145 of the 6,452 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cavalier are about the other systems — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
145
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Horn doesn't work..replaced fuse still not working..so I wonder if my air bag will work...how do I fix it no body know not even the dealer
NHTSA complaint #11525935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11083515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BROKEN WHILE CAR IN MOTION ON A RAINY DAY AND MY CAR STALLS EVERYDAY WHILE AT LIGHT EVEN SHUTS OFF IF I'M AT LIGHT
NHTSA complaint #11080397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT KEEPS COMING BACK ON FOR THE SAME ISSUE, SUPPOSEDLY THE "AIR INTAKE TEMP SENSOR, REPLACED THAT ONE AND SEVERAL SENSORS REPEATEDLY, HAD THE COMPLETE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTIONS CHECKED AND CLEANED, EVEN REPLACED MY ECM AND BCM [NEITHER OF WHICH WAS CHEAP], AND STILL HAS "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, EVEN AFTER BEING "CLEARED" OVER AND OVER AGAIN -- THIS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND THE BODY AND SUB-FRAME ARE SEVERELY ROTTING OUT LEFT AND RIGHT -- HAD A WEIRD LEAK ON THE PASS. SIDE FRONT, UNDER THE DASH. IT COMES AND GOES. THE CAR SMELLS LIKE AN OLD SNEAKER INSIDE. WATER WOULD POUR OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE HEATER DUCT, BUT THERE WAS NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT. ONE I EVEN HAD SOAP FOAM FROM A DRIVE THRU CAR WASH LITERALLY COME BLOWING IN TO THE CABIN, THRU THE VERY SAME HEATER DUCT. THANKFULLY IT HAS SEEMINGLY CLEARED UP, BUT IT IS STILL A HEAD SCRATCHER. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS, PRIVATELY OWNED SHOPS, AND EVEN HAD SOME "CAR SAVVY" FRIENDS LOOK HER OVER, AS WELL AS MY DAD [ANDS ASE CERTIFIED TECH], AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES BACK EVERY TIME. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I'D PUT THIS MUCH MONEY INTO A CAR THAT LITERALLY READY TO BREAK APART, I WOULD HAVE SAVED MY MONEY TO PUT TOWARDS ANOTHER CAR. LIVE AND LEARN, I GUESS. SHE WAS DOING SO WELL FOR 10 OR 11 YEARS AND IT'S LIKE SHE JUST STARTED "GIVING UP" ON ME. SHE'S GOT 165K ON HER AND THE PAIN HAS GONE TO CRAP, BUT THAT'S GM FOR YOU, KEPT HER GARAGED, WAXED REGULARLY, HAD HER LOOKING SHOWROOM NEW, UNTIL RECENTLY, THE PAINT'S CLEAR COAT STARTED TO "STIPPLE" [SHARP BUMPS] AND BUBBLE ALL OVER TOP PANELS, STARTING WITH THE ROOF, THEN HOOD, AND NOW TRUNK. IT'S EMBARRASSING TO DRIVE HER, AND I AM NOT PAYING TO REPAINT HER, I ALREADY HAVE WAY TOO MUCH INTO A CAR THAT LIKELY WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION COMING UP IN AUGUST. I'M NOW HANDICAP'D AND DISABLED, FIXED INCOME, CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10863655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INDICATOR!! 3 TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING !! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! WAS UNABLE WARN CAR BACKING OUT AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT! REPLACED FUSE 3 TIMES!! SOMEONE MAY DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION!! NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTICE FROM DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURE REGARDING THIS ISSUE! UPON GOOGLING FOUND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM!! A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH MAY RESULT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT!!!PLEASE,PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM !!!!!! ALSO THE GAGE LIGHTS TEND TO STAY ON!! FIRST IT WAS THE OIL SENSOR LITE, NOW THE RADIATOR LITE!! BOTH CHAMBERS ARE FULL EVEN AFTER PROFESSIONAL SERVICING!!!!!! THE OIL LITE STILL COMES ON JUST HAD PROFESSIONAL OIL SERVICE?!????
NHTSA complaint #10838740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON OCTOBER 1ST 2015 WE WERE STOPPED FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGHWAY. AT THAT TIME WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER. IMPACT WAS ON THE BUMPER, PASSENGER SIDE. ON IMPACT THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE AND SLAMMED ME FORWARD THEN BACK INTO A RECLINING POSITION. I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE.I WAS IN PT FOR 6 WEEKS. ALSO AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #10837372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS LOOKING AT MY LOCAL NEWS STATION AND A MAN HAD CALLED THE INVESTIGATION TEAM ABOUT CRACKS IN HIS DASHBOARD SO THEY COULD GET IN TOUCH WITH GM ABOUT IT BECAUSE NOTHING WAS BEING DONE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CRACKS IN MY DASHBOARD AND PART OF IT WAS CRACKED SO BAD IT CAME OUT AND IT IS BIG ENOUGH FOR ME TO SIT AN APPLE IN. THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE STORY TO ATTENTION WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRACKS OVER THE AIRBAG THAT IF IT EVER CAME OUT THAT DEBRIS FROM THE DASHBOARD WOULD FLY EVERYWHERE AND THAT WOULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR. THIS IS A CONCERN TO ME NOW BECAUSE THE CRACKS STARTED OUT SMALL BUT GOT BIGGER OVER TIME. I'M ALMOST SURE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CRACKS APPEARING ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER GETS HOT AND MY CAR IS NOT ALWAYS IN THE HEAT OR IN AREAS WHERE THE HOT SUN IS BEAMING DOWN ON IT. TO ME THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A DEFECT FOR THAT TO JUST HAPPEN. I ALSO HAVE A FORD ESCORT 2000 MODEL AND THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO THAT DASHBOARD. I CAN TAKE PHOTOS BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD THEM ON THE COMPUTER, TELL ME OTHER WAYS I CAN SEND PHOTOS IF POSSIBLE. MY VEHICLE IS MOSTLY STATIONARY AT MY HOME ADDRESS WHENEVER I AM NOT AT WORK AND I NEVER HARDLY USE THE FREEWAYS. THERE HAS DEFINITELY BEEN NO TAMPERING WITH MY VEHICLE. THE STORY I SAW ON THE NEWS WAS AIRED I BELIEVE LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10821266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER REGISTER BELOW ZERO WHEN STOPPED OR IN MOTION. NO WAY TO TELL THE SPEED OR RPM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ALL ON THE ROAD. IF CONTROLLING SPEED IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE WORTH RECALLING WHY DO WE HAVE SPEED LIMITS? NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND LAUNCH A RECALL AS THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND NOT ISOLATED ITS VERY WIDESPREAD AND THE FACT THEY HAVE NEGLECTED IT SHOWS THERE REAL LACK OF CONCERN FOR SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #10811841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CLUSTER IS OUT AND I CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH FUEL, THE SPEEDOMETER IS OUT AND ALSO THE TEMP GAGE AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10789816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DASHBOARD PIECES HAVE STARTED TO CRACK BAD. I REPLACED THE CONSOLE PIECE BUT THEY DONT MAKE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE STRIP ALONG THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. ITS GOT CHUNKS MISSING OUT OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #10762383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION TURNING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. THEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT SWITCH ON. JUST LIKE THE INFORMATION DISSEMINATED ABOUT THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT A YEAR BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED RECALL. I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY INDICATED THAT MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I HAD TO INSTALL A IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEY KIT ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR INVOICE. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD A TOTAL REVIEW OF GM VEHICLES OF THE IGNITION PART AS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #10633036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KEY COMES OUT IF THE IGNITION WHILE CAR IS RUNNING/ IN RUN POSITION
NHTSA complaint #10631734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ERRATIC AND ERRONEOUS SPEED INDICATOR. SPEED INDICATOR POINTS TO 55-60 MPH WHILE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP AND INDICATES 110+ MPH WHILE ACTUAL SPEED IS 50-55 MPH. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AROUND 100 MILES. A SIMPLE POWERING OFF THE IGNITION DOES NOT CLEAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UPSETTING AND UNSETTLING. GENERAL MOTORS CURRENT COST TO IT CUSTOMERS OF $660 FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IS INEXCUSABLE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL !
NHTSA complaint #10486921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY ON THIS MODEL ALTHOUGH I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY FIXED IT. THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR IT TO READ THAT I'M GOING 30 MILES FASTER THAN I REALLY AM AND THE EXTREME OPPOSITE ALSO HAPPENS WHERE I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT BUT GOING 70 MPH. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT ONE IS NECESSARY IN THIS CASE. IT IS UNSAFE TO NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE, THE SPEED IN WHICH YOU ARE TRAVELLING, OR ANY OF THE OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN WHILE YOU ARE OPERATING A CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10453435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED ODOMETER IN THIS CAR. I CAN SEE BY SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINT.COM I AM ONLY 1 OUT OF SEVERAL HUNDRED. IT WILL SOMETIMES SAY I AM GOING 100 WHEN I AM GOING 25. IT WILL SOMETIMES STAY STUCK ON 55 WHEN I AM AT A COMPLETE STOP. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN DEATH OF ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO HAVE REPLACED AND BY OTHER PEOPLES COMPLAINTS TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE A DAD PART PRODUCED BY GM. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD RECALL THESE AND HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A DEATH OF SOMEONE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM VEHICLE IF THEY DON'T RECALL THESE PARTS AND REPLACE THEM SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10434410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REPLACED DEFECTIVE SHIFTER CONTROL CABLE. I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER, 4 CYLINDER ENGINE, MILEAGE: 40,850.I AM THE ORIGNIAL OWNER, PURCHASED IT NEW FROM CHEVROLET. I BECAME AWARE OF THE DEFECT WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK AND WENT TO MY PARKED CAR, STARTED THE CAR, AND WHEN I SHIFTED MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NONE OF THE GEARS WERE WORKING. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK AND WAIT OVER TWO HOURS AND HAD IT TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER 10 MILES AWAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. IT COST ME OVER $400.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED BY THE CHEVROLET DEALER. I ASKED CHEVROLET IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SHIFTER CONTROL CABLE AND HE SAID THERE WAS NONE THAT HE KNEW OF. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR SOME INFORMATION ON THE SHIFTER CONTROL CABLE AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEM WITH THE SAME TYPE CAR. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED BY GENERAL MOTORS - CHEVROLET DIVISION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD OR PARKED ON A HILL WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED HARM TO ME OR ANY OTHER DRIVER OF MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10425840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.