50 of the 337 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the engine — 15% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 61,600 miles.
50
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE
ENGINE SHAKES WHEN FIRST STARTED N WHEN IDLING, BUT NOT WHEN DRIVING. HOSES N BELTS R NOT IN GOOD SHAPE. NOT SURE ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BUT SEEN ON THIS SITE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE OR WHERE, QUIT A FEW RECALLS THAT WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF. ESPECIALLY SAFETY ONES.
NHTSA complaint #11242805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DENTIST APPOINTMENT, SUDDENLY A HISSING NOISE CAME FROM THE CAR.ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE.I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE CITY.I HAD TO ACT IN A SPLIT SECOND AND STEER QUICKLY OFF OF THE NEAREST SIDE RIDE.THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING UP.I HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE STREET IN TIME AND TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND.I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.THE CAR WAS TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE.I BELIEVE IT WAS A FLOODED OUT CAR SOLD TO THE UNSUSPECTITHAT UNSUSPECTING PERSON WAS ME.I GOT SUCKERED OUT OF OVER $2400. I HAVE PAID FOR AT LEAST 2 NEW CARS WITH THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON THIS LEMON.BY THE WAY THE SHADY OWNER DON'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE AT ALL FOR SCAMMING MY MONEY OUT OF ME.
NHTSA complaint #11015464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL: FUEL GAGE NAS NEVER WORKED SINCE BEING BOUGHT, TURN SIGNALS ( BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT) BARELY WORKED WHEN BOUGHT AND WENT OUT COMPLETLY THE NEXT DAY, POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND AND CANT TURN WHEEL,SHIFT GEAR LINKAGES WILL ONLY SHIFT MANUALLY UNDER THE HOOD, CAR WILL DIE OR STRUGGLE TO CONTINUE RUNNING UNLESS FOOT IS ALWAYS PUSHING ON GAS, ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY BACKFIRES, AND NOT QUITE SURE IF THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY OR GONE OUT
NHTSA complaint #11005891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE SOMETIMES EMITS WHITE SMOKE THROUGH THE VENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. ALSO, A SERPENTINE BELT AND FUEL PAN WAS NEEDED.
NHTSA complaint #10520307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF. WHEN THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION FOR ONE HALF MILE UNTIL THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10356603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I ALSO HAVE A 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 AND THE DASH HAS CRACKED AT THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD...ALSO DOORS FREEZE SHUT IN WINTER...PROBLEMS WITH WATER PUMP...IT SEIZED UP AND CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN & SERPENTINE BELT...RESULTED IN A LOT OF EXPENSE TO FIX...REPAIRMAN STATED THE MOST OF THE PARTS ON THESE ENGINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED...LOTS OF ISSUES WITH THEM....LOVE MY CAR BUT IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR NOW THAT IT'S OLDER...
NHTSA complaint #10267089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE WILL START IF TRANSMISSION IS PUT INTO NEUTRAL. THE EVENT HAPPENS WITH AND WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON. IT HAPPENS AT STEADY HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHEN DECREASING SPEED. IT WENT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS WITHOUT STALLING, BUT THEN STALLED TWICE IN ONE WEEK. 2.2L ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10249874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
NHTSA complaint #10193704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST.
NHTSA complaint #10126399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE MADE A TICKING SOUND, LATER THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AND IT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER THE ENGINE WAS TICKING AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS NOT PUT ON CORRECTLY BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10101234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CD WILL NOT PLAY. GET ERROR MESSAGE. KNOB ON MIRROR FELL OFF. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2000. BATTERY KEPT DYING ON ME.
NHTSA complaint #10069579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. SERVICE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS WAS DUE TO WATER IN THE MOTOR CAUSED BY A BLOWEN HEAD GASKET.
NHTSA complaint #10037642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR OVERHEATED, CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE, NO INDICATION OF OVERHEATING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10030271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TIMING TENSIONER KEEPS GOING OUT ON CAR. HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10030292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10009214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING, CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TWICE SUCCESSIVELY AND ENGINE SHUDDERED, THEN STALLED.. 1999, CHEVROLET, CAVALIER Z24.
NHTSA complaint #10024227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR CUTS OFF AT ANY GIVEN TIME. CAN BE RUNNING AT 60 MPH OR SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, JUST COMPLETELY CUTS OFF. WILL NOT RESTART, HAVE TO PARK IT AND LET IT SIT, COULD ONLY TAKE 10 MINUTES OR COULD TAKE A FEW HOURS BEFORE IT WILL RUN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10021475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. *AK WATER DRIPPED FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO ADD ANTIFREEZE. THIS COOLED THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THERE HE FOUND OUT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THIS CAUSED THE BOLT ON THE COMPRESSOR TO PENETRATE A HOLE IN THE HOSE. THE MOTOR MOUNT AND HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10022174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SPRINGFIELD MO., I ONLY HAD 8 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I LIVE IN ROLLA WHICH IS ONLY 110 MILES AT THE MOST. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND THE MILEAGE SHOWED 265 MILES, TWICE THE MILEAGE. ALSO, THE CAR SHAKES AND GRINDS WHEN STARTING. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THAT WAS WHEN IT HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES. FUEL LINES OR SOMETHING SMELLS HEAVY WITH GAS. MY CAR EATS GAS MORE THAN MY ASTRO VAN. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE PUT THREE COOLING SYSTEMS IN THIS CAR THEY SAID WAS WRONG. FUSES KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED 65 BULBS, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. IT'S MUCH WORSE NOW. WHEN I TURN THE CAR THE STEERING STICKS THEN GOES INTO THE TURN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770836
NHTSA complaint #10006813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN THE CONSUMER SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED.*JB ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CONSUMER SLOWS DOWN VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WILL STALL.
NHTSA complaint #10011136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VALVE COVER GASKET AND HEAD GASKET BOTH FAULTY ON ENGINE AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT YET I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY RECALLS. CHEVROLET FAILS TO ADMIT TO THESE FAILURES, AND WILL NOT ASSIST. IN SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, THREE OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS HAVE REPLACED HEAD GASKETS AND CHEVROLET DOES NOTHING.
NHTSA complaint #10008325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE TRAVELING 72 MPH ENGINE BLEWOUT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALER, TECHNICIAN NOTICED EXHAUST BLEW INTO COOLANT SYSTEM WHICH BLEW THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDER FURTHER INFORMATION. TS...
NHTSA complaint #10004547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED CAR RUNNING HOT, DROVE IT 3 MILES TO SAFETY, ENGINE CEASED, WARPED HEADS. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY COMPANY INSPECTED, SAID WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED, BOTH WERE MANUFACTURER PARTS, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEVERE DAMAGE. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED BY WARRANTY FOR ENGINE, I HAD TO PAY MYSELF, $3000.00 - IF MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAN WARRANTY CO SHOULD PAY!
NHTSA complaint #758543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CAR TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED CAR RUNNING HOT, DROVE IT 3 MILES TO SAFETY, ENGINE CEASED, WARPED HEADS. NO PRIOR NOTICE OF OVERHEATING, NEVER OVERHEATED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT; ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WARRANTY COMPANY INSPECTED, SAID WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT FAILED, BOTH WERE MANUFACTURER PARTS, WHICH CAUSED ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND SEVERE DAMAGE. I WAS NOT REIMBURSED BY WARRANTY FOR ENGINE, I HAD TO PAY MYSELF, $3000.00 - IF MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAN WARRANTY CO SHOULD PAY!
NHTSA complaint #758543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL COME ON - GAS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK PROPERLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE ODOMETER READING HIEROGLYPHICS BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #758124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ODOMETER TRIPS, CLUSTER REPLACED, ENGINE BURNING GASKET REPLACED, ELECTRICAL ELECTRICAL RADIO CASSETTE PLAYS SIDES A/B SIMUTANEOUSLY AND STATION ARE STATICKY, RADIO REPLACED ONCE PROBLEM STILL EXIST BUT CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED, BACK RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR STICK AND TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CHANGE INTO 3RD GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #9003292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HAS 2 CRACKED PISTONS AND 3 CRACKED VALVES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVEABLE. *AK ALUMINUM HEAD WILL HAVE TO BE MACHINED BEFORE REUSE.
NHTSA complaint #899293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
FIRST, THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT DEALERS, THE SENSOR FAN NOW DOES NOT WORK, THE BATTERY AND RADIATOR ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, THE STEERING IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO SLIPPING AGAIN, I REPORTED ALL THIS TO CHEVY AS I WAS NOT GETTING SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALERS IN FLORIDA AND NOW THE MY VEHICLE IS BROKE DOWN AND WILL NOT RUN IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT COX CHEVELOT ON CORTEZ ROAD IN FLORIDA, I CALLED AND TALKED TO SEVERAL WOMEN IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVY AND THEIR NAMES ARE BRANDY MAYS AND LILLANIA LOPEZ, I STILL HAVE NO VEHICLE AND NOW I AM NOT RECEIVING ANY COURTEOUS SERVICE AS I WAS TOLD CHEVY WOULD BUY BACK THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS A LEASE. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY TRUCK AND DUE TO THE RED TAPE AND CHEVY NOW REFUSING TO HELP ASSIST ME WITH THE BUY BACK I AM UNABLE TO KEEP MY NEW TRUCK DUE TO THIS RED TAPE AND ALL THE FORMS AND INFORMATION THAT THE SERVICE DEPT. NOW SAYS I NEED TO HAVE HAD DONE, BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I FIRST MADE THE COMPLAINT ON SEPT 7. I CALLED BACK ON SEPT, 28, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT CHEVY WENT BACK ON THEIR WORD. I AM NOT A CAR DEALER, I DO NOT WORK AT CHEVY AS A SERVICE REPRESENTITIVE, AND I SURE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PAPERS OR FORMS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURE IN DETROIT MICHIGAN NEEDS TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK. I AM AN UNSATIFIED CONSUMER, AND I FEEL THE RUN AROUND I AM RECEIVING IS A GREAT INJUSTICE. I LOVED MY CAR AND IT IS IMMACULATE INSIDE AND OUT. I ONLY WANT TO KEEP MY NEW CHEVY TRUCK WHICH IS NOT LOOKING AS A POSSIBLE OPTION AS CHEVY IS NOT COOPERATING, THE DEALER MOVED ITS LOT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IN FLORIDA WILL NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS AN ENGINE CENSOR CHIP, THE TRANSMISSION, THE RADIATOR SENSOR FAN AND NOW THE STEERING, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO REPAIR A SENSOR CHIP OR ANY OF THESE THINGS AND SINCE THE CAR IS IN FLORIDA I CANNOT GET IT TO KENTUCKY. NOW GMAC, MY FINANCER ON MY NEW TRUCK WILL NOT FINANCE ME.
NHTSA complaint #754191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS IN MIDDLE OF ROAD WITH OUT WARNING. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE COULD REAR END CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #898936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
GASKET CYLINDER HEAD WAS REPLACED, ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH COOLING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #562403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.