FaultScore

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier seat problems

14 of the 748 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the seats — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 39,500 miles.

F

14

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Seats 9 64.3%
Recliner 4 28.6%
Head Restraint 1 7.1%

Seats across every Chevrolet Cavalier year

1992 12 24.5%
1994 12 24.5%
1996 14 28.6%
1997 11 22.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 39,500 miles ST. Cloud, MN

SEATS

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.

Odessa, FL Crash 1 injured

SEATS

WHEN DRIVING RAILS BROKE ON FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT DURING A CRASH ALSO, WHEN THE RAILS BROKE SEAT WAS LOOSE, AND SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. CRASH WAS LEFT FRONTAL IMPACT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #891807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highland Park, IL

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FRONT SEAT SEATBACK FAILED TO PROPERLY LOCK INTO PLACE. DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE FOR FAILURE OF THE SEATS TO LOCK INTO PLACE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #890995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Platte, NE

SEATS

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/STRUTS/STARTER/TRANSMISSION/ DOME LIGHT/ PAINT/,MUFFLER/SEATS AND ABS BRAKES HAVE ALL GONE BADLY AT LEAST ONCE, AND SOME HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE BAD AGAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REFUSED TO CHECK OR REPLACE. NO LONGER DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM DUE TO THE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES.

NHTSA complaint #718613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mathtuck, NY Crash 1 injured

SEATS

THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE DURING ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. YH

NHTSA complaint #550538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Barrigada, GU

SEATS

THE CAR IS FALLING APART, INTERIOR IS FALLING APART, EXAMPLE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT IN TACT, THE PASSENGER CHAIR ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME IS BROKEN, AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT AND WE NEEDED TO INSTALL A NEW AIRCONDITIONER, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, I GUESS EVERY NINE MONTHS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW BRAKE CHANGE, THE CHRYSLER CREDIT CORP HAS NEVER GIVEN US A RECEIPT ON HOW MUCH MORE TO PAY AND WHEN WE CALL THEM UP, THEY WOULD NOT TELL US HOW MUCH MORE TO GO FOR THE PAYMENTS, THEY ALSO KNOW THAT SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THEN THEY WOULD CHANGE CONSTANTLY WHERE THE PAYMENT SHOULD GO. I JUST WISHED THEY WOULD STOP THAT. IT IS LIKE A HOUSE LOAN, WE HAVE CHANGED MORTAGAGER FOUR TIMES AND THIS IS GETTING VERY STRESSFUL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #704232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowling Green, OH Crash

SEATS

WATER COMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOWS. PASSENGER SEAT COVER NOT ANCHORED. LEATHER PANELS COMING UNDONE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #830249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowling Green, OH Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

WATER COMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT WINDOWS. PASSENGER SEAT COVER NOT ANCHORED. LEATHER PANELS COMING UNDONE. *AK

NHTSA complaint #830249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarah ANN, WV

SEATS

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/ENGINE/MUFFLER/CONVERTER/SEAT/HORN/POWER STEERING HOSE AND WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #534153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, WV

SEATS

INTEGRATED CAR SEAT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #532460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN Crash

SEATS

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE RAN OVER A POSSUM, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT ON AN EMBANKMENT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER SEVERAL TIMES, IN WHICH BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. ALSO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BROKE IN HALF.

NHTSA complaint #820320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, MO Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS DID NOT LOCK, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT MOVED FORWARD. ALSO, CLUTCH PEDAL CLICKS WHEN DEPRESSED/FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/DOME LIGHT INOPERATIVE AT TIMES WHEN OPENING LEFT DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #801739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mililani, HI

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK REST WON'T LOCK IN UPRIGHT POSITION, FOUND TO BE TRUE IN OTHER SAME YR-MAKE-MODELS, SVC DEPT. SAY IT'S MFR DESIGN, NO FIX. TT

NHTSA complaint #979334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mililani, HI

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK REST WON'T LOCK IN UPRIGHT POSITION, FOUND TO BE TRUE IN OTHER SAME YR-MAKE-MODELS, SVC DEPT. SAY IT'S MFR DESIGN, NO FIX. TT

NHTSA complaint #979334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

← Full 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier report