FaultScore

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier acceleration problems

19 of the 751 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 118,761 miles.

D

19

Complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 13 68.4%
Cruise Control 2 10.5%
Linkages 2 10.5%
Cables 1 5.3%
Accelerator Pedal 1 5.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Chevrolet Cavalier year

1996 16 11.4%
1997 19 13.6%
1998 14 10.0%
1999 11 7.9%
2000 11 7.9%
2002 11 7.9%
2003 13 9.3%
2004 27 19.3%
2005 18 12.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 72,622 miles Vacaville, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72622 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72632. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT RELEASED THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. AFTER PHYSICALLY LIFTING THE PEDAL UP WITH THE SHOE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED FOR ABOUT 9 MILES. HOWEVER, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE A FEW TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. SHE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND MADE IT TO DEALER WHERE SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 45 DEGREES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AT FUL THROTTLE. UPDATED 05/23/07.

NHTSA complaint #10189550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 164,900 miles Mascot, TN

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED H THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH HE TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SHOULD MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HOWEVER, THESE ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AS A RESULT, HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. AFTERWARDS, HE PULLED THE FUSE AND DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10145214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamestown, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

DEFECT SUMMARY: THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE. *AK CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE STICKS OR BREAKS, UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND/OR LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. REQUESTED CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA complaint #10086962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Cruces, NM

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND STALLED. THE SPARK PLUGS MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE HEAD WARPED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE INTERNAL EXHAUST HEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY SWITCH, REMOVED THE HEAD AND RESURFACED. THE ELECTRIC FANS DON'T TURN ON. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FAN RELAY, ECT SENSOR, AND FUSIBLE LINK SHORTED(REMOVED REPLACED). THE VEHICLE HAD SURGED AND DIED OUT. THE SENSOR CONNECTOR CLIP BROKEN AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSOLE UNDER THE RADIO HAD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, DUE TO MULTIPLE DTC PLUGS FOULED. THE VACUUM LINE HAD BROKEN, AND THE CONNECTORS WERE RE-PINNED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AND THERE WAS POOR BATTERY CONTACT TO THE TERMINAL. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO REV UP. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLER LINES WERE FLUSHED. THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND OR THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN. THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACED/RESEALED, THE TIMING CHAIN WAS GREASED, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10009896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Put-In-Bay, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHT WITH CONSUMER'S FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE WILL RUN AT HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPMS AND ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY CODE ON COMPUTER.

NHTSA complaint #889628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oshkosh, WI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE IDLING AND WITHOUT WARNING , DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE POSITIONING CENTER, AND REPROGRAMMED PCM, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURRING, AND CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #876369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlesboro, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND WILL NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #556143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, CA Fire 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL, DUE TO THROTTLE STICKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #546095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Union, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLES DIES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A COLD START. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WILL RACE. ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR BEING APPLIED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, IT SURGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #538492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middlesboro, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN CRUISE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP. APPLYING THE BRAKES DOES NOT HELP. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THIS REASON.

NHTSA complaint #834903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55MPH THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH, BLOWING THE BRAKES, AND CAUSING SPARKS TO FLY FROM TIRES. TO STOP, CONSUMER WAS ON AN INCLINE THAT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, AND CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #833861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittston, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

NOISY REAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR STRUTS. IN ADDITION, ACCELERATOR STICKS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #523397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittston, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

NOISY REAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR STRUTS. IN ADDITION, ACCELERATOR STICKS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #523397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shelton, WA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #542730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasadena, CA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PRESSURE OF APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #836087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR OR ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AS SOON AS TAKING FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #823701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mastic, NY 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #525640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salinas, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #524969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jenkintown, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL, WANDERING AND UNABLE TO STEER, RAN INTO BORDER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER.

NHTSA complaint #810314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

← Full 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier report