10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,532 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #15

Jan 012002

Cavalier

  • miles
Car radiator fan won't kick on cause car to get very dangerously hot causing car to become a bomb

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #14

Feb 222016

Cavalier

  • 162,000 miles
While driving my horn stopped working without any kind of indicator!! 3 time this has occurred while driving !! major safety issue! was unable warn car backing out and had to swerve to avoid accident! replaced fuse 3 times!! someone may die as a result of this malfunction!! never received any kind of notice from dealership/ manufacture regarding this issue! upon googling found many are experiencing same problem!! a serious accident or death may result because of this defect!!!please, please look into this problem !!!!!! also the gage lights tend to stay on!! first it was the oil sensor lite, now the radiator lite!! both chambers are full even after professional servicing!!!!!! the oil lite still comes on just had professional oil service"!???"

- Pueblo, CO, USA

problem #13

Dec 242014

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 117,000 miles
The safety device light came on. It won't go off, can't start my car.

- St. Augustine, FL, USA

problem #12

Sep 052013

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
My 1987 Chevy cavaliar shut off in the middle of driving multiple times. The first time I heard clicking in the cluster and the theft system light turns on and my fuel pump shuts down. I have been in very critical places while this situation takes place. The theft system has shut my vehichle off on the highway, in the intersection ect.. I have tryed to reset this system numerous times. I have come to the knowledge that this is a serious problem with many Chevy cavaliars and other GM models. This should be a recall and should be fixed. I, a loyal GM customer, should not have to drive a unpredictable vehichle that has security problems that are due to the original making of the system. I have no money to pay for this and am stuck with this problem. It is very unsafe.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #11

Oct 012014

Cavalier

  • miles
My rear defrost quit working and I went and checked some of the connections. The connection under the dash had been melted, with the plastic showing evidence of being melted. I have done some checking on the internet and it appears it is a problem. If you check GM cars Pontiac, and GM some of the vehicles have had this issue. It appears to be very common based off the forums and you tube video's. it appears in Impala, Cavalier, sunfire, and this isn't an all inclusive list. This is concerning because it appears to have been a problem for a few years and GM allowed this to happen.

- New Salem, ND, USA

problem #10

Mar 042014

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated the engine failed to start after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the engine wiring harness was faulty and exposed melted wires. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Santa Clara , CA, USA

problem #9

Sep 202009

Cavalier

  • 119 miles
The first incident that occur was in 2009. It was that the switch of the key engine did not want to start. Someone came to fix it but could not find a way to repair it. He had to add a button under the steering wheel and I would be tuning the key to the engine to start I would have to push that button to start the car. I would have to be replacing light bulbs constancy from the rear back of the single light. The theft lock system would be turning it self on while I would be driving. Thankfully there was accident because of that. But I would be struggling to start my car.I had to wait some couple of minutes to start the car. The recent incident that occur was when my neighbor heard like some fireworks in our side of our house. He took a look and he seen that our car was some sparkling lights out of the steering wheel. That was around midnight what he seen and he told us that morning. As I walk towards the car I could smell smoke as if something burn. I wanted to start my car but wouldn't start. Some one came to fixed it and had to replace some cable from the steering wheel because that was that cause the sparking of the fire.

- Highland , CA, USA

problem #8

Sep 142009

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 119 miles
As I was going to turn the switch on to turn on my car it didn't want to start. I had some one fix it but could not find a way to fix it. They had to add a button under the steering wheel to start the car as I turn the switch on. There was couple a of times where the car would go on passlock by itself and wouldn't start until a long period of waiting. The external headlights burn constantly and I would buy new bulbs for the back lights. One time our neighbor said he heard noise like fireworks on our property and he said that he seen our car was sparking light out of the steering wheel. That morning of that day he told us and as we were checking the car I could smell something burned. As a result of that the car didn't want to start. The auto repair people had to come to our house to figure out what was wrong with it. They had told me that some wires inside the steering wheel had burned but mostly I have been fixing more of electrical switches and burned wires. I appreciate for taking your time to read this and I'm looking forward to hear from you.

- Highland, CA, USA

problem #7

Jul 162012

Cavalier

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the vehicle stalled. The contact was not able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a mechanic for inspection where they stated that the vehicle had activated the anti theft mode. The cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Manassas, VA, USA

problem #6

Feb 012011

Cavalier

  • 98,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, he attempted to sound the horn and it was not functioning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the horn sensor would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #5

Mar 102011

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 185,747 miles
1997 Chevy Cavalier steering column and dashboard caught on fire on March 10, 2011. Car had no mechanical or electrical issues prior to the fire. Car was in excellent working condition. Car had been parked for approximately one hour after being used for a short drive. The Cavalier was parked outside in front of the house no one was in the vehicle. Fire department had to be called to extinguish the fire from the car. No prior knowledge of the recall for the electrical system ignition switch defect.

- Texas, TX, USA

problem #4

Oct 022008

Cavalier

  • miles
I bought this car used last year for my daughter. We have been having problems with the key to start, the key was left in the start position a few times trying to get started. We noticed a spark come from the column and nothing. I noticed that there was a recall on the ignition switch doing the same thing as I stated above. Dealership will not honor recall because now they are stating the lock cylinder mechanism is broke and they cant get into the column without breaking it. This is ridiculous that now that it is failed they won't fix the car.

- Rhome, TX, USA

problem #3

Mar 252003

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
The engine overheated, and stalled. The spark plugs melted. The technician found the head warped, causing excessive internal exhaust heat. The dealer replaced the relay switch, removed the head and resurfaced. The electric fans don't turn on. The technician found the fan relay, ect sensor, and fusible link shorted(removed replaced). The vehicle had surged and died out. The sensor connector clip broken and was replaced. The console under the radio had cracked. The vehicle wouldn't start, due to multiple dtc plugs fouled. The vacuum line had broken, and the connectors were re-pinned. The vehicle wouldn't start until the engine cooled down. The alternator was not charging and there was poor battery contact to the terminal. The alternator was replaced. Between the speeds of 25-30 mph, the vehicle felt like it was going to rev up. The transmission did not shift into gear. The transmission was replaced and the cooler lines were flushed. There was noise coming from the engine and or the defective timing chain. The tensioner was replaced/resealed, the timing chain was greased, and the serpentine belt was replaced. Scc

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #2

Jul 141999

Cavalier

  • miles
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!

- Boxford, MA, USA

problem #1

Jun 071997

Cavalier

  • miles
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.

- Fairbanks, AK, USA