10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 15,906 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.
I bought a 2001 Chevrolet cavilier on January 2007 used at 71,000 miles in March my car broke down on the highway with 1/4 tank of gas, never thought anything of it until it broke down again near my home, and I realized the gauge was reading wrong. I had to use the trip setting to ensure I didn't run out of gas. I took it to a mechanic and spent $500 on a new fuel pump, the man said the sensor in the pump was out and the wires were damaged. Now, I am having trouble with the odometer that seems to be scrambling unless I push on the cover, it just shows random numbers and wont stay on trip or my mileage, nothing has been done about this yet.
- Grand Junction, CO, USA
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier makes a click noise in front end when turning hard right. The vehicle stalled. The next day, the consumer had the vehicle towed and the dealer replaced the fuel pump. The steering gear was replaced. The valve cover gasket, control arm bushings and struts were replaced.
- Montrose, MN, USA
Replaced fuel pump twice within the last 3 yrs. Steering component three times. Fuel tank once. Makes noise when turning from power steering leak, and also has oil leak. The car only has 93,000 miles. Only four years old. 01 Cavalier bought from terry lee Chevy. This car sucks!!!never buy again!!!! nothing was done to fix half the stuff wrong. Tlc sucks. Oh yeah I forgot the sending unit will be replaced for the second time inn three years.
- Hebron, KY, USA
My car had been having trouble starting up previously. It was slow to start up and I thought it was my battery dying again. On December 2004 when I went to start my car it refused to start. We called for a boost, and the aaa driver told us it wasn't our battery but our fuel pump. However, since it was a 2001 car we didn't believe it. When we asked various mechanics about the cost of fixing the fuel pump on our Cavalier they said it couldn't be the problem since it was so new. However, it was. This caused me and my family excessive trouble in having to deal with the loss of the car for the few days it took to get it repaired. We eventually had to shell out nearly $640 to fix it. We had to get a whole new fuel pump and have it installed. I do not have the original gas pump. The mechanic said, "won't start, would not jump start. Ck fuel and ignition systems and found no fuel pressure. Ck fuel system wiring. R&R fuel tank and replace faulty fuel pump. Install new fuel filter."
- Houston, TX, USA
Car would run fine and then not start.
- Barrington, IL, USA
Driving on 4 lane interstat in center lane when fuel pump failed. The car just stopped running as cars doing in excess of 65 mph flew by me. Luckily I was able to roll into right lane, then sholder to call aaa for a tow. I could have been killed if the cars behind were not observant.
- Hainesport, NJ, USA
My car since I bought it(2001 Z24 Cavalier) has given me problem after problem. Piston rods failing, fuel pump leaking, crankshaft failure, gear box bent causing me to only start car in neutral and can't park on hills. Also... valves have broken numerous times, engine accelerates on its own, fuel gauge was broken, power steering pump leaking, sunroof shattered on me... everything has broken on this brand new car I bought. The dealership will not help me even under warranty... I got a lemon and they want me to keep it. So many problems I cant list them all... most recently I was driving with my 11 month old son and we just got the car out of the shop after 14 days repair on a valve, and the next day we were driving and the engine seized up on me and brakes, and I had to use the emergency brake to stop us from crashing. I had the car towed in and the connected some hose they "forgot" to connect and told me to leave. After we almost could of died, I will not get into the vehicle that I am still have to pay for too. I wish someone could help me! (incident date is most recent occurrence)
- Phoenix, AZ, USA
While driving vehicle approximately 70mph fuel gauge read 1/4 tank of gas. Vehicle stalled on highway. Vehicle was checked by dealer who determined that fuel pump was damaged. Gauge was reading incorrectly, and vehicle had no gas. Dealer advised problem was a part flaw w/gauge. Manufacturer will not assist because vehicle was out of warranty. Vehicle stalling almost caused consumer to have a collison on the highway.
- St Augustine, FL, USA
4/27/2001 - the vehicle stalled on highway and had to be towed to the dealership (ourisman Chevrolet - marlow heights, md). After 7 days of "not knowing" what the problem was they informed me that the fuel pump had gone bad, and was replaced under warranty. I picked the car up on 5/7/01 and within 10 minutes it stalled on the highway again and I had it towed back to the dealership. On 5/8/01, I was informed that a service personnel did a test drive on the vehicle and had to have it towed back in also. Then, on 5/9/01, I am told that after removing the new fuel pump there was a "gel-like substance" on it which they concluded was antifreeze. If this is the case, why was this not seen when the first fuel pump was removed? I am being told that it looks like antifreeze was poured down my gas tank and this is not covered under warranty, and I was given a repair estimate. I was also informed that since this is not a warranted problem that I will have to pay for the rentals that I have had since 4/27/01. To date, they have had my car for 13 days, minus the 10 minutes when I picked it up on 5/7/01.
- Temple Hills, MD, USA
- Bethlehem, PA, USA