1997 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR LOCK (KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM) LOCKED UP AND SHORTED RESULTING IN FIRE. NM

STEERING GEAR NEEDS REPLACED. VEHECILE HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOUR TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY. PROBLEM NEVER FIXED. DEALER THAT WORKED ON CAR C&O MOTORS LOCATED AT 202 5TH STREET ST ALBANS WV.25177 304-727-2921. GENERAL MOTORS REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY.

LEFT TIRE BONE BROKE IN TWO WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH. NO PREVIOUS INCIDENT CAUSED EXCESS STRESS IN CAR STRUCTURE. CONTROL OF THE CAR WAS LOST, BUT BROUGHT TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF STREET. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. THEY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR IN PAR. HOWEVER, TIRES HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER 3 WEEKS BEFORE. NO FISURES REPORTED THEN. OWNER FEELS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A HIGHWAY. I ALSO FEEL MAD AT THE UNRESPONSIVENESS OF MANUFACTURER, WHO APPARENTLY REGARDS THIS PART AS DISPOSABLE ALONG WITH THE SECURITY AND THE LIVES OF ITS CUSTOMERS. *AK

AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR, YOU MUST FIRST SHIFT TRANSMISSION THROUGH 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS, THIS CAN TAKE UP TO 15 SECONDS, WHICH CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

CONSUMER WAS AT STOP WHEN HE WAS REAR ENDED WITH GREAT FORCE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD, HITTING VEHICLE IN FRONT . DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ACCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, ,HOOD WAS PUSHED BACK INTO THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE RECALL CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE AIRBAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR, CONSUMER HAS TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE/CLUTCH AND GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT PROPERLY INTO ANOTHER GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP SEVEN TIMES, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NOVEMBER 13, 1998 CAR WOULD NOT START IN MORNING. CALLED FOR SERVICE, ABLE TO GET CAR STARTED BEFORE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. TOOK CAR IN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, CHARGED $70 AND SENT HOME. FEBRUARY 1999, IGNITION FAILED TWO MORNINGS IN A ROW, AGAIN PROBLEM CLEARED UP BEFORE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. DEALER UNABLE TO GIVE ANY FURTHER EXPLANATION. FEBRUARY, 1999 HORN CEASED FUNCTIONING, CHECKED FUSES ALL SEEM OK. SCHEDULED TO TAKE CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN EARLY APRIL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN CRUISE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP. APPLYING THE BRAKES DOES NOT HELP. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THIS REASON. *AK

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND INJURY TO CONSUMER'S FACE,NECK AND BACK.

ON MAY 29 1998 MY CARS ETS/ ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE CYLINDER MISFIRING, AND THEY TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS I WAS BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THE CALLED THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANT FOR HELP, AND THEY DID THIS ANOTHER TIME AS THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I THEN MOVE TO FT. POLK LA. AS I AM IN THE MILITARY. ON 1 JAN 9, THE SAME PROBLEM STARTED UP AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY DID THE SAME THING THE OTHER SHOP DID. I HAVE HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES THAT THEY HAVE WORKED ON IT, REPLACING THE CYLINDER CAP/FUEL INJECTOR AND COIL HOUSING. AND THEY TALKED TO THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANTCE PERSONNEL AT CHEVROLET. THE LAST TIME I HAD MY CAR IN THE SHOP WAS 29JAN 99, AND THEY HOOKED A COMPUTER UP TO IT. DROVE IT FOR A WEEK TO TRY TO CREAT THE PROBLEM SO THEY COULD TAKE A PICTURE OF THE SYSTEM. BUT THE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON. SO THEY GAVE ME BACK MY CAR WITH THE PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED, AND THE CHEVROLET CORP. WON'T DO ANY THING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS ARE OUT OF SUGGESTIONS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE CHEVROLET CORP, AND FEEL THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT MY PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND CAN'T , AND THEY WON'T REPLACE THE CAR. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. NLM

BATTERY DIED. YH

SWAY BAR BUSHING OUT OF ORDER. YH

BATTERY DEAD. YH

RECALL REPAIRS ON REAR SUSPENSION TAILING ARM NOT PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

THERE IS A CONSTANT, LOUD TICKING SOUND THAT CAN BE HEARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE BAD LIFTERS. AS TIME GOES ON, IT IS GETTING WORSE.

WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55MPH THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH, BLOWING THE BRAKES, AND CAUSING SPARKS TO FLY FROM TIRES. TO STOP, CONSUMER WAS ON AN INCLINE THAT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, AND CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

RECALL WORK ON THE (REAR SUSPENSION-TRAILING ARM BOLTS) #98V319000, CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN AND PULLING TO THE LEFT. LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THIS FAILURE IS THE THIRD ONE EXPERIENCED. THE FIRST TWO WERE REPORTED TO MAC HAIK SERVICE CENTER AND SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE REAR DRUMS. I AM CURRENTLY FILING A COMPLAINT AGAINST CHEVROLET BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS REAR BRAKE LOCKUP HAS OCCURED

VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY 92 ASTRO VAN, EST SPEED 30-40 MPH. AT TIME OF COLLISION, OUR VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE OTHER DRIVER DIDN'T APPLY THEIR BRAKES AT ANYTIME BEFORE OR AFTER COLLISION. RESULTING IN VEHICLE BEING TOTALLED WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR OVER $6300. OUR AIRBAGS WERE REPLACED DUE TO RECALL BY JET CHEV LAST SPRING/SUMMER. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN CANADA, ON 23 NOV 98, RECALL 98V146000. A WEEK AFTER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAG DEPLOYED, OBSCURING VISION. DID NOT HIT VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER. WAS REFUSED REPAIRS DUE TO MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. DEALER SENDING COMPUTER PART TO CANADA TO BE ANALYZED SINCE VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED IN THE BEGINNING IN CANADA & THEN IN USA. *AK

ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. WHEN TRYING TO STOP BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. APPLIED A LITTLE PRESSURE OR SLOWLY STEPPED ON THE PEDAL TO STOP. SOUNDS OF PUFFS OF AIR AND METAL CLACKING TOGETHER OCCURRED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKES AND NO OTHER PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND GETTING WORSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PRESSURE OF APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STALL AND THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL MODULE WHICH HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. LATEST REPAIR ATTEMPT WAS FOR A SHORT IN THE PCM IGNITION CIRCUIT, WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

I PEVIOUSLY CALLED THIS IN BUT JUST RECEIVED IT THRU THE MAIL AND IT WAS NOT CORRECT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 7 MINUTES, IT WAS VERY LOW ON GAS I HAVE NEVER LET IT GET THAT LOW BEFORE, THE ROAD CURVED THEN CAME TO A STOP SIGN WHEN I DID STOP THE LIGHT THAT SAID "CHECK GAGES" CAME ON, I LOOKED THE ONLY GAGE THAT WAS LOW WAS THE GAS I HAD TO DRIVE ABOUT 2-4 MORE MINUTES TO THE GAS STATION. I PULLED IT STOPPED, TURNED OFF CAR, GOT OUT MY CREDIT CARD "TEXACO" PUT IT IN THE SLOT, WAITED FOR IT TO APPROVE, PULLED OUT PUMP, PRESSED BUTTON, UNCAPPED MY GAS TANK, PUT IN PUMP AND PRESSED THE HANDLE SO IT WOULD PUMP AUTOMATICALLY, WENT TO DRIVERS SIDE OF CAR PUT MY CREDIT CARD BACK IN MY PURSE, CAME BACK AROUND TO PUMP AND STARTED TO HOLD THE HANDLE DOWN SO IT WOULD PUMP FASTER, ALL THE SUDDEN FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK, I YANKED OUT PUMPED AND MOVED AWAY. THE EMPLOYEES AT THE STATION CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THE POLICE SHOWED UP BUT DID NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS EXCEPT WAS THAT MY CAR AND WAS I ALRIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND LOOKED AROUND I GUESS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, THEY DID MAKE A REMARK ABOUT POSSIBLY THE GAS TANK WAS NOT GROUNDED, WHICH COULD OF CAUSED IT TO GET VERY HOT BECAUSE IT WAS LOW ON GAS. BUT AGAIN THEY DID NOT HAVE A FORENSIC MECHANIC WITH THEM TO LOOK OVER THE CAR, SO THAT WAS MORE OR LESS A "GUESS" ON THEIR PART. I THEN FINALLY GOT A HOLD OF A TOW TRUCK SO THAT THEY COULD TO

IN NORMAL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION OF LUG NUTS USING TOOLS SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE, I PERSONALLY HAVE BROKEN 6 OF THE LUG BOLTS OFF. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, NOT ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS BEEN PUT ON OR REMOVED WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THATS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD HAVE BEEN STRESSED LIKE THIS. I WAS NOT, ON ANY OF THE 6 LUGS, PLACING UNDUE PRESSURE NOR WAS I USING "CHEATERS" OR ANY SUCH THING. IN THE NORMAL WAY YOU WOULD REMOVE A TIRE WHEN ROTATING OR CHANGING TO THE SPAIR THEY BROKE. THIS HAS HAPPEND ON 3 SEPERATE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE: 3 LUGS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT, 2 DRIVERS SIDE REAR AND 1 PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE LUG BOLTS.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUCKS AT ONE POINT AS IF IT LACKS GAS AND IT ALSO STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL TO REPLACED PCM. PCM REPLACED 4 TIMES HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TT

SPARK SPLUG FAILED CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING LOW ON GAS AND THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO GO THE GAS STATION. WHILE THE CONSUMER PUT THE PUMP INTO THE TANK, THERE WERE FUMES COMING FROM THE GAS TANK, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. *AK

WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE FUEL TANK, WHICH CAUSED INJURIES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER SAID NO FAULTY PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY WILL GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND HARDLY STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT/ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE MAKING A TURN AT A LOW SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND/DUPLICATED AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HEARS A SQUEAKY SOUND. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH NO WARNING OR WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE AFTER NUMEROUS SERVICE PROBLEMS. IE: FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP, FAILURE OF COIL AND HOUSING AS A RESULT OF OIL RESIDUE AND CRACKS AROUND THE CRANK SENSOR, FAILURE OF IAC MOTOR, TOTAL IGNITION FAILURE ON FOUR OCCASIONS. COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO PROBLEMS OUTLINED IN GM SERVICE BULLETIN. AUTOMOBILE HAD NOT REACHED RECOMMENDED MILEAGE FOR FIRST SCHEDULED TUNE-UP AS PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. CONTACT OF GMAC CUSTOMER SERVICE RESULTED IN NO ASSISTANCE IN THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

CONSUMER HAD HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AT 55MPH. HIT A DEER, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER'S SHOP FIVE TIMES FOR REPAIR PROBLEMS, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#98V146000) IN THE MAIL. CALLED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. PICKED UP VEHICLE 10/5/98. WAS DRIVING AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT AND REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. RECALL REMEDY FAILED. *AK

WHEN TURNED OFF, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP IN THE FIELD OF VISION, OBSCURING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER AND CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH CONSUMER SPUN VEHICLE, MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN DRIVER'S SEATBELT UNBUCKLED AND DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTOR WORE OUT, CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO DEALER REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS/IGNITION SWITCH. BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND RUBBING AGAINST AXLE SHAFT AND WAS FIXED. IN ADDITION, FRONT END SHAKES/VIBRATES.

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT THE PEDAL TRAVELS TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO A NOISE OCCURS IN THE DASH AREA CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE HORN IS INOPERABLE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUSE WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

OIL PUMP FAILED.

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. THIS CAUSED THE WIPERS TO STOP & OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE ETS LIGHT STAYS ON/CD PLAYER SHORTS OUT/DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS DO NOT RELEASE. BEEN TO DEALER 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK

VEHICLE WENT OVER SMALL POT HOLE CAUSING FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN CUT OVER CONSUMER'S EYE AND LOSS OF VISION, OTHER PASSENGER RECEIVED CUTS ON HANDS AND FACE.

DOOR HINGES ROCK BACK AND FORTH DON'T CATCH OR LOCK, DOOR HAS STRUCK CONSUMER SEVERAL TIMES, CAUSING INJURY. QCAW

VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONE INCIDENT DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG AND THE OTHER INCIDENT FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHICH DAMAGED VEHICLE.

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.