Page 4 of 7 · complaints 151–200 of 315

2000 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

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 2000 record →

Structure
Filed Sep 29, 2003AR

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD, AND THE DASHBOARD SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

Fuel System, Other
Filed Sep 26, 2003GA

ON 3 SEPERATE OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS NOW WHILE DRIVING JUST SHUT OFF W/ NO WARNING. WE HAVE REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND STILL IS DOING IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT COULD BE FUEL PUMP OR IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE CHEV COMPANY AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY ANY PART OF THE REPAIR. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL OR TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET HURT.MY CAR NOW SITS IN MY YARD UNABLE TO DRIVE AND WANT SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE SITUATION OR I WILL HAVE TO GO TO A LAWYER.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 15, 200326,311 milesWA

ON THE DATE MENTIONED BELOW, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO 3RD GEER. THE RPM'S WOULDN'T GO OVER 3 AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MPH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AT ALL. WE TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND THEY WANTED $400 JUST TO DROP THE PAN AND LOOK AT THE CAR. SINCE MY DAUGHTER NEEDED THE VEHICLE FOR WORK, I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE COMPANY IN THE LOCAL AREA (THEY ALSO SERVICE MY COMPANY TRUCKS) AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT, 3RD AND 4TH GEER WERE GONE. THEY AGREED TO WORK WITH ME ON THE PAYMENTS SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE $1300 TO COVER A USED TRANSMISSION AND THE LABOR. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN AUG 2002 WITH ONLY 16K MILES, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IT HAD ONLY 27K. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND CAN GET NO ASSISTANCE FROM CHEVY.... VERY UPSET AT THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION AT ASSISTING IN THE FINANCIAL AID.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 10, 2003MD

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *JB

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device
Filed Sep 9, 2003IN

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH STEERING LOCKED, AND VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 23, 2003MO

ON 8/21/03 I WAS INVOLED IN A ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAR ROLLED AND THE CAR INTIALLY HIT FRONT END FIRST AND NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Aug 22, 200379,734 milesCA

SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH ON. HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ON/OFF 4 TIMES OR THER WAS A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE THIS MIGHT BE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Aug 22, 2003TX

FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. INDEPENDENT DEALER IN THE LAST PAST TWO YEARS HAD REPLACED FOUR FUEL PUMPS.*AK

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Aug 6, 200335,500 milesAZ

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2000 CAVALIER HAS FAILED TO SHOW THE PROPER AMOUN OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANK. I HAVE HAD THE CAR RUN OUT OF FUEL WHILE THE GAUGE SHOWS 1/2 TANK REMAINING. ALSO, AFTER REFUELING I HAVE HAD THE GAUGE SHOW AN EMPTY TANK, OR THE NEEDLE WILL VARIE BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY WHILE I AM DRIVING.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 1, 2003PA

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ON AN ICY ROAD, AND HIT A GAURDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *SCC *JB

Service Brakes, Air
Filed Aug 1, 2003MN

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES FOR PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE FAILURE AND BRAKE RELATED PROBLEMS. IT RESULTS IN FAILURE OF BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE NEW MOTOR. THE DEFECT STILL EXIST STILL WAITING ON THE RESPONSE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. *MR *CB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 8, 2003GA

1ST CAR WOULD ACT LIKE IT WASN'T GETTING GAS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH THE MOTOR WAS TILL RUNNING AND IT HAD POWER . THEN IT STARTED JUST STALLING COMPLETELY (DYING) WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. NOW CAR WON'T CRANK AT ALL BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEM. WAS FOUND OUT THAT CAR HAD BEEN WRECKED BUT CARFAX REPORT REPORTED ONLY MINOR FRONT FENDER DAMAGE. *AK

Steering › Column
Filed Jul 7, 200339,000 milesOK

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE STEERING IS BEGINNING TO HAVE A DISTINCTIVE POPPING SOUND AND LOOSENING DEVELOP. I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND I AM TAKING IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO AVOID SERIOUS PROBLEMS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT GM COULD NOT DEVELOP A BETTER STEERING COLUMN THAN THIS. IT WOULD SEEM A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED ON GM FOR INSPECTIONS TO THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM (PART). I KNOW THAT THIS MAY SEEM TRIVIAL BUT I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP ($700 PLUS) OUT OF POCKET AT ABOUT 2000 MILES OVER MY WARRANTY. JUST SEEMS LIKE GM HAS YET TO UNDERSTAND QUALITY IN THE SMALL AUTOMOBILE. OR AT LEAST GIVING A LITTLE ON AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART. EXAMPLE: I OWNED A 87 3 SERIES BMW THAT I PUT 425,000 PLUS MILES ON AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A STEERING COLUMN. I DID REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AFTER AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 310,000 MILES. A FUEL PUMP AT 39,000 MILE AND A STEERING COLUMN AT 46,000 MILES. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jul 7, 200395,000 milesMI

THE TWO BACK DOORS ON MY 4 DOOR 2000 CAVALIER FLY OPEN. ONCE THE PLASTIC LATCH IS BROKEN, THE DOOR CANNOT BE LOCKED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN MARCH 2003 AND THE OTHER DOOR ON THE 4TH OF JULY, 2003. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 30, 200350 milesTX

STALLING, HESITATING, LOSS OF POWER, DECREASING OF HORSE POWER.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 26, 20039,775 milesMA

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. THE OLD FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED FUEL PUMP. *JB *CB *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jun 21, 2003CA

WHEN I PURCHASED MY USED 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER IN APRIL 2003 ABOUT 1 MONTH I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. AFTER PUTTING GAS IN MY CAR I WOULD DRIVE A LITTLE AND THEN THE GAS GAUGE WOULD GO DOWN TO APPEAR THAT THE CAR WAS ALMOST EMPTY BUT IT WASN'T. WHILE DRIVING ONE DAY THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF IT HAD GAS IN IT I HAD JUST PUT GAS IN IT BUT THE GAUGE DROPPED TO APPEAR TO BE ALMOST EMPTY. I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD MY FUEL INJECTION WENT OUT. NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER THAT MY CAR STALLED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY TEMPERATURE GAGE WENT IN THE HOT ZONE MY CAR WOULDN'T START I HAD TO GET IT TOWED AGAIN TO THE SHOP BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW HERE IT IS JUNE 2003 MY CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY RIGHT NOW AS I AM TYPING THIS INFORMATION. MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME AT 1:00 A.M. THIS MORNING FROM WORK WHEN THE CAR OVERHEATED AGAIN AND STARTED SMOKING. HE SAID SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING OUT OF THE BATTERY AND HE ALSO HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR TODAY IS SATURDAY AND MY CAR HAS TO SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY UNTIL MONDAY MORNING THAT WHEN THE DEALER OPENS. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR FOR DEALERS TO BE ABLE TO SALE CARS THAT ARE IN THIS KIND OF CONDITION AND THE CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE CERTIFIED. I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE CAR AND I AM HAVING ALL THESE PROBLEMS. IT IS DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AND THE CAR DECIDES TO CUT OFF ESPECIALLY AT 1:00 A.M. I HAVE TO BE AT WORK AT 3:45 A.M. AND MY SON GETS OFF WORK AT 1:00 A.M. THIS IS VERY,

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 20, 200342,156 milesMD

WE BOUGHT A USED CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM THE YEAR 2000 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (GM CERTIFIED) FOR 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. SINCE THE BEGINNING THERE WERE 4 PROBLEMS NOT YET FIXED. 1 - THERE IS A POPPING NOISE UNDER THE BACK OF THE CAR. DEALER (KOONS CHEVROLET - WITHE MARSCH, MD) SAID HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR FOR THE 3RD TIME, HE SAID THE BRAKES WERE DIRTY AND HE CLEANED THEM, BUT THIS NOISE IS STILL HERE, WHEN STARTING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR EXAMPLE, OR WHEN RIDING ON A ROUGH ROAD. 2 - THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT WHEN DRIVING. IT'S STOPPING WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT'S LINKED WITH THE BRAKES FOR SURE. THE PADS ARE NEW AND THE DEALER SAID THE ROTOR MAKES HIS NOISE, BUT HE REFUSED TO CHANGE IT (WHEREAS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY). HE SAID IT'S NOT UNSAFE. BUT THIS NOISE IS COMING LOUDER AND I FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. 3 - THE ABS LIGHT COME ON EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BRAKING. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALER CHANGED THE BULB. THE 2ND TIME PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVE) HE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR, BECAUSE MY CAR BROKE DOWN THE DAY BEFORE (NO MORE POWER AT ALL). HE SAID THE ALTERNATOR PUTTED A LOW VOLTAGE TO THE ABS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVE. AND I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED, AND THIS IS THE 5TH TIME I AM GOING TO THE DEALER. I THINK HE'S PLAYING WITH ME, SO THAT MY CAR WON'T BE UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE, AND I WOULD PAY TO CHANGE STUFFS IN THE FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 17, 2003NC

WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR STALLED THEN JUST CUT OFF. THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. 8JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 13, 200335,900 milesWV

I HAVE A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE FIRST PROBLEM I EXPERIENCED WAS IN OCT 2001,WHILE DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO THE MAXIMUM READING WITHOUT WARNING, I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. WAITED A WHILE STARTED BACK WENT APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MI AND SAME PROBLEM,AFTER STOPPING 3-4 TIMES I STARTED BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH TEMP GAUGE IN THE RED FOR A APPROX 1 MILE AND ALL GAUGES RETURNED TO NORMAL. CHEVROLET GARAGE COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM..MY SECOND PROBLEM I KEEP HEARING A CLANGING/RATTLING SOUND FROM THE FRONT AREA OF VEHICLE WHILE SITTING STILL IF YOU TURN STEERING WHEEL YOU CAN HEAR A THUMP FROM THE FRONT LEFT AREA WHERE STRUT IS LOCATED..MY THIRD PROBLEM IS MY CHECK ENGINE/SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AT VARIOUS TIMES. MY FOURTH PROBLEM I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES NOW DUE TO THEM WARPING,THE FIRST TIME I HAD LESS THEN 10,000 MILES....... *NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jun 12, 2003OH

CAR WOULD NOT START. SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED REPLACED. SUGGESTED GAS LEVEL NOT TO GO BELOW 1/4 TANK IN FUTURE. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Jun 2, 200350,000 milesCA

ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AN STAYED ON. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE ABS MODULE BEING DEFECTIVE AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Steering
Filed May 22, 2003MO

POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE 5/15/03 AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AGAIN. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE STEERING. THEY SAID THE STEERING SHAFT COLUMN DID NOT HAVE ANY GREASE LEFT AND THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. THE COST WAS $189.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. SO I HAD IT FIXED. THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. *NLM

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed May 18, 2003TX

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW WILL ONLY COME DOWN APPROX 5 INCHES, AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY UP, LEAVING APPROX AN 8 INCH OPENING. I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF I CAN'T ROLL UP THE WINDOW, THE CAR CAN BE EASILY STOLEN, VANDALIZED, OR BURGLARIZED. NOT TO MENTION MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ENTRAPPING ME INSIDE OF THE CAR IN CASE THE VEHICLE SUBMERGE INTO WATER. I HAVE LOOKED INTO GETTING THE PROBLEM FIXED, & THE QUOTES I GOT WERE 400-500$ FOR EACH WINDOW. MY WARRANTY HAS BEEN UP FOR A YEAR. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 5, 2003CA

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM

SeatsCrash1 injured
Filed May 1, 200337,000 milesIA

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVERS SEAT TO COLLAPSE AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE BACK SEAT. *NLM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 16, 2003FL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *JB

Steering
Filed Apr 10, 2003100 milesCA

STEERING- 2000 CAVALIER CHEVROLET. THERE IS A LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT. ALONG WITH THE POPPING, THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL DURING THE TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VIBRATION HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT AT 100 MILES. THE POPPING BEGAN SOON AFTER. THE VIBRATION WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER BEFORE 36,000 MILE AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED WITH. AFTER THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE POPPING BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AND WITH GREATER VOLUME AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. THE 96/98 CAVALIERS ARE RECALLED FOR STEERING CONCERNS THAT SOUND SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS MY 2000 IS HAVING, YET I HAVE BEEN TOLD MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 21, 200350,320 milesMA

HEAD GASKET BLEW AT ONLY 50320 MILES, ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ENTER THE ENGINE BLOCK AND FLOOD CYLINDER HEADS AND SPARK PLUGS, WARPING THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD TO BE REBUILT, IN ADDITION DUE TO LACK OF ANTIFREEZE, CAR OVERHEATED ALMOST TO THE POINT OF CATCHING FIRE, SEIZING THE ENGINE. THIS CAME WITH NO WARNING, AND NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE AS ANTIFREEZE LEAKED INTO ENGINE RATHER THAN ONTO GROUND. CAR BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT CAUSING A TRAFFIC OBSTACLE DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. *NLM

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Mar 6, 2003NC

GAS GAUGE HAS STARTED TO REGISTER MORE GAS THAN ACTUALLY IN TANK AND CHECK GAUGE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, CAUSING HIGHWAY BREAK DOWN WHILE GAUGE REGISTERING AMPLE SUPPLY OF GAS. FILLED TANK UP AGAIN THIS WEEK, HAVE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 160 MILES AND GAUGE STILL REGISTERING OVER 3/4 TANK FULL. MY CAR AVERAGES 30 MILES TO A GALLON. FOR 15 GALLON TANK GAUGE SHOULD BE REGISTERING UNDER QUARTER TANK WHEN FIVE GALLONS OF GAS CONSUMED.*JB

Structure
Filed Feb 28, 2003MA

WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE.*JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 17, 2003TX

VEHICLE STALLED UPON START OF ENGINE, THEN TURNED OFF SUDDENLY AFTER BEING ON. TRIED TO RESTART AND DID NOT TURN ON. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOP, THE NEXT MORNING TURNED ON WITH NO PROBLEM. STALLS UPON START UP OFTEN. AND TURNS OFF AFTER BEING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. CHEVY DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE ELECTRICAL, THEY WANT THE CAR TO BE TAKEN IN WHEN STALLING. IF ITS STALLING THE ONLY WAY TO BE TAKEN IN IS BY TOWING THE VEHICLE THERE. THEY'RE NOT EVEN SURE IF ITS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR NOT. ONE PERSON SAID IT WAS IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL BUT HER MANAGER SAID IT WASN'T.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 12, 200334,850 milesOH

THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO ABRUPTLY PULL OVER.*JB *TS

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Feb 8, 200341,000 milesAZ

BATTERY TERMINAL LEAKED, AND SINCE A LOT OF WIRING IS LOCATED UNDER THE BATTERY, THE ACID ATE THE WIRES THAT GO TO THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND RUNNING LIGHTS. MY HIGHBEAMS WORK, AND MY DRIVERS SIDE TURN SIGNAL WORK. WARRANTY WONT COVER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. WHY HAVE WIRING UNDER THE BATTERY?

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 6, 2003OR

WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 31, 200360,000 milesLA

TIMING CHAIN LOOSE/TENSIONER WEARING OUT. FIRST HAPPENED AROUND 60,000 MILES, AT THIS TIME THE CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND GEARS WERE CHANGED. WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK AND A HALF, THEN SLOWLY STARTED TO RATTLE AGAIN UNTIL THE NOISE WAS WORSE THAN BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. BROUGHT TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP, CAR STAYED THERE FOR 5 DAYS, SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, CHARGED ME $250 FOR DIAGNOSTIC LABOR AND TOLD ME IT WAS A NORMAL NOISE. THEN I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THE WOMAN I SPOKE TO WAS ALL READY TO HELP ME OUT UNTIL SHE SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP THEN CAME BACK ON THE LINE WITH ME AND JUST AGREED WITH WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT IT BEING A "NORMAL" NOISE. THEN BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALERSHIP, SERVICE MANAGER LISTENED AND SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT A NORMAL NOISE, AGREED IT WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING COVER AREA, CALLED BACK CUSTOMER SERVICE, SAID I'D HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSIS BEFORE THEY COULD EVEN TELL ME IF THEY WOULD ASSIST ME IN GETTING IT FIXED. I'M FINISHED WITH IT, I'VE SPENT OVER $1000 ON THIS CAR IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED, PLUS I'M OUT $250 FOR A DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. THIS DEALERSHIP WAS NOT THE ONE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM.....THE ORIGINAL DEALER MESSED UP MY ROTORS AT 10,000 MILES AND WERE VERY RUDE ABOUT IT SO I VOWED NEVER TO GO THERE AGAIN.....NOW I'VE BEEN BURNED BY TWO DEALERSHIPS...

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Jan 27, 200332,000 milesNY

NOV.7,2002 CAR WON'T START. DEC.11,2002 WON'T START. TOOK CAR TO POTAMKIN CHEVORLET DEC.19,2002. I WAS TOLD THERE'S WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE BATTERY. JAN.13,2003 CAR WON'T START. CAR WAS TOWED TO LIBERTY CHEVORLET. WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED BATTERY AND STARTER. ALSO TOLD IF PROPER TEST WAS DONE, POTAMKIN SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP THE PROBLEM. CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH CAR. CAR STOPS WHILE DRIVING. LIBERTY UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM. ALSO SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR,NEW, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF WHEN I BRAKE HARD OR GO OVER BUMPS IN ROAD. EITHER DEALER UNABLE TO FIND OUT WHY.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 200353,000 milesNC

MY CAR BEGUN CUTTING OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON OR ABOUT THIS DATE. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER ON 11/27/02 AND THEY CHANGED THE FUEL LINE. ON 12/02/02 IT WAS STILL CUTTING OF SO I TOOK IT BACK. THIS TIME THEY CHANGED THE WIRES, PLUGS, AND 02 SENSERS. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT IT IS NOW 01/25/03 AND MY CAR IS STILL CUTTING OFF. I HAVE BEEN TO THIS DEALERSHIP (SIR WALTER CHEVROLET - RALEIGH NC) SEVENTEEN TIMES. THEY HAVE CHANGED SEVERAL MAJOR PARTS.( CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, 2 CATYLIC CONVERTERS, MODULES, AND OTHER PARTS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NECESSARY TO GO TO THE A GMC MECHANIC 17 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM AT MY WITS END, THE NEXT PLACE I AM GOING IS TO THE NEWSPAPER AND A LAWYER.

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jan 24, 2003200 milesNC

CRACKS IN DASH BOARD PLASTIC. GAS GUAGE STOP WORKING, TRAC LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND MAKES THE CAR PULL SIDE TO SIDE IN THE SNOW AND RAIN. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RETURN ANY OF MY PHONE CALLS (MARINE CHEVROLET IN JACKSONVILLE NC), LIGHTS ON DASH BOARD GO ON AND OFF ON THIER OWN. GUAGES ON DASH WORK SOMETIMES THEN STOP WORKING.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2003TX

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHIC CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 13, 2003TX

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Switch/Wiring
Filed Jan 1, 200346,210 milesFL

MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS THE WIPERS WILL STICK OR JUMP AT THE TOP AND ON THE WAY BACK DOWN. WHEN I USE DELAY OR MIST ONLY. WHEN I HAVE IT ON 1 OR 2 SPEED THEY WORK JUST FINE.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 13, 2002PA

LIGHT COMES ON, ON DASH CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE.WHEN HE WAS ON VACATION,RADIATOR HOSE BUSTED. WHEN HE RETURNED HOME , HE WENT TO THE DEALER, AND WAS REIMBURSED SOME OF HIS MONEY BACK BY THE DEALER. ALSO, WAS TOLD BY DEALER WHEN DASH LIGHT INDICATOR THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH BATTERY. *AK

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed Nov 22, 2002OH

WHEN BRAKE APPLIED THEIRS A SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE ROTOR BEING OUT OF ROUND. CONSUMER HAD ROTOR REPLACED PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 18, 2002WI

SPEEDOMETER STAYS AT BETWEEN 15 AND 20 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION. WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 25 MPH, GAUGE SAYS SPEED IS 75MPH. OTHER TIMES, GAUGE STAYS AT 0 AND VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 15, 2002NY

CAR STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORAMATION. TS

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting
Filed Nov 13, 2002OH

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE MOTOR MOUNTING FELT OUT WICH CAUSED THE BRACKET TO SHIFT AND CAUSE A WHOLE ON THE OIL PAN WICH CAUSE THE OIL TO COME OUT OF THE OIL PAN. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TBUT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. MR

Fuel System, Other
Filed Nov 13, 2002RI

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY, ACCELERATED BEYOND DRIVER'S CONTROL, WITH BRAKES APPLIED DRIVER PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, GUIDED CAR OFF ROAD AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. MECHANIC WHERE CAR WAS TOWED EXPLAINED THAT THE AIR FILTER COVER HAD BROKEN AND A PIECE FROM AIR FILTER COVER WAS SUCKED INTO AIR DUCT TO THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THROTTLE TO BE STUCK OPEN. CAR IS BIFUEL CNG. IS THIS IS A FACTOR IN AIR FILTER COVER CRACKING? IS THERE PARTS TRACKING FOR REPLACEMENT OF AIR FILTER COVERS AND IS IT KNOWN HOW MANY OF THOSE WENT TO BIFUEL CARS. WHY IS AIR FILTER COVER CRACKING? OR IS THERE A FIX TO PREVENT PIECES FROM LODGING IN THROTTLE? DT

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Fuel Gauge System
Filed Nov 7, 2002NC

FUEL SENDING UNIT FAIL WHILE DRIVING CAUSE THE VEHICLE STOP OPERATING DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Nov 5, 2002OK

BATTERY LEAKED ACID FROM POSITIVE POST DOWN INTO BATTERY BOX WHICH DRAINED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ON TO THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS JUNCTION WHICH IS ROUTED UNDER THE BATTERY BOX. THERE IS NO DRAIN TUBE TO DRAIN ANY ACID OVERFLOW DOWN UNDER THE CAR. THE ACID BURNED THROUGH THE JUNCTION AND SHORTED OUT THE MAIN HARNESS TO ALL THE LIGHTING ON THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IF THIS HAD BEEN AT NIGHT I WOULD HAVE LOST MY HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS. THERE IS MINOR DAMAGE TO TORQUE CONVERTER HOUSING AND MOTOR MOUNT. I'M WAITING NOW TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHEN THE CAR WILL BE RETURNED TO ME AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE DONE, AND SEE IF CHEVROLET WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIRS. IT IS MY BELIEF THEY NEED TO INSTALL A DRAIN TUBE IN THE BATTERY BOX AND REROUTE THIS HARNESS AWAY FROM THIS AREA. I FEAR AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS HAD BEEN AT NIGHT AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS BATTERY WAS THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****769324. *AK *JB

Reading these

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 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier → · Every Cavalier year → · How the figures are calculated →