10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,400 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

May 042004

Cavalier

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Brakes vibrate when stopping from any speed. Was told by dealer that was common with ABS. Brakes wear poorly, have had to replace brakes 2X since purchase. Engine stutters when car first started or while standing. Key hot out of ignition, was told recent recall affecting ignition relay would fix, did not. Check engine service and ABS lights coming on and staying on. Car has only 32,000 miles.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #14

Apr 292004

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
While driving uphill at 20-25 mph consumer noticed low traction indicator light flashing. Consumer depressed the accelerator pedal to gain speed and engine stalled.

- Sturgis, SD, USA

problem #13

Jan 302004

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles
Anti-lock brakes lock up and vehicle skids to a stop if the brake pedal is depressed at low speeds from a cold start. This is a common problem, per several local mechanics.

- Coraopolis, PA, USA

problem #12

Nov 052003

(reported on)

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving at slow a speed, the vehicle lurched forward and it felt like the vehicle was rear ended. The dealer refused to fix the vehicle and stated the vehicle was safe to drive. The ABS sensor had become inoperative.

- Point Pleasant, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jun 212002

Cavalier

  • miles
I had had problems with my car not stopping when I would brake in the past. I took my car into the dealership and they said it was because I needed to replace my brakepads & rotors. I paid to have them replace and less then 2000 miles later my mom had an accident. It was a clear, dry, moderately traveled road. A woman cut of kip the man in front of my mom. He braked, my mom saw what happened and had plenty of time to brake, and was only driving approximately 20-25 miles per hour. She stepped on the brake but the car didnT slow, so she stepped harder causing the pedal to go to the floor of the car. When that happened the ABS system made itS normal noise to indicate it was engaged but the car still didnT stop. KipS truck and tow ball stopped my car. The air bags didnT deploy and there was no damage to kipS truck. My mom is a very experienced driver. She has driven professionally for a reputable courier service, and for the san antonio via (bus) system. I know there was nothing more she could have done to prevent the accident. I took it to chuck olsen the dealership who sold me the car, to check the ABS system. They kept my car from Friday the 21th of June 2002 to Friday the 28th of June 2002. They didnT do any extensive testing, very basic visual checks, which is what they wrote on the evaluation. I didnT agree with the initial inspection, so I asked timiki J at GM who handled my product failure allegation, if I could get a second opinion. She said it was fine but they wouldnT pay for it. So I paid about $125 to get a second opinion. It took the next dealership about an hour and a half to do a complete inspection; they determined that there was presently nothing wrong with the breaking system. In the inspection notes they did note that that doesnT mean something didnT happen. Just that the ABS computer hadnT recorded a failure. I called timiki 3 times after the second inspection and left three messages asking her to call me back. To this day, I still haven

- Clinton, WA, USA

problem #10

Jun 122002

Cavalier

  • miles
When slowing down and making a right turn. The brakes lock up, causing the car to go into a skid. It's ecspecially worse on wet roads. Now it's starting to lock up going straight and go into a skid coming to complete stops. The car is very unsafe. I've decided after almost having a near car wreck, to take it in next week. The last known report was on July 8, 2002, when I was driving I had to slow down the car locked up again and it started bouncing up and down. I came to a complete stop before the car re-ended another car. Please help me with anymore information about this and other braking problems.

- Reynoldsburg, OH, USA

problem #9

Dec 042001

Cavalier

  • miles
When appyling brakes severe vibration occurs within front wheels. Vehicle has been to dealer, and dealer could not correct the problem.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #8

Jan 302002

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
After buying the car had to return to have the door fixed after door was fixed the keyless entry quit working had the car back to get keyless entry fixed 4 times, had to have front rotors replaced at 28000 miles along with the brakes, still having problems with the braking system grinding and clicking bad vibration in the front end when driving in straight stretches also vibration when going around turns at times it feels like the tires are comming off car is in the shop at present time with the brake problems and dimming of the lights and fuel gage reads empty after filling the tank up and check gages lights come on and remain on for 50 - 100 miles.thats all at this time.

- Graysville, OH, USA

problem #7

Jan 062001

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When applying brakes consumer smelled brakes burning. Also, stuttered when applying brakes. Pedal went to floor. Took to dealer to dealer 5-6 times, could not remedy problem. Debris in drums, dealer said.

- Pittsburg, PA, USA

problem #6

Feb 222001

Cavalier

  • miles
Brakes did not stop properly when pulling out of parking lot, broad sided another vechicle, Cavalier did not stop when brakes were engaged at low speed, GM was contacted and even though the dealership found warpage on the rotors they disregard responsibility stating warped rotors cannot interfer with proper operation of the brakes, they turned rotors and returned vechicle, please investigate have read multiple claims on your site of similiar complaints on this vechicle.

- Livingston, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 222001

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 15 mph consumer applied brakes, brakes did not engage, vehicle hit another vehicle, and airbagsdid not deploy.

- Livingston, TX, USA

problem #4

Sep 012000

Cavalier

  • miles
Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway when another driver pulled in front of her without puting on signal she applied pedal so that she could stop, and pedal went all the way to the floor. She veered into other vehicle from behind.

- Livermoore \, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 252000

Cavalier

  • miles
The brakes have failed on three separate occassions. Pedal goes to the floor and you'll get stopped when it wants to stop. Last occassion occured at a 4 way stop intersection, which was the only reason my sister was not hit. Vehicle came to a stop in the middle of the intersection. Speed at the time was approx 5 miles per based on the shape that the railroad tracks are in that you must cross when approaching the second stop sign. This second stop sign is located less than 50 feet from the first stop. Rotors have been turned by the dealer, and the ABS checked due to an emergency stop that I had to accomplish when a vehicle pulled out in front of me. Dealer is unable to duplicate, therefore it is considered safe to operate. I disagree, and feel the vehicle is not safe if you can not depend on the brakes.

- Sumter, SC, USA

problem #2

Sep 282000

Cavalier

  • miles
During a routine stop in heavy traffic on a dry smooth road, anti-lock brakes engaged at less than 10 mph, causing the vehicle stopping distance to double, resulting in minor accident, causing $1560 damage to front end of vehicle.

- Canton, MI, USA

problem #1

Mar 302000

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
When applying brakes ABS brake system locked up, causing vehicle to go into a skid, and the tiresto to blow out.

- Commerce, GA, USA