59 of the
748 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the
transmission — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
78,000 miles.
C
59
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Transmission
3355.9%
Manual Transmission
1118.6%
Power Train
35.1%
Clutch Assembly
35.1%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle)
23.4%
Axle Assembly
23.4%
Cooling Unit AND Lines
23.4%
Torque Converter
11.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
11.7%
Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
11.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain across every Chevrolet Cavalier year
I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2.4L WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING TO GET GAS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE LOW AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS I CAME TO A STOP IT GOT WORSE AND THEN I CHECK THE DASH FOR ANY INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION ONLY TO SEE MY AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, CHECK OIL & BATTERY LIGHTS FLICKERING. MOMENTS LATER AS I SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR IT DIES RENDERING ALL SAFETY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO JUMP ME 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE REACHING MY HOME WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY!
NHTSA complaint #10438689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesGodfrey, IL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND CAR BEGAN TO MAKE CLUNKING, SPUTTERING NOISES. IT STALLED THEN BEGAN TO GO AGAIN, THEN JUST STOPPED AND SAT THEIR HALFWAY IN THE ONCOMING LANES. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED IN ANY GEAR. THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE GAS STATION TO AVIOD A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND A CHUNK OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING FELL OFF. THE CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE IF IN NUETRAL AND PUSHED. THE CAR IS PENDING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10086209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesBuena Vista, VACrash
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD BETWEEN 25-30 MPH VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACKWARDS 15 YARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVER HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOW TO EXIST THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE OFFICER INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED DUE TO AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE. THE AXLE BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10086061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 142,000 milesMadison, NY
POWER TRAIN
JULY 2002 MANUAL TRANSAXLE LEAK- REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT SEALS; MARCH 2003, LEFT SEAL REPLACED; OCTOBER 2003 RIGHT SEAL REPLACED. OCTOBER 2003, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING UP HILLS IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR AND SOMETIMES ON FLATS- SAME GEARS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, MEANWHILE I TOOK IT IN FOR THE LEAKING TRANSAXLE- I CAN'T WIN.
NHTSA complaint #10070972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Point, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10068661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pembroke, MA
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT ON THE THIRD GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10024385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pembroke, MA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT ON THE THIRD GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10024385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 milesMount Prospect, IL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ETS OFF LIGHT CAME ON DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, OFF AGAIN BY THE TIME WE GOT TO HE DEALER. HAPPENED AGAIN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING A WEEK LATER. DEALER FOUND THAT COMPUTER CODE INDICATED FAILURE OF A PUMP SEAL IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (4-SPD OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION). COST TO REPAIR WILL BE AT LEAST $1,305. OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE NHTSA SITE SHOW PROBLEMS WITH PUMPS INSTALLED IN TRANSMISSIONS PRIOR TO JUNE, 1996. CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10000904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Arlington, NJ
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. SOMEONE CAME TO HELP GT IT BACK ON THE ROAD BUT THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A MAJOR TRANSMISSION JOB WAS NEEDED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR SERVICES.
NHTSA complaint #565310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Durant, OKFire
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8009869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandria, IA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, INTERMITTENTLY, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE. *JG
NHTSA complaint #8001176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duluth, MN
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER STATES NOW STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #785581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scotia, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME FOUR-SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, AND "ETS OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE REMAINS IN LOW GEARS UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF OR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ALSO , THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES AS IF THE ABS IS KICKING IN AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #890115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Havelock, NC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. CONSUMER PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #888402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florham Park, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS BEEN CARED FOR, WHICH THIS ONE HAS, SHOULD FAIL AT 78000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #741026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Graham, TX
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSIONS IN GM CARS SEEM TO BE HAVING MULTIPLE FAILURES AT WHAT I SEEM TO THINK ARE UNUSUALY LOW MILAGES. THIS TRANS THAT WENT OUT IN MY CAR IS A GM REBUILT TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE LOOK INTO THE GM TRANSMISSION SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #740271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Graham, TX
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT CAR WILL NOT MOVE AND IT ALREADY HAS A GMC REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #740056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sumner, IL
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FORWARD GEARS FAILED, REVERSE STILL WORKS.
NHTSA complaint #739628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY ETS OFF LIGHT AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. THE CODE 1810, WHICH IS THE TCC SWITCH, HAS SHOWN WHEN MY CAR HAS BEEN SCANNED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SEEN BY SEVERAL MECHANICS . THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WHICH CAUSED MY CAR NOT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT MY CAR SAID THAT GETTING A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WHICH IT HAS NOT. WHAT CAN YOU RECOMMEND I DO. DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T FIXED ANYTHING? ALSO THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #739647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woolwich, ME
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVER WENT TO ACCELERATE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS SECOND TRANSMISSION IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #877737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aldan, PA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION IN THE PAST AND NOW AGIAN I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #735143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Walterboro, SC
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BRAKES FAILURE TO STOP, CAR SLIPS IN GEAR WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES, HORN SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK THEN IT STARTS TO WORK , HEADLIGHTS GO DIM WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED ,NOISE IN REAR AREA
NHTSA complaint #733900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. I WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT THE PUMP SHAFT HAS FAILED IN EACH OCCASSION. ALSO NOTE, EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THIS PART, I HAVE HAD TO PAY AT LEAST OVER $1400.
NHTSA complaint #732304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIG Rapids, MI
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION (MAIN DRIVE) FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #782368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vallejo, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
PCM REPLACED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vallejo, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOTH TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lorain, OH
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 46K MILES, MY TRANSMISSION PANEL LIGHT STARTED GOING ON AND OFF. AT 53K MILES, A GM DEALER READ A P1887 TCC RELEASE SWITCH CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. AT 58K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AT 70 MPH ON I77 NORTH OF CHARLESTON WVA. THE GM DEALERSHIP IN WVA FOUND THAT THE PUMP IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME APART, DAMAGING THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND BILLED ME. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOUGH LUCK, NO OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, I FOUND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN THE NHTSA FILES (SEE NHTSA BULLETIN SB049140). I PRINTED A TSB (SERVICE BULLETIN) FROM A GM DEALER IN OHIO THAT SHOWS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMPS INSTALLED ON CAVALIERS BEFORE 6/96 HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PUMP SEAL FAILURES THAT CAN LEAD TO THE TRANSMISSION BURNING UP EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL. SINCE GM ADMITTED IN THE TSB THAT CARS PRODUCED BEFORE 6/96 (MINE WAS BUILT 4/96) HAD A PUMP PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAVALIER TRANSMISSION, I BELIEVE I STILL SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR. THE COST FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,062.70.
NHTSA complaint #726161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seaside, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER FOUR TIMES IN SHOP, MISFIRING,SEVERAL KNOBS HAVE FALLEN OFF,PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK,INTERIOR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #725651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Platte, NE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
Williamsville, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR REFUSED TO MOVE WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC, ALL REG MAINT. PERFORMED, NO WARNING, BARELY AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED. COMPANY NOT INTERESTED IN DANGER OR IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. ENGINE WORKS, CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #715500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.