8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$400
Average Mileage:
73,950 miles
Total Complaints:
65 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (56 reports)
  2. change dashboard gauge (2 reports)
  3. pull out 4th fuse from the top on left side which is a10 amp (2 reports)
  4. remove neg. battery cable wait 30 sec then replace (2 reports)
  5. buy a another car (1 reports)
  6. purchase new stepper motor (1 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Mar 072009

Cavalier 2.2echo

  • Manual transmission
  • 29,000 miles

my car was still under warranty when i called the dealer and they told me there was no recall on this problem; then i found out from my nephew who works for the ford company that there was a recall. well they wanted 300.oo plus to fix the problem. i don't have that kind of money to fix the dam thing so i ride around guessing my speed and spending a lot of money and time at the gas station so i wont run out of gas. i bought my new off the lot at grindstaff Chevrolet i had never had any problems before with them they had always been an excellent dealer ship. after this car and the treatment ive received from the ill never buy another car from them and ive bought 3 brand new ones and paid them off.... as a matter of fact this will be my last Chevy product ever.........

- Deborah J., Elizabethton, TN, US

problem #24

Feb 092010

Cavalier 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 75,268 miles

none of my gauges work my fuel gauges is messed up and the rpms don't move

- Andrew P., Bakersfield, CA, US

problem #23

Apr 212010

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,150 miles

I am so tired of my 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier!!! I have had it for 3 years and I so regret buying this vehicle. Last year the speedometer stopped working and just yesterday my dashboard lights went crazy and stopped working. I had no idea how much gas was in my car, my RPM wasn't working and my tachometer stopped working too.. Isn't that illegal? Whatever! Will never buy a Chevy again!

- minton, Jacksonville, FL, US

problem #22

Oct 012009

Cavalier Sport 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

I keep taking the fuse out and resetting the gauges but it can be a real hassle if its rainy or cold

- Travis M., New Llano, LA, US

problem #21

Oct 012008

Cavalier LS 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 80,000 miles

This is been just awful. I will probley never be able to afford to buy another new car again. All my life growing up CHEVY was the best! WELL, This is not true!!!! This cars gauges have gone to .i Went to auto parts store to see if they could help with gauges (It being my temp gauge) They suggested that it was my thermostat maybe sticking, try changeing it out.$35.00. And the electric window switches, driver side stuck down, passenger side stuck up. Went to Chevy dealer. $100.00 to get new switches, GUESS WHAT? NO! THERE STILL NOT WORKING !

Im just waiting for the next thing to go wrong, Or the morning I head out for work and it not start. I have to agree with all the other stories that Ive read, this car is not the car to get! Since CHEVY corp. ignors that its there manerfactours defects, and blameing wear an tear. CHEVY CORP is a disapointment. shouldnt be able to claim to be best U.S.A. made cars/trucks. Until they give a real U.S.A. backing for there customers! With so many complaints about same things all over the states, that the truth be told its chevy not wear an tear! If any one is asking Is it a get it or a foget it???? It`s a FORGET IT!!!

- pam9933665, Kennewick, WA, US

problem #20

Feb 012010

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

When the car is started gauges will occasionally drop down to zeroes. Though not positive of cause, the cruise control seems to be connected to the problem- when you turn cruise control off, it will usually reset.

- Jennifer H., Mineola, TX, US

problem #19

Jan 212009

Cavalier 2.2ecotech

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

I was looking for electrical problem in fuse box when i figured out that my car wasn't overheating.i started testing fuses and found if i pulled out the 4th fuse from the top on the left side of the fuse box barely put it back in and out i could see the temp gauge moving back towards 0.this i did with the key off.once you have it reset make sure you put the fuse all the way back in or your car will not start or stay running it is also tied to the security system.I still have to do this just about every time i want to go somewhere,i know its a pain but i like to know how fast i'm going.the cops sure do.hopefully this helps some of you all until i can find out how i can replace the gauge or disconnect it and go with an aftermarket temp gauge.

- wayneflorida, Winter Garden, FL, US

problem #18

Aug 202009

Cavalier VL 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 88,856 miles

the gauges on my 2005 cavalier are not working properly they do not read properly the needles flip over to the right and remain there

i contacted gm and they say there is not a recall on this but they want me to bring it in and pay to have them tell me what i already know

- paulbc, Mapleridge, BC, Canada

problem #17

Apr 042007

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

i THOUGHT I WOULD ADD TO THE EVER GROWING COMPLAINTS. iT SUCKS WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND DONT KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING.

- susanr, Paloa, KS, US

problem #16

Aug 202009

Cavalier VL 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 77,671 miles

my gas gauge and temp gauge float all the way over to the right and then back and forth like a yoyo. GM says i need to pay to fix a problem i am sure they are well aware about this is the second problem that gm claims is not defect on this year of car. i say b.s.! they want money to fix something they should have done right in the first place

- paulbc, Mapleridge, BC, Canada

problem #15

Sep 032009

Cavalier LX 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

We also have a 2005 Trailblazer that has the same problem, but the gas gauge and speedometer have both stopped working on the cavalier. We had the cluster panel on the trailblazer fixed before only to have it malfunction again! We were even told that the $500 it cost us to have it replaced was a waste, because the equipment it's self is faulty. So my question is when is GM going to step up and take action recall the panels or what ever you have to to correct the problem! Now we have 2 Chevys that when we drive we have no idea how fast we are going or how much gas we have! Its AWFUL!

- Desiree E., Ekron, KY, US

problem #14

Sep 152008

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles

I am disgusted with the increased problem with the gauges on the instrument panel. It started with the speedometer and now the temp and RPM gauges became wonky. Now the speedometer and temp gauges can do complete spins around the center. I can't tell how fast I am going and can't afford to fix it.

- lee75s, Portland, OR, US

problem #13

Aug 052009

Cavalier 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 67,000 miles

I am totally outraged by the number of complaints on this vehicle, I thought it would be something simple like a speed sensor or fuse or something........boy was I wrong. My gages started going crazy about 6 months ago and I had a GPS (Thank GOD) so I was fine with the speedometer problem and the gas needle problem after I got used to figuring how many miles I could go. But now it is time for an inspection and I find out I am looking at about $600 to fix this issue, GM MUST BE CRAZY. I have contacted my local dealer and am currently waiting for a call back.....BUT, with all the complaints and they have not done a recall on this issue yet, I am taking it to the NEWS and anybody else that will listen until they do, how many of the 30 open complaints did I see that are with me?!!!!!! This is TOTALLY INSANE. - FIX YOUR PROBLEMS CHEVY.

- Mandi C., Wilmington, NC, US

problem #12

Jul 072009

Cavalier LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

Bought the car used. Gauges went wacky soon after purchase. Private buyer, not dealer.

I have to keep track of my mileage to know how far I can go before I run out of gas.

Don't know how fast I am going. Temperature gauge and speedometer fight for space.

- Karen H., Norfolk, VA, US

problem #11

Oct 012007

Cavalier LX 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,389 miles

All I have to say is that I am truly disappointed in Chevrolet. I started getting this problem when the car was only 2 years old. All the gauges would go in different directions. It used to only happen only in the winter. Now it happens when it is humid, rains, cold and not just really cold an type of cold temperature. I called 2 years ago the Chevrolet Head Office in Canada which is in Ontario. They told me that it does happen and it is wear and tear. They told me that I was past the 60,000 KM warranty. UNBELIEVABLE! This is the worst car I have ever owned by far. It is really starting to get worrisome I use to rely on the Gas Light going on to tell me when I am low on gas and now that doesn't work. All winter my gauges do not work. I have no idea how fast I am going. This is realy a SAFETY issue. I own a cobalt as well that I had bought the same year I started getting problems with the cavalier. I am just waiting for the problems to start with the cobalt. These 2 will be the last Chevrolet vehicles I will ever buy. They are crap. Imagine such a safety issue and they gave that excuse. I logged a complaint with them in hopes that there would be a recall but it looks like that is not happening. I will have to get rid of this car after only having it for 4 years. Terrible vehicle.

- Antonio P., Montreal, Quebec, Canada

problem #10

Nov 012009

Cavalier 2.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,100 miles

I'm adding my name to the ever-growing list of Cavalier owners that have had this same problem with the crappy instrument cluster. It's really nice to be tooling down the highway without a clue how much gas I have or how fast I'm going. Seeing as how I consider this a SAFETY issue, I submitted a report to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Supposedly if they get enough complaints about the same thing, they will initiate a recall. File your complaint at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and see if we can make any difference!

- Dave B., Midland, TX, US

problem #9

May 012009

Cavalier LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,550 miles

So my wonderful "Crap-O-Lier" has decided to screw me once again. The temp gauge starated to read in the red. I freaked, thinking my car was over heating. I spent all kinds of time and money trying to fix it, then realized that there was nothing wrong with my car overheating. So I just let it go. Well now the needle for the temp gauge now has turned all the way into my speedometer, so no my speedometer will not register the correct speed. Then about the same time, the tachometer would not register a reading too. All of the gauges work when they want... I've been told there are several problems with this, but of course, not enough to have a recall. I was told that GM has to fix the problem, that any other mechanic can not fix it. This is BullSh*t!!! I made the mistake once, in 1999 of buying a brand new crap-o-ier... with in 3 yrs I needed a new engine, tranny, a/c unit, and went through batteries every 6-9 months, and starters too, by the time I traded it in, I needed another tranny and a/c unit. There were also recalls every single year on that car. I was so upside down all I could afford was.... another crap-o-lier. I cried my eyes out in the dealership... But Its all I could afford. The 2005 has been ok til now. This problem is not safe. Chevy needs to fix this now!!!!!!!!!

- Lainie W., Palm Coast, FL, US

problem #8

Jul 252009

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,336 miles

my car is only 4 years old I bought it brand new and now the rpm temp & gas gauge are all going out on it! And it'll cost 400-500.00 to fix who has that kind of money living on min wage & paycheck to paycheck! Its total bullshit!

- bittmrb, Spokane, WA, US

problem #7

Jul 282009

Cavalier LS 2.2L Ecotec

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

Battery died and was replaced 4 days later. Immediately after the new battery was replaced the brake, theft, check gauges, ABS, and traction light come on while driving. When the A/C and fan are turned to max all gages (speedometer, tach, fuel, temp) all go to zero. I've had a diagnostic run and relearned all commands. I've also replaced the front left ABS harness. Neither fixed the problem.

- Brian F., Seattle, WA, US

problem #6

Oct 162008

Cavalier 2.2L

  • Manual transmission
  • 42,500 miles

First my fuel gauge stopped working now my temperature gauge is doing the same thing that the fuel gauge did before it died. I am really concerned about this issue. I have a feeling that this is going to spread to all my gauges. I bought my Cavalier brand new in 2004 and have had no other problems with it yet to date. Knock on wood. I only have 42500 miles on this car after owning it for almost five years. From what I gather from most mechanics gauge failure usually does not usually happen on a low mileage car unless there is a factory defect. I cannot believe that this problem has not been addressed by GM. Actually wait I can. From searching the internet I know that I am not the only owner with this issue. I think multiple gauge failure is a serious safety issue waiting to happen. GM has already recalled multiple Cadillac, GMC and other Chevy models for the same issue. GM if your reading any of these complaints get a clue take action and do something about it. My Chevy has marked my last experience with American made cars.

- Edward W., Live Oak, FL, US

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