717 of the 6,452 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cavalier are about the braking system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1994.
717
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
94
Crashes
2
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10865375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
METAL ON METAL NOISE FOUND OUT SHOES AND ROTORS ARE DAMAGEDDAMAGED. I HAVE NO MONEY. V CAN'T FIX THIS. SMELL INSIDE OF LEAK. TEMP RUNNING HIGH. 200.
NHTSA complaint #10810161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND STAYS ON 100 CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES, ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINE BROKE OPEN AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES POPS ONTO MY TIRE CAUSING MY CAR TO SLAM FORWARD AND THEN IT RELEASES. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND THE POWER STEERING LINE BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE SPEEDOMETER /CLUSTER
NHTSA complaint #10809594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ENGINE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE IT DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND THE GAS PUMP KEPT MESSING UP AND THE GAS NEEDLE DOESN,T SHOW CORRECT IT WILL SAY YOU HAVE A HALF A TANK WHEN YOU REALLY HAVE A QUARTER TANK, AND THE THROTTLE SENSOR IS MESSED UP I WAS ON I-4 WHICH IS A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN ORLANDO IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THE WAS ON BUT LOSS POWER AND STALLED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10794298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
SOMETIMES, DURING REGULAR BRAKING, REAR BRAKES LOCK AND CAR DOES NOT STOP. HAPPENS ON ASPHALT EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO STEM FROM A FEW CAUSES AT TIME OF PRODUCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10745488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD HAS STOPPED, WORKING AND APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM ON SEVERAL MODELS (CAR AND TRUCK) BETWEEN 1998-2009. ALSO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. WINDOW DOORS ARE NOT WORKING AND APPEARS TO ALL RELATED TO THE CLUSTER PANEL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL ABS SENSORS, NEW BRAKES PADS, ROTORS, AND EVEN FRONT BEARINGS. THE ENGINE ITSELF WORKS GREAT AND IS FINE AND APPEARS THAT GM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN THIS PART. THE CLUSTER PANEL AND WIRING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED IN THESE MODELS. POOR GROUND WIRING AN CLUSTER PANELS CAN CAUSE CONSUMERS TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND STILL RESULTING IN THE SAME PROBLEM. CLUSTER PANEL REPLACEMENT CAN BE FROM $300 TO $800 DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCAL MECHANIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING DUE TO THE LONG LIST OF ISSUES. I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON CLUSTER PANELS FOR ALL CAVALIERS AND MODULES, WIRING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10680134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED WAY TOO EARLY. BEGAN LEAKING. I'M TRYING TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 1500-2000 DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR. LUCKILY THE BRAKES PEDALS WENT TO THE FLOOR IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I FOUND THE LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10678433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
KNOCKING AT START UP FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME. WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKE PADS THE PINS WOULDN'T MOVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. HAD TO COMPRESS THE PINS LOOSE WITH A C-CLAMP. ALSO, I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT'S A COMBINATION OF ANTIFREEZE & OIL. WHICH I THINK IS CAUSED FROM THE KNOCKING SOUND. MY BRAKE LIGHT & AN EXCLAMATION POINT LIGHT SHOWS ON MY DASHBOARD SOMETIMES. MY FUEL MONITOR GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW THE EXACT AMOUNT IN TANK. COULD THE LISTED RECALL CAUSE MY CAR. TO RUNS OUT OF GAS AT QUARTER TANK OF GAS?
NHTSA complaint #10660986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVER WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I684, ON THE EXIT RAMP TO 287 WEST, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED TO SHUT OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND BRAKE. DRIVER RAN OFF THE ROAD AND WENT NOSE FIRST INTO A DITCH, DAMAGING THE FRAME, RADIATOR, AIRCO AND NOSE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #10654166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO DRAG AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING INTO A LOW GEAR AND THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #10653142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,450.
NHTSA complaint #10638170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I,WAS COMING FROM WALMART .ONTO THE THREE LANE HIGHWAY ,I CROSSED OVER INTO THE LANE THEN I SAW THIS CAR ,I HIT MY BRAKES ,THEY FROZE AND MY CAR SLID INTO THE FINDER OF THE OTHER CAR ,I COULD NOT STOP AND IT SLED ONTO THE OTHER LANE AND STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10615426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY SON WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND AS HE DESCRIBES IT, EVERYTHING BUT THE RADIO WENT DEAD ALL BY ITSELF (THE ENGINE DIED AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES). OBVIOUSLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE CURRENT RECALLS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR ISN'T ON THE LIST. I'VE COMPLAINED TO CHEVY AND AM GETTING THE RUNAROUND BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THEIR "CONSUMER SUPPORT TEAM" (WE'VE ASSIGNED YOU A SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER BUT I AM TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN BRING IT IN "SO WE COULD START REVIEWING ON YOUR CASE"). I TOOK IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND HE RAN A BUNCH OF TESTS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #10599136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10594847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10594847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVER TRAVELING WELL UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED SLIDING AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION, THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR SQUARE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS NEVER TOUCHED ME, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE PASSENGER WINDOW.
NHTSA complaint #10585689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN US 95 NORTH IN LAS VEGAS AT 65 MPH, THE IGNITION SUDDENLY TURNED OFF AND LEFT ME COASTING WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. I WAS IN THE EXIT LANE. BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND TURN THE KEY AND ENGINE FIRED RIGHT UP AGAIN BEFORE I DECREASED TOO MUCH SPEED THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 3 YEARS I OWNED THIS CAR. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON RAPART BLVD BETWEEN CHEYENNE AND LAKE MEAD, AGAIN IN LAS VEGAS. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MECHANICS COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS. I THINK GM NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN FARTHER BACK WITH THESE IGNITION ISSUES AS THE CAVALIER IS THE PREDECESSOR TO THE COBALT. I REPEAT THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THEY COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT.
NHTSA complaint #10573612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH ANDABS AND TRAC OFF SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS NO COLLISION, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED WITH BOTH FRONT ABS SENSOR HARNESS WAS WORN-OUT HAD TO FIX AND REPLACE AND COST 398.81$
NHTSA complaint #10565900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SLID AND HESITATED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE BRAKES WERE READJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, DRUMS AND ROTORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
NHTSA complaint #10515751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TODAY AND THINK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING..MY GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING ON THE CAR WHICH IS DOES FROM TIME TO TIME. WE MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP IT JUST KEEP GETTING FASTER,, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT EVEN STOP IT OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EITHER..WE HAD TO RUN SOME RED LIGHTS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT STOP IT SO WE COULD TRY TO GET HOME WITHOUT CRASHING THE CAR TO STOP IT BUT WE COULD SLOW IT DOWN PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS BURNING UP THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION. FINALLY WE GOT IN FRONT MY HOUSE AND HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK FAST JUST TO STOP IT. THE GAS PEDAL ONLY ACCELERATES AND THE BRAKES DON'T EVEN WORK ON IT...WE COULD OF DIED TODAY!!! I'M SO GLAD I WAS NOT DRIVING IT..I WOULD OF HAD TO CALL 911 AND HAVE THE COPS BOX ME IN TO STOP. I MESSED UP MY BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION ON IT JUST TO STOP IT TODAY. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS AND I SEE THAT PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS...I SAW MY LIFE FLASH FOR MY EYES TODAY AND PUT MY TRUST IN MY CAR EVERYDAY THINKING THAT THEY MADE IT RIGHT..???
NHTSA complaint #10493772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.