1996 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10567934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THERE'S ALOT OF STUFF WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT RAN GOOD AND IS RELIABLE WHEN RUNNING,BUT RECENTLY STOP RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10440387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

YES CAR WILL TURN OVER BUT WON'T START IT DOES THIS AT TIME OR U CAN PRESS THE GAS TO TRY AND START INTERIOR LIGHT DON'T WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10361181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING,AND I WAS TOLD MY THROTTLE CABLE IS JUST BARELY HANGING ON.

NHTSA complaint #10330604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

I HAVE JUST GOT A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT DOWN GOING DOWN THE HWY 50 MILES PER HOUR NO BRAKES OR STEERING . THE IGNITION SWITCK IT HAS A CODE SILINDER NOW IT WANT RUN OR NUTHING IT TURNS OVER BUT WANT START.

NHTSA complaint #10277045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND/OR STAY ON AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF COMPLAINING AND I REMOVED THE FUSE - SO THAT THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF (OF COURSE THIS IS ALSO A FUSE TO SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE CAR). BUT, IT WAS THEY ONLY WAY I COULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM MYSELF.

NHTSA complaint #10219209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED HE BOUGHT A CAR ON 6-29-05 FROM KLICK LEWIS INC. ON HIS WAY HOME WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, SUDDENLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. HE CALLED THE DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD HIM THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT ROTORS. ON FRIDAY 7-15-05; BEFORE HE HAD TAKEN IT IN TO HAVE THE ROTORS PUT ON, HE NOTICED THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. HE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. AND THEY CAME OUT AND DIFFUSED THE FIRE AND TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE THEN CALLED THE SALESPERSON THAT SOLD HIM THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE GET BACK TO HIM. HE HAS MADE 5 TELEPHONE CALLS TO THEM AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED HIS CALLS.

NHTSA complaint #10129909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHILE HAVING THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#02V286000. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE EVER MADE ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10124784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS DIM AND IT MADE IT VERY HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS TICKETS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THIS ON TWO OR THREE VEHICLES A WEEK ON CAVALIER'S AND SUNFIRE'S. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRE HARNESS IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10119391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND CAR WOULDNT START. TRIED TO START SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. DISCONNECTED /RECONNECTED BATTERY ATTEMPTED TO START AGAIN WITH NO SUCCESS. TRIED TO START AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND CAR STARTED JUST FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED.NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY SEEMED WRONG CAR DROVE JUST FINE. THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN THIS HAPPENING WETHER WE JUST DROVE IT OR IT SAT ALL NIGHT IT HAS OCCURED EITHER WAY. WE PURCHASED THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER AND WAS NEVER AWARE OF ANY THEFT SYSTEM AT ALL. AS FAR AS WE KNOW THERE ISNT ONE IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10067894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MOTOR STOPS RUNNING AND I LOST ALL POWER BOTH STEERING AND ELECTRICAL. GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAITED 2 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP IT WAS FINE. ONLY DID THIS 2 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK PERIOD. ENGINE IDLE ROUGH SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1998. TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. CAME BACK SEVERAL TIMES THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID THAY COULD DO NOTHING THATS JUST HOW THEY RUN. MOTOR SURGES AND LAGS AFTER START UP. REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. PUSH PEDAL MOTOR BOGS DOWN AND THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. REPLACED ALMOST EVERY SENSOR UNDER THE HOOD PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. BATTERY TOOK A DUMP AT ALMOST 4 YEARS. ENGINE SPUN #3 AND #4 BEARINGS ON A COLD START UP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AT THE SAME TIME.PASS POWER WINDOW WAS ALWAYS SLOW. REPLACED APPROX MID 2002 REAR SUSPENSION CLUNKS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS LUMBER IN THE TRUNK. WHEEL STUDS SNAP EASILY AS I HAVE REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 10. REAR BRAKES DRAG AND GRAB EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. FRONT BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY. RUBBER MUFFLER HANGER WEARS OUT. REPLACED 2 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10069950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *AK THE TRUNK WOULD LOCK WITHOUT THE REMOTE ENTRY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10059550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STALLING, PLACED OTHER COMPLAINTS RECENTLY. STEERING LOCKING UP AND FIXED MORE PART IN VECHILE, NOW MIGHT BE RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL, WHICH MY MECHANIC HAS FOUND WAS INPROPERLLY PLACED IN CAR. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE IT HAS BEEN OVER 1 YEAR AND 12,000 MILES, THEY WILL CHARGE ME A LABOR FEE AND ALSO THE PART FEE. COULD THIS BECOME ANY WORSE GM??????

NHTSA complaint #10053076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS FROM ADVANCED CARE CARE INC IN ORLANDO FLORIDA 9-23-03 THIS CAR IS A LEMON. LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH IT (WAS SOLD TO ME TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT ). *AK PROBLEMS IVE PAID TO FIX SO FAR ENGINE REPLACED HEAD JOB (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) 02 SENSOR TWICE ECM COMPUTER TWICE COIL PACK- 3 TIMES ICM 5 TIMES ENGINE STRUT TRANSMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BRAKES ROTORS MAIN ROD BEARINGS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD , IT IS POURING OUT OIL, I CANT GO PAST 3 RPMS IT HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AS WELL WHICH HAS ALMOST COSTED ME AND MY SON OUR LIFE. ADVANCED CAR CARE INC (SILVERSTAR ROAD) IN ORLANDO FLORIDA SOLD ME THIS CAR NOTIFYING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 7,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS EVEN MORE MESSED UP THAN WHAT IT WAS. EVERYTIME I PAY FOR SOMETHING TO BE FIXED SOMETHING ELSE WRONG SHOWS UP... I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS WERE ALL SHOCKED AT THIS CAR. THEY SD THE HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BUILT THIS MESSED UP BEFORE. THE COMPUTER WAS SHOOTING OUT 13 DIFFERENT CODES. THIS IS A LEMON CAR. I NEED IT FIXED OR REPLACED ALSO S & S AUTOMOTIVE IN APOPKA FLORIDA CHARGED ME 1,515 IN REPAIRS WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OR EVEN ON THE PHONE. THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT PARTS BEING NEW WHEN THEY WERE USED. THEY INSTALLED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WRONG AS WELL. THEY DID WORK AND LABOR TO THE CAR AND CHARGED ME FOR IT WITHOUT MY CONCENT.. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND I TEST DROVE IT I WAS SHOCKED THAT NOW THE CRANK SHAFT IS ALL OF A SUDDEN BAD AND IT WILL COST ME 2,000 THERE OR 5,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A DOLLAR TO MY NAME RIGHT NOW. COULDNT BUY MY SON ANY GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER PAYING ALL OF THESE CAR BILLS AND NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS LEMON OF A CAR .

NHTSA complaint #10051139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL , AFTER PLACING NEARLY $800.00 WORTH OF NEW PARTS IN VEHICLE, CHANGING SEVERAL ALTERNATORS AND STARTERS, FROM THE INGNITION SWITH RECALL. I HAD TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHICH, APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER CAVALIERS, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSISED AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, COSTING $100-$200. AND NOW HAVING TO SPEND $400-$600 ON ANOTHER DEFECT FROM THESE RECALLS, IS REALLY FRUSTRATING MY FAMILY, ESPICALLY MY HUSBAND. WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP PLACING IN THIS VECHILE, I'M A FULL TIME STUDENT WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND WORK ONLY PART TIME. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR. I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT HAVE A GUARENTEE THAT THEY WOULDN' FIX THIS PART. I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN SCHOOL,WORK AND OUT ANY WHERE ELSE, HOSPITAL FOR CLINICALS WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY GM MOTORS VECHILES, DUE TO THEM NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES AND HOW I'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED BY THIS MANUFACTOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10049640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL , AFTER PLACING NEARLY $800.00 WORTH OF NEW PARTS IN VEHICLE, CHANGING SEVERAL ALTERNATORS AND STARTERS, FROM THE INGNITION SWITH RECALL. I HAD TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHICH, APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER CAVALIERS, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSISED AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, COSTING $100-$200. AND NOW HAVING TO SPEND $400-$600 ON ANOTHER DEFECT FROM THESE RECALLS, IS REALLY FRUSTRATING MY FAMILY, ESPICALLY MY HUSBAND. WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP PLACING IN THIS VECHILE, I'M A FULL TIME STUDENT WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND WORK ONLY PART TIME. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR. I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT HAVE A GUARENTEE THAT THEY WOULDN' FIX THIS PART. I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN SCHOOL,WORK AND OUT ANY WHERE ELSE, HOSPITAL FOR CLINICALS WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY GM MOTORS VECHILES, DUE TO THEM NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES AND HOW I'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED BY THIS MANUFACTOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10049640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

HEAD GASKET ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO STALL , AFTER PLACING NEARLY $800.00 WORTH OF NEW PARTS IN VEHICLE, CHANGING SEVERAL ALTERNATORS AND STARTERS, FROM THE INGNITION SWITH RECALL. I HAD TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. WHICH, APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER CAVALIERS, ALTHOUGH NOT WITH MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE CALLED GM MOTORS AND THEY WANT ME TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSISED AT THEIR DEALERSHIP, COSTING $100-$200. AND NOW HAVING TO SPEND $400-$600 ON ANOTHER DEFECT FROM THESE RECALLS, IS REALLY FRUSTRATING MY FAMILY, ESPICALLY MY HUSBAND. WE DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP PLACING IN THIS VECHILE, I'M A FULL TIME STUDENT WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND WORK ONLY PART TIME. I NEED A RELIABLE CAR. I CAN'T SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT HAVE A GUARENTEE THAT THEY WOULDN' FIX THIS PART. I KNOW THAT ALL THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO IN SCHOOL,WORK AND OUT ANY WHERE ELSE, HOSPITAL FOR CLINICALS WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY GM MOTORS VECHILES, DUE TO THEM NOT WANTING TO GO THROUGH THIS THEMSELVES AND HOW I'VE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED BY THIS MANUFACTOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10049640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. WHILE ACCELERATING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP - THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN TIME AND I WAS NOT DRIVING THAT FAST. ALSO I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE.

NHTSA complaint #10025397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10023976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

I AM WONDERING IF THE PROPER RECALL WORK WAS DONE TO MY VEHICLE AT KOON'S CHEVROLET. I ASKED WHAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CAMPAIGN # 02V070000 (THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL) THE MECHANIC THAT EXPLAINED IT TO ME DID NOT USE THE WORDS RELAY KIT. HE DESCRIBED A CABLE HARNESS TO HOLD WIRES BACK. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10017111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE RECALL WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. RECALL # 02 V0 70 000.

NHTSA complaint #10015643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION. ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARK ON THE DRIVE WAY IT COUHT ON FIRE A TOTALY BURNED OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD RECAL IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMO EVENT. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMERS VEHICLE STALLED OUT ON THE STREET. CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SAFETY RECALL 02002-S.

NHTSA complaint #567766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

CONSUMER STATED THE HORN WAS REPLACED TWICE. TS

NHTSA complaint #8021954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (02V070000) CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT A REFUND WOULD BE IN ORDER, HOWEVER CONSUMER STILL HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE REIMBUSEMENT WAS DENIED STATING THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT COVERED.*JB

NHTSA complaint #567709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS PRIOR TO RECALL 02V07, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HARD STARTS AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, WOULD STALL AND HAD NO POWER, DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THIS AND CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE UNNECESSARY REPLACEMENT PARTS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #565823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATES WHILE WATING ON AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH DONE, CONSUMER FEELS THE DEALERSHIP IS GIVING HER THE RUN AROUND.

NHTSA complaint #8017955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.