1998 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2002, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING AROUND 11:15 AM. THE CAR DID NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT. THE CAR DOOR WAS OPENED AROUND 2:00 PM AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT ALL OVER FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THERE WAS A FIRE FLAME ON THE DASH-BOARD FROM THE HOLE INSIDE THE STEERING. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AS IT RECEIVED OXYGEN FROM THE WIND BLOWING. IMMEDIATELY 911 WAS CALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME DOWN WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND BLEW OUT THE FIRE. A POLICE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ALSO WE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER THE FIRE. FINALLY GM ACCEPTED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE AFTER 14 BUSINESS DAYS. GM REIMBURSED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY ALL THE EXPENSES INCURRED. DT

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED SHOOTING GLASS UP AND OUT OF THE DOOR FRAME. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. GLASS WAS BLOWN INTO THE PASSENGER,S LAP, THE BACK OF THE CAR AND OUTSIDE. MR

1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767771

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE, THE FUSE WOULD SHORT OUT, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING PROBLEM. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING SEATBELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT WILL LIGHT UP INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING SEATBELT AND AIR BAG LIGHT WILL LIGHT UP INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, HIT THE ACCELERATOR TO PULL OFF AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF, CONSUMER HAD NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. HAD TO HIT A CURB TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO START POSITION. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE INTERNAL SWITCH HAD MELTED.*JB

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE, WHICH COMES FROM RACK AND PINION. IF RACK AND PINION BREAKS THEIR WILL BE NO STEERING.*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK, NO POWER TO STARTER. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. THERE IS A RECALL 02V070000 REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR PREVIOUS MODELS, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. *TT

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, EGR VALVE WAS REPLACED IN JUNE 2000, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*JB

FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, FRONT RIGHT TWICE. TAKEN TO DEALER DUE TO A LOUD HUMMING SOUND WHEN DRIVING, BEARINGS WERE WORN OUT.*AK

UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE TWO WEEKS LATER THE HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES THE DASH, IT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS. TOOK TO THE DEALER. NLM

I HEARD BEFORE I PURCHASED MY 1998 CAVALIER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH LEAKY HEAD GASKETS, ALTHOUGH I ALSO HEARD THAT THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REMEDIED THE PROBLEM BEFORE RELEASING THE CARS TO THE MARKET. HOWEVER, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL THERE WASN'T ANY CHANGES MADE SINCE I NOW HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHICH WAS APPARENT ABOUT 2 YEARS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND I AM NOW STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT WILL DEFINETLY NOT LAST LONGER THAN MY PRIOR CAR, A TOYOTA. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVROLET.*AK

OJ REAR BACK DOOR CAME OPENED AND THE LOCK WAS ON AT THE TIME. THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE, REPLACE RT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY. RUSTED/CORRODED LUBRICATED TO FREE UP, NEEDS REPLACEMENT, REMOVE AND REPLACE RT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSY.

MY CAR STATRED TO RUN ROUGH ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING IT. TOWED IT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AT 42,008 ON OCT 29 2001.ON FEB.14 2002 THEY SAME PRBLEM OCCURED AT 48,000 MILES.IGNITION COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.THERE HAS TO BE A PRBLEM SOMEWHERE AS I WAS TOLD THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE COIL ONLY ONCE IN A CARS LIFE AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONLY 6,000 MILES!COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.*AK

HEADLIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, AND DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS HAS CORRODED, AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

WATER PUMP FAILED ON VEHICLE. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 3.5 YEARS AND UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THIS CAR COULDN'T LAST 5 YEARS WITHOUT PROBLEMS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS SO SOON, I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS CAR AND EXPECTED TO RECEIVE A QUALITY VEHICLE. NOW I'M WONDERING WHAT NEXT, IS MY ENGINE GOING TO FAIL. HOW COULD THE WATER PUMP GO OUT SO SOON ON THIS VEHICLE. AND HOW MANY OTHER BUYERS HAVE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HAVE THERE BEEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLES, IT SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS, UNFORTURNATELY WE THE CONSUMERS, ARE NOW FINDING THIS OUT.*AK

CAR WAS STOPPED ABOUT 2 FEET FROM WALL. FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE ALLOWING CAR TO ROLL FORWARD, CAUSING IT TO BUMP WALL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BUSTED WINDSHIELD. PARTS/SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL GENERAL MOTORS DEALER REMOVED BUMPER AND INSPECTED, AND HE SAW NO REASON WHY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO, THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND BUSTED WINDSHIELD. HE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND REPORTED THIS. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO SEND AN INSPECTOR. *AK

LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS ONLY DUE TO LUCK. I CONTACTED GM REGARDING THIS, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I DIDN'T BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR "MAINTENANCE" (I DO ALL MY OWN OIL AND EASY FILTER CHANGES), I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANYTHING TO HELP DEFRAY THE $700 COST OF THE ABS MODULATOR THAT FAILED, PREMATURELY, AT ONLY 64,000 MILES. IT IS LUDICROUS THAT THEY CAN TIE OIL CHANGES TO FAILURE OF A KEY BRAKE COMPONENT, AND REWARD REPEAT GM CUSTOMERS IN THIS MANNER. WHILE I AM AWAITING THE REGIONAL PERSON'S FINAL SAY ON THIS, IT DOESN'T SEEM PROMISING, JUDGING BY THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THEY'RE "CUSTOMER CARE" HOTLINE. (NOW THERE'S AN OXYMORON IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE!!). *AK

ABS FAIL TO WORK AT HIGH OR VERY LOW SPEEDS. ROTORS REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEARS. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE LAST TIME I HAD THE ROTORS FIXED THEY PUT A HOLE IN MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID CONTAINER AND WANT OVER $100 TO REPLACE IT. STARTER REFUSES TO TURN OVER OCASIONALLY, DEALER COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A RECALL VERY SOON ON THE BRAKES SOON, I'M LUCKY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS THE SAME CAR HAS HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. THEY HAD TO ISSUE A RECALL ON A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM THEY HAD ON THEIR TRUCKS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AND WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. *AK

WHEN I DEPRESS MY BRAKES AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT AWHILE, THEY LOCK UP SLAMMING THE CAR TO A STOP. WHEN IT GETS ICY OUT MY TIRES WILL LOCK UP AND I WILL GO INTO A SKID.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED IT WOULD STALL OUT. RPMS WOULD REV UP FROM ZERO, AND VEHICLE STALLED. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER FIRST TIME, AND MECHANIC CHANGED SPARK PLUGS. PROBLEM REOCCURRED TWICE SINCE THEN, 2 MONTHS LATER. *AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD MAJOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE, DUE TO THEM BEING WARPED, AT TIMES CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS, DEALER STATES THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*JB

VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED WHILE GOING DOWN HILL. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT SEALS GASKETS BLEWOUT A VALVE IN ENGINE CYLINDER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

APPROXIAMATELY 2 MONTHS INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEMS STARTED. FIRST THE SEAT BELT COVERS SNAPPED OFF, I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING STABILIZERS REPLACED 3 TIMES ALREADY, THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH IS RARELY USED FAILED AT ABOUT 55-60,000 MILES, THE BATTERY BUSTED AND LEAKED ON THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE UNDER HOOD, THE JACK WAS WARPED, THE GAS GUAGE READS INCORRECTLY, THE SUNROOF STOPPED WORKING AFTER 30000 MILES, DASH RATTLES, GLOVE BOX WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, PASS SEAT GETS STUCK WHEN YOU MOVE IT FORWARD, THE GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK AND YOU HAVE TO APPLY MORE FORCE THAN USUAL TO GET IT MOVING, DRIVERS DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, MORE AIR THAN NORMAL COMES INTO VEHICLE, THERMOSTAT FAILED AT 30000 MILES, INSTALLED SIDEWINDER 6500 CAR ALARM WHICH FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THE BATTERY BUSTED, PLUS NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS NOT MENTIONED HERE.*AK

PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET,APPARENTLY WINDOW WAS BOUND UP. SPACERS MISSING ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. FORTUNATELY MY MOTHER WAS NOT INJURED, BUT COVERED IN GLASS. HAVE TAKEN IN TWICE NOW FOR THE DRIVER WINDOW WHICH KEEPS BECOMING LOOSE OR LOSING SPACERS THAT KEEP IT IN PLACE.*AK

THIS IS THE THIRD CAVALIER I HAVE OWNED, AND THE LAST. THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT CAR, GUESS I WAS WRONG. THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE BRAKES 3 TIMES (THEY WEAR FUNNY), THE SEAT BROKE AND I FELL INTO MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. AND CHEVROLET HAS ONCE AGAIN STOOD BY THEIR WORD, I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, SO THEY WILL DO NOTHING. WHAT A COMPANY.

3 MINORS INJURED. CAR TOTALED. BRAKES APPLIED, BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT EMBANKMENT.*AK

DEALER REPLACED AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH PLATE BECAUSE IT WAS WARPED. WE HARDLY EVER USE THE AIR CONDITIONER AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 27,012 MILES ON IT. WHEN IT WAS FINALLY FIXED W WERE PAST THE 36 MONTHS FOR THE WARRANTY BY 4 MONTHS AND THE CAR STILL ONLY HAD 30,437 MILES ON IT. HOW CONVENIENT FOR GM.*AK

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HAS BROKEN AT THE FEMALE END - THE MOUNTING THAT HOLDS THE BELT IN PLACE HAS BROKEN OFF, LEAVING ONLY A METAL COMPONENT FOR THE BELT TO FIT THROUGH. IT IS NO LONGER FIXED, NOR ADJUSTABLE. THIS IS A PRETTY STRONG PIECE AND THEREFORE FAULTY IN THIS VEHICLE, AS IT IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD.*AK

EVER SINCE WE'VE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THERE'S BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IT WILL STALL OUT AND SHUT OFF. IN FEB OF 2000 THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GAS GAUGE FLUCUATES. IT WILL SHOW 1/4 TANK OF GAS LEFT AND TEN MINUTES LATER THE CHECK GAS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGE DROPS. SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WENT BAD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WON'T SHUT ANY MORE, THE LATCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S LIKE EVERY 3 OT 4 MONTHS SOMETHING WITHER MINOR OR SIGNIFICANT GOES WRONG WITH IT AND PERSOANLLY I AM SICK OF IT. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS A LEMON AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.*AK

THE RADIO HAS FAILED 3 TIMES. NLM

HORN BECOMES INOPERABLE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN OR RIGHT TURN.*AK

RACK & PINION STEERING FAILED FOR THE 4TH TIME, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. WOULD HEAR NOISES COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHENEVER TURNING. HAD REPORTED PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY. IMAGE #855501. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE WIRING ON MY 1998 CAVLIER WORE THRUGH AND SHORTED OUT IGNITION AND OTHER ACCESSORIES. I PAID DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS THE SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER'S 1998 CAVALIER AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE THE DEALER SHE IS TALKING TO SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE CLIP THAT RETAINS THE WIRING HARNESS AND THEY STATE THE DEFECT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO TALK BECAUSE SHE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY CHEVROLET SUPPORTS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH IF IN ONE FAMILY THE SAME DEFECT DEVELOPS AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE, ON THE MAKE, AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. OTHERS MUST BE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

CAR IS A COMPLETE LEMON MADE WITH POOR QUALITY. IT IS UNREALIBLE AND A CONSTANT HEADACHE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYINGE BRAKES. PROBLEM IS DUE TO AN ABS MODULATOR FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL, AND WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHCILE MAKE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL DUE TO STEERING GEAR FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER REPAIR WITH REMANUFACTURED PARTS FOR THE CLICKING NOISE. *YH

AIR BAG STAYS ON, 3 MODULES REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. HORN WOULD NOT WORK WITH STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT, REPLACED CANCELLING CAM. OK. CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT, REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX, OK. A/C RUMBLES AT IDLE WHEN HOT, REPLACED BELT AND TENSIONER, PROBLEM STILL PRESENT BUT NOT AS LOUD. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, REPLACED ALARM MODULE, OK.

I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET CAVALER, THE DEALERSHIP EVEN RIPPED ME OFF, THEY CHARGED ME 400 DOLLARS TO FIX A WATER HOSE PUMP AND TENSION BELT, THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, AND NOW 5 MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE IS ACTING UP AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHY CHEVROLET WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE MASSIVE MAINTENANCE TO THIS CAR...BUT IN THE FUTURE, I AM BUYING FROM A FOREIGN COMPANY DUE TO ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE. AND ON TOP OF ALL OF THE OTHER GARBAGE, THIS WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A LOW MAINTENANCE CAR, AND THAT IS NOT EVEN TRUE! I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERYONE ELSE, THAT THIS CAR IS THE WORSE CAR THAT WAS MADE IN 1998. IT TOOK ME THREE DIFFERENT TIMES OF BRINGING MY CAR TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FIX THE RECALL THE FIRST TIME. I CLAIM DISCRIMINATION WHEN IT COMES TO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS

PLEASE PROVIDE EXPLANATION FOR SAFETY DEFECTS REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, ATTACHMENTS FOR REPAIR WORK PERFORMED FOR THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT OR COMPONENT (S) LISTED. *AK

ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN BADLY, WAS BEGINNING TO DIE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE FOOT ON BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL TO ENSURE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STALL OUT. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO SHAVER CHEVROLET DEALER 3 TIMES, BUT CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. CONSUMER STATED DEALER COULD NOT FIX DEFECT, AND WAS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK

EVERYTIME IT RAINS THE CONVERTABLE TOP LEAKS AT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE IT DRIPS INTO THE SEATS I HAVE HAD THE SEAL REPLACED, IT STILL LEAKS. THE CHEVY DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO. *AK

POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED CAUSING A WHINNING NOISE TO COME FROM THE ENGINE, A NEW IDLER AND NEW BELT WERE ALSO INSTALLED. NLM

BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECT. BUT, AFTER 3 DAYS CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO INOPERATIVE BRAKES.*AK *SLC

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SHAKING IN THE FRONT WHEN BRAKING, DEALER TURNED ROTORS AND FOUND THAT 60% OF BRAKE PADS WERE LEFT, CONSUMER IS WORRIED THAT THIS HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. *SLC

BOTH TURN SIGNALS AND HORN DO NOT WORK, BOTH ARE INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER FIVE TIEMS. DEALER HAS MADE CHANGES TO STEERING COLUMN. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK