66 of the 392 complaints about the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the electrical system — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 85,000 miles.
66
Complaints
0
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO STAY IN THE RUN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,636.
NHTSA complaint #10660577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. LATER THAT DAY, THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #10247351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION AND ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THE VEHICLE TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,340 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10223589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FIRE UNDER HOOD - HAD THE RECALL IGNITION WORK DONE ON 09/23/2003 WHILE GETTING THE FIFTH ALTERNATOR REPLACED SINCE MARCH OF 2002. ON 03/28/2004 CAR WOULD NOT START FOR 20 MINUTES. FINALLY STARTED, DROVE APPROX. 2 MILES WHEN SMOKE POURED OUT FROM UNDER HOOD, PARKED AND RAISED HOOD, FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHER. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I READ ABOUT IN THE RECALL NOTICE BEFORE I GOT THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE IGNITION. CALLED DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK WHO STATED HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A FIRE AFTER THE RECALL WORK HAD BEEN DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10064304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
SINCE THE END OF AUGUST 2002, MY CAR HAS BEEN FALLING APART. IT ALL STARTED WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD FREON PUT BACK INTO IT, BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE FREON WAS GONE. THE MECHANIC PUT A DYE INTO THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LEAK, BUT HE COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. OIL IS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKETS. NOW, IT IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING PERIODICALLY. I WAS IN CAMDEN WHEN IT WOULDN'T START. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I START THE CAR, A CLICKING NOISE COMES FROM THE STARTER. OH YEAH, I HAD THE STARTER "FIXED" A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM MY ALTERNATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE ALTERNATOR OR THE STARTER THAT'S KEEPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY CAR AND THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10023723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
SINCE THE END OF AUGUST 2002, MY CAR HAS BEEN FALLING APART. IT ALL STARTED WHEN MY AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. I HAD FREON PUT BACK INTO IT, BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE FREON WAS GONE. THE MECHANIC PUT A DYE INTO THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LEAK, BUT HE COULDN'T SEE ANY PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS OVERHEATED IN TRAFFIC. OIL IS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKETS. NOW, IT IS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING PERIODICALLY. I WAS IN CAMDEN WHEN IT WOULDN'T START. NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. WHEN I START THE CAR, A CLICKING NOISE COMES FROM THE STARTER. OH YEAH, I HAD THE STARTER "FIXED" A YEAR AGO BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM MY ALTERNATOR. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE ALTERNATOR OR THE STARTER THAT'S KEEPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY CAR AND THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS, THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10023723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #10024029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN AND KEY TO GET HOT WHILE IN USE. *JB..
NHTSA complaint #10014678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN WENT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF THE PART THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10008901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PER THE DEALERSHIP BOB BELL CHEVROLET;BEL AIR MD;410-877-9800. THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH 02 V 070 000 WAS ALREADY DONE ON CONSUMERS VEHICLE, BUT THE CONSUMER NEVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE PRIOR TO THE PRESENT TIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE BYPASS SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE IGNITION REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES ONLY A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED AND IT INTERMITTENTLY RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE. *J'S
NHTSA complaint #568183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE BYPASS SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE IGNITION REPLACED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REFUND FOR THE REPAIR COST OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES ONLY A CLICKING SOUND IS HEARD. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ILLUMINATED AND IT INTERMITTENTLY RUNS ROUGH AT IDLE. *J'S
NHTSA complaint #568183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION 02V-070, THE CONSUMR IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS MADE.
NHTSA complaint #568074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V-070 IN APRIL BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY. TWO WEEKS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WIRES HAD BURNED DESTROYING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIRS. *MR *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8022603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED OF A SAFETY RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE REPAIRS FALL UNDER THE PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL AND CONSUMER WISHES TO BE REIMBURSED, 02V07.
NHTSA complaint #565281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMER WENT IN FOR A TUNE UP, AFTER THE TUNE UP THE VEHICLE SEEMED AS THOUGH IT DID NOT WANT TO START, HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING DAY AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING FROM WORK, SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT RESPOND, SHE WAITED AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN SMOKING AND WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE, CONSUMER THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE MADE.
NHTSA complaint #565752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) IN APRIL 2002, THE LETTER STATED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 2002, CONSUMER CALLED ON JULY 5, 2002 AND WAS INFORMED TO COME IN AFTER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, HOWEVER ON JULY 6, 2002 WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
NHTSA complaint #566797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DEALER DENIED VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02-V-070-000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL ID 02008. RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED IN APRIL 2002.
NHTSA complaint #8015445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V07000), VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, A NEW STARTER WAS INSTALLED, ON THE SECOND OCCASION CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD CLICK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE TURNING OVER, THEN ON JULY 20, 2001 WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAME FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH WAS EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE, CONSUMER IS NOW SEEKING RESTITUTION FOR THE DAMAGES INCURRED.(ATTORNEY TIMOTHY HILL ON BEHALF OF CLIENT)
NHTSA complaint #565858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY PERSONAL MECHANIC. HOWEVER, GM REFUSES TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #566224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION, THE ENGINE AND STEERING WHEEL WERE SMOKING AND IT WOULD NOT START, DEALER REPLACED STARTER AND BATTERY. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND, RECALL #02008-S, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 02V070000.
NHTSA complaint #566279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER RECALL O1V070000 REPAIRS WERE DONE AND WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM DASHBOARD AREA, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT. CAUSE OF SMOKE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #8013521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. TO GET TURN SIGNAL TO WORK, CONSUMER HAS TO TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS FIRST.*AK POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8009892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02 V 070 000 IN MAIL. HOWEVER, CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL LETTER. CHEVROLET DID NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE CONSUMER THE MONEY SPENT ON THE REPAIRS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8009357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE VEHICLE HAD STALLED.
NHTSA complaint #8008898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IT IS HARD TO START VEHICLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE FIXED UNTIL THE END OF JUNE DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #8007750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION HAS GONE OUT. HOWEVER, THERE IS RECALL 02V070000ON THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
NHTSA complaint #8007594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ENGINE FAILED TO START. CONSUME R HAD TO HOLD KEY IN START POSITION FOR A LONG TIME TO START VEHICLE. DEALER CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #8007176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NHTSA RECALL 02 V 070 000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 02008 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER:KIN DICKSON CHEVROLET; WALDORF, MD; PHONE# 301/645-700) WANTED TO CHARGE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BEFORE RECALL REPAIRS COULD BE PERFORMED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8006985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF GARAGE. AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE BLEW UP INSIDE OF GARAGE. FIRE STARTED INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN.
NHTSA complaint #8007007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.