FaultScore

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier equipment problems

11 of the 751 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the equipment — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 75,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Conditioner 3 27.3%
Recreational Vehicle/Trailer 2 18.2%
Equipment 2 18.2%
Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 1 9.1%
Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift 1 9.1%
Electrical 1 9.1%
LPG Systems 1 9.1%

Equipment & Accessories across every Chevrolet Cavalier year

1996 20 29.4%
1997 11 16.2%
1998 10 14.7%
2001 11 16.2%
2003 16 23.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 75,000 miles Liverpool, NY

EQUIPMENT

WATER PUMP LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. ONE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. A SECOND WATER PUMP FAILED JUST AFTER THE 36,000 WARRANTY WAS UP AND COST ME EXTRA TO REPLACE BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE ENGINE WHICH REQUIRES THAT IT BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. THE THIRD HAS JUST FAILED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #10112276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jamestown, NC

EQUIPMENT

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.

at 15,648 miles Baltimore, MD

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER RECEIVED A BILL FOR CHARGES FOR REPAIRS THAT WAS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR VEHICLE.*MR (NAR)

NHTSA complaint #10048476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palatine, IL

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

THE TRANMISSION IN THESE CARS ARE VERY FAULTY, AND THE COMPANY SHOULD RE-CALL THEM. I THINK THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES TO THE CONSUMER FOR WE OUR THE PEOPLE BUYING THESE BAD CARS. I JUST BOUGHT MINE AND IT HAS A TRANS. PROBLEM ALREADY AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. I WANT ANSWERS ON THIS AND THE COMPANY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS. THERE WERE OVER (66_) NOTED PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR ALONE AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS MADE THEM BAD THEN YOU GUYS MAKE THEM RIGHT AND SEND OUT RECALL NOTICES TO THE CONSUMER. BEFORE SOME-ONE COULD GET HURT IN A REALLY BAD CAR ACCIDENT OR EVEN DIE IN ONE BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT PUT RECALLS OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE CARS.

NHTSA complaint #10067911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palatine, IL

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS

THE TRANMISSION IN THESE CARS ARE VERY FAULTY, AND THE COMPANY SHOULD RE-CALL THEM. I THINK THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES TO THE CONSUMER FOR WE OUR THE PEOPLE BUYING THESE BAD CARS. I JUST BOUGHT MINE AND IT HAS A TRANS. PROBLEM ALREADY AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. I WANT ANSWERS ON THIS AND THE COMPANY TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS. THERE WERE OVER (66_) NOTED PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR ALONE AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS MADE THEM BAD THEN YOU GUYS MAKE THEM RIGHT AND SEND OUT RECALL NOTICES TO THE CONSUMER. BEFORE SOME-ONE COULD GET HURT IN A REALLY BAD CAR ACCIDENT OR EVEN DIE IN ONE BECAUSE YOU COULD NOT PUT RECALLS OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE CARS.

NHTSA complaint #10067911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Valparaiso, IN Crash 1 injured

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

LOSS OF STEERING AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BEFORE VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. REGARDING JANNIE WELCH.*MR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WAS REPAIR BY THE DEALER ON OCT. 7, 1998. THE VEHICLE TAPE PLAYER SOUNDED GARBLED AND THE SPEAKERS WERE NOT VERY LOUD. THE HORN WIRE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. A LEAKING SEAL WITHIN THE POWER STEERING SHAFT CAUSED A WHINING SOUND. (BRADLEY BANKS ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10042574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hanahan, SC

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE COMPRESSER ON MY 1997 WENT OUT, THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK A LOOK AT IT SAID THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE SHAFT, AND THAT WHOLE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOW LONG SHOULD A COMPRESSER LAST IN A CAR. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10028497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 135,000 miles Columbia, MO

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN MANEUVERING A TURN. ALSO MY WATER PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. MY FINAL COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN I TRY AND START MY VEHICLE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START WHEN HOLDING IT IN THE START POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10021510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms Brook, VA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

EVAPORATOR CORE LEAKS FREON IN THE INSIDE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #762052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raeford, NC Crash 2 injured

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

MY CONCERN IS THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YRS OLD AND WE ARE CONTINUEING TO HAVE PROBLEMS OCCUR, THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER HAS A SHORT IN IT AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #726197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Russellville, AR

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

IN NORMAL REMOVAL/INSTALLATION OF LUG NUTS USING TOOLS SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE, I PERSONALLY HAVE BROKEN 6 OF THE LUG BOLTS OFF. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, NOT ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS BEEN PUT ON OR REMOVED WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THATS THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD HAVE BEEN STRESSED LIKE THIS. I WAS NOT, ON ANY OF THE 6 LUGS, PLACING UNDUE PRESSURE NOR WAS I USING "CHEATERS" OR ANY SUCH THING. IN THE NORMAL WAY YOU WOULD REMOVE A TIRE WHEN ROTATING OR CHANGING TO THE SPAIR THEY BROKE. THIS HAS HAPPEND ON 3 SEPERATE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE: 3 LUGS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT, 2 DRIVERS SIDE REAR AND 1 PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE LUG BOLTS.

NHTSA complaint #701304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

← Full 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier report