839 of the 6,452 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cavalier are about the engine — 13% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
839
Complaints
13%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
23
Fires
ENGINE
THE STARTER WENT OUT THE FIRST WEEK I GOT IT DID TIRES START RUBBING THE SUCKS WENT OUT MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AND A SECOND TIME START RUBBING I END UP BUYING THREE TIMES CUZ THEY GOT BALL REAL FAST THE WIRING UNDER THE ENGINE RIPPED APART AND NOW IT'S THREW A ROD.
NHTSA complaint #11327511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND THE LEVER BECAME STUCK. OCCASIONALLY, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ALSO, THE HOOD WAS HOT, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THERE WERE ALSO MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #11187497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
IGNITION GETS VERY HOT WHEN KEY IS TURNED CAN SMELL PLASTIC IGNITION OR BATT 1 CIRCUIT PROBLEM.CLEARCOAT IS PEELING.LUG NUTS COMING LOOSE
NHTSA complaint #11072678 — 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
I HAVE HAD MY USED CHEVY CAVALIER 2004 CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ENGINE HAS JUST STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE TIME SPAN OF 5 MONTHS. NO ONE ( AUTO SHOPS) CAN FIND THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ZERO ANSWERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE BANNED FROM THE INTERNET IF I SAID WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY TO CHEVY. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY...AUG 3RD 2017.
NHTSA complaint #11012830 — 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
CAR RADIATOR FAN WON'T KICK ON CAUSE CAR TO GET VERY DANGEROUSLY HOT CAUSING CAR TO BECOME A BOMB
NHTSA complaint #10936588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER REPLACED. THE TECH SAID THE TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I RETURNED AND HAD A NEW BELT TENSIONER INSTALLED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE NEW AIR CONDITIONER HAD PREMATURE FAILURE. I HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND ALSO HAD A NEW DRIVE BELT INSTALLED DURING THE REPAIR. ABOUT ONE YEAR LATER I BEGAN HEARING A CHATTER WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP POSITION AND HAD EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. I TOOK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID THE BELT TENSIONER WAS BAD. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVELY SHORT LIFE SPAN FOR A REPLACEMENT PART OF GOOD QUALITY. TODAY THE SHOP TRIED THREE DIFFERENT TENSIONERS AND STILL IT WAS NOT CORRECTING THE ISSUE. I EVEN DOUBLE CHECKED THE BELT ROUTING PATTERN TO ENSURE IT WAS CORRECT. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE BELT TENSIONERS FOR THIS VEHICLE. ALL MY PRIOR FORD VEHICLE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR TENSIONERS OF SAME DESIGN. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AS A BELT THAT BREAKS OR SLIDES OF A PULLEY DUE TO A FAULTY TENSIONER CAN CAUSE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING RESULTING IN HAZARDOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND SITUATIONS. ALSO THE BACKLIGHTING ON THE ODOMETER DOES NOT WORK.THE ODOMETER REGISTERS MILAGE DRIVEN BUT THE BACKLIGHT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.PLEASE LOOK INTO AND DONT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS ISSUE BECOME IMPORTANT.THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10758684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
THE SAFETY DEVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OFF, CAN'T START MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10681975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED IT'S SPEED TO ABOUT 80-90 MPH. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE CAR ACCIDENTALLY SOME KIND OF WAY MADE CRUISE CONTROL COME ON. I AM NOT A FAN OF CRUISE CONTROL SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED IT ON. AFTER THE ACCELERATION, I QUICKLY ATTEMPTED TO GET MY CAR BACK DOWN TO NORMAL DRIVING SPEED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT WANT TO CRASH WITH ANYONE BY ACCIDENT. I QUICKLY STOMPED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS DID NOT HELP AT ALL. MATTER OF FACT, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP TOO. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE BRAKES NOR THE GAS. THE GAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THIS POINT, I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH. I THOUGHT QUICKLY AND MANEUVERED MY WAY OUT OF TRAFFIC. I ALMOST HIT SEVERAL CARS BUT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF PROTECTION AROUND ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE SCRATCH ON ME OR THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE MY SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN A LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR BY PUTTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS ONLY SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO ABOUT 80 MPH. I HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF THE STOP THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR BUT THE ENGINE ONLY REVVED UP AND MADE MY CAR SMOKE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE AND MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR INNOCENT FAMILIES ON THE ROAD. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS UNEXPECTEDLY HAD THIS TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10664852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
AFTER ACCELERATING OVER 35MPH VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE ABLE TO STOP BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR AND FEEL THE MOTOR TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AROUND. ITS VERY UNSAFE AND NO ONE AT THE CAR SHOP ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG. I'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS FIXED AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES AFTER STARTING UP WILL ACCELERATE ON IT OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10655162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.
ENGINE
MY KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND IN THE ON POSITION, AND ALSO ANOTHER TIME THE CAR KEY TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AND I LOST POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10639177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO START AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10630472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,914 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,914.
NHTSA complaint #10609903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR WILL NOT START CONSISTENTLY. HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN IT MAY START OR NOT. BUT IF IT STARTS, IT WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL DAYS GO BY............ IGNITION SHUT OFF ON ONE OCCASION WHEN OPERATING ON A PUBLIC ROAD. LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE AND POWER BRAKES.STEERING WHEEL DID NOT LOCK BUT COASTED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10608801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
NHTSA complaint #10605667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUMP THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO COME AND ON OCCASION CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10604433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
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.