I WENT TO THE DEALER TWICE UNDER WARRENTY AND BOTH TIMES THEY TURNED THE ROTERS. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ROTERS AND BRAKE PADS THREE TIMES. I THINK THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. I FEAR SOMEDAY THE BRAKING SYSTEM WILL COMPLETLY FAIL.
THE AIRBAGS ON THE VEHICLE IN QUESTIONS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO A RECALL. THEY INSTEAD DEPLOYED UNDER 5 M.P.H. WHEN THE CAR AHEAD WAS BUMPED. THE ONLY DAMAGE TO EITHER CAR WAS THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE AIRBAG. IT SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND JAMMED THE MOON ROOF OPEN. THE AIRBAG ALSO SLIGHTLY INJURED THE DRIVER ( SCRAPING & BRUISING HER CHIN ). CHEVROLET INITIALLY PROVIDED KRISTEN WITH A COST FREE RENTAL CAR AND PROMISED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. OVERNIGHT THEIR POSITION CHANGED. THEY TOOK BACK THE RENTAL CAR AND HAVE BEEN " BOUNCING " THE CLAIM FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNTOUCHED FOR MORE THAN 9 DAYS NOW. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AT VOSS BUT NOW SITS IN SMEDLEY'S CHEVROLET'S - VANDALIA, OHIO - LOT.
DRIVERS DOOR MISADJUSTED CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE OF VEHICLE. NLM
HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH CAR - AT 20,000 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND MACHINED ROTORS, AFTER I REQUESTED THEY BE CHECKED DUE TO SQUEAKING. SERVICE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 30,000 - THE BATTERY FAILED ON CAR WHILE PARKED. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED BATTERY. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CELL. SERVICE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 40,000 MILES, HORN HAS FAILED. CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH DEALER TO REPLACE WITHOUT COST. HAVE ALWAYS HAD ABS PROBLEMS - CAR WILL BUCK AND JERK UNDER CERTAIN WET PAVEMENT CONDITIONS WHEN ABS SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE. CONCERNED ABOUT THIS - BUT CANNOT AFFORD COST OF REPLACING ABS. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT BRAKES AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT ABS PROBLEMS. HAVE BANGING/CLANGING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR OF CAR WHEN CAR IS COLD. UNSURE WHAT CAUSES THIS. AFTER READING THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND DEFECTS ON THIS WEBSITE, BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS THESE SAME DEFECTS. FRIGHTENED THAT MY CAR IS NOW INCREDIBLY UNRELIABLE AND MAY CATCH FIRE LIKE OTHER CARS LISTED. SUGGESTIONS?
CAR STUTTERS, THEN POWERS DOWN TO 10-15 MPH, THEN ETS & ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS COME ON. REPEATED TRIPS TO MECHANIC AND DEALER SHOW NOTHING WRONG. LATEST WAS CLOGGED FUEL FILTER. DLR CHGE'D. PROBLEM REPEATED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PICK UP FROM DLR. WILL DRIVE NORMAL W/ LIGHTS ON. HAS HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS ASSOC. W/ A CRASH AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT OF LIGHTS ON FAILURE.
VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHTS. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHTS THREE TIMES. THE HEADLIGHTS FILL UP WITH WATER, MAKING T IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. *AK
ALSO HAD TO HAVE DRIVER'S DOOR REALIGNED, SIDE MIRROR REALIGNED, SEAT BELTS REPLACED, SEAT BELT COVERS REPLACED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED, AND THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED. ALSO, THIS CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH BUT, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALER TWICE FOR A WATER LEAK. THEY DID NOTHING. WE GAVE UP AND ABOUT 38000 MILE LATER, WE HAD A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
I WAS IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME AT A SAFE DISTANCE (THE OTHER DRIVE WILL CERTIFY THIS). THAT VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY, AND I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO STOP AS WELL. MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN INADEQUATELY AND I REAR-ENDED THE OTHER VEHICLE. I ESTIMATE MY SPEED BEFORE I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO BE BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MPH, AND THAT I HAD BETWEEN 30 AND 40 FEET BETWEEN ME AND THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I WOULD HAVE NORMALLY EXPECT NOT TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS STOPPING UNDER THESE CURCUMSTANCES. AS I TRY TO REMEMBER THE INCIDENT, I REMEMBER THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING VERY HARD -- I WAS CONSCIOUSLY PUSHING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. I HAVE PRACTICED EMERGENCY STOPPING AND EVASIVE LANE CHANGE MANEUVERS ON EVERY CAR I HAVE OWNED. THIS CAR DOES HAVE ABS, BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT THE ABS FAILED TO WORK CORRECTLY, AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
RACK AND PINION AND STEERING WENT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
ABS SYSTEM IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED BACK WHEELS LOCK UP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STEERING SLIPS, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE EVO SENSOR. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V146000 AND CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE GIVEN. REPAIRS FOR AIRBAG WAS DONE. WAS DRIVING 45MPH & KEEPING TIME TO MUSIC BY HITTING STEERING WHEEL, WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE WENT RIGHT & THEN LEFT & HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD ARM & KNEE INJURIES. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT. VEHICLE IN STORAGE FOR 3 MONTHS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. ALSO, WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL IS SOFT AND HARD. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR WITHIN THE BRAKE. *AK
POWER STEERING SEIZED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION, DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND STOPPED JUST SHORT OF HITTING A TREE. *SLC
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. BUT VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. *AK
THE ENGINE STALLS AT ODD TIMES MAKING THE VEHICLE, WHICH HAS POWER ASSISTED BRAKES AND STEERING, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DASH RATTLES CONSTANTLY. THE DASH WAS REPLACED IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE STALLING PROBLEM BUT IT ALSO RATTLES CONSTANTLY. MY WIFE AND I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DISPLAYED BLATANT DISREGARD FOR OUR PROBLEM BY SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ABIDE BY THEIR 3 YEAR/ 36000 MILE WARRANTY( WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE NOT DOING, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED). THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS!
POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS EXPERIENCING FAILURE. THE INSIDE LOCK MECHANISM ON REAR DOOR WENT OUT .THE RIGHT REAR ACTUATOR WENT OUT.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YC
ENGINE DIES UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNABLE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. MJS
COMPLETE FAILURE IN CONTROL MODULE - ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS ON DASH ON & ENGINE RACES IN IDLE AS WELL AS PARK - ACCELERATION WITHOUT USING ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANMISSION FAILED AND VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND SQUEAKED. BRAKE ROTORS AND MOTOR MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. ALSO, FUEL PUMP IS GOING OUT . *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP LIGHT, AND WHEN COASTING WHILE MAKING A TURN WITH AIR CONDITIONING OFF, VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED TO LATCH IN PLACE; CAUSING SEAT TO FREELY MOVE;SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A EMERGENCY / SUDDENLY, THE PEDAL IS RIGID AND DOES NOT DEPRESS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP ON WET PAVEMENT / RAIN / SNOWY WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *YC
DRIVER SEAT LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK THE DRIVER SEAT IN PLACE IN CERTAIN POSITION. THIS MAY CAUSE THE OCCUPANT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WHEN TURNED OFF STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW THE DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SHAKES. DEALER REPLACED THE MIRROR WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
HANDLE ON CHILD SEAT SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT, CAUSING FAILURE WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN POSSIBLE INJURY. *YC
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES, AT LOW SPEEDS, PRECISELY AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECENT RECALL OF GM TRUCKS AND SUVS. THE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. IT CAN OCCUR AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, AND DESPITE VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. IT IS MOST COMMON ON HILLS, BUT ALSO OCCURS ON FLAT SURFACES. IT OCCURS ON DRY AS WELL AS WET SURFACES, ALTHOUGH IT IS MORE COMMON ON WET SURFACES. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS RESURVACED AND THE REAR SHOES ADJUSTED (AT A COST TO US OF $200.00) THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. WE ARE CERTAIN THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE TRUCKS AND SUVS AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE CAVALIER.
ABS STARTS RAPID ACTION AT SLIGHTEST BUMP ON ROAD (EVEN SLIGHTLY RAISED PAINTED INTERSECTION ROAD LINES) CAUSING GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND ALMOST RESULTING IN REAR END COLLISIONS
ON JULY 5TH OF THIS YEAR MY CAR STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOSE WHEN STARTING IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER SO THAT THE AND LET THEM LISTEN TO THE NOISE AND NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM AS TO WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THE SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE EITHER THE FLYWHEEL OR THE STARTER, I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO MY MENACHIC AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING, I WAS GOING TO TAKE THE CAR TO HIM AS SOME AS I COULD BE WITHOUT MY CAR AND HE TOLD ME NOT TO START THE CAR ANY MORE THAT NECESSARY. BEFORE I COULD FIND TIME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS COMPLEATELY FAILED AND I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED PROBLEMS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS 46,000 MILES THE MAJORITY OF THOSE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES WHICH DOSE NOT REQUIRE MUCH STARTING OF THE CAR. I THINK THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN MY CARS STARTED SYSTEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NOT OF OCCURED TO A CAR THIS NEW. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR IT WAS MAINLY FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE CAVALIER AS A RELIBALE CAR THAT WOULD LAST ME FOR MANY YEARS.
CAR LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WHEN A/C CHANGED TO VENT RECRANKED EASILY.
MY HORN SUDDENLY WENT OFF AND STUCK FOR NO REASON WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR (BEFORE I EVEN STARTED IT). I HAD SOMEONE DISCONNECT THE WIRING FOR THE HORN AND THAT PERSON TOLD ME HE COULD SMELL SOMETHING COMING FROM THE AIR BAG. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HORN. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE AND WHAT I CAN DO SO THIS CAN BE FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE MUCH MONEY AS I JUST BECAME LAID OFF SO I CAN USE ANY KIND OF HELP. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP!
WHEN SERPINTINE BELT GETS WET WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLE, VEHICLE STALLS FOR A MOMENT AND EXPERIENCES LOSS OF CONTROL. NLM
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THERE IS SOME GRINDING AND KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, AND NEEDED TO BE TURNED EVERY 20,000 MILES, RESULTING IN DECREASED BRAKING PERFORMANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL, DUE TO THROTTLE STICKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND INJURIES. *YC
MY 1997 CAVALIER HAS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND, BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT MAKES ME STUCK AND, THAT IS WHY I AM CONTACTING YOU ! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCK UPS. AT LOWER SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY DIFFICULT WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS BEING CORRECTED. *AK
BUTTON ON SHIFT INDICATOR IS VERY EASY TO DEPRESS, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL ACCIDENTLY. OTHER TIME , GEAR SHIFTED FROM DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO REVERSE. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNLESS DRIVER DOOR IS OPEN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
REAR WINDOW BLEW OUT AND EXPLODED; CAUSING GLASS TO SHATTER. DEALER NOTIFED AND REFUSED TO REPLACE WINDOW UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING VIBRATION- DEALER REPAIRD, ROTORS WARPED AGAIN, DEALER WANTS $98 TO TURN DOWN ROTORS AGAIN- CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.
VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT 25 MPH AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THIS IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFCIAL INVESTIGATION. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH AND HIT A LARGE FENCE AND CEMENT STRUCTURE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND SUSTAIN FRONTAL IMPACT DAMAGES. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY HESITATING/STALLING, REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURE REGULATOR DID NOT RECTIFY ENGINE STALLING. MJS
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 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier → · Every Cavalier year → · How the figures are calculated →