415 of the 6,452 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Cavalier are about the steering — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.
415
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
40
Crashes
10
Fires
STEERING
The whole steering column is loose The pins are all backed out I’m afraid to drive it I think this is a manufactured design flaw
NHTSA complaint #11589380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
JUST PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF ANY OF THE 5 RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. THE NHTSA RECALL PAGE ISN'T WORKING AT THIS TIME AND THE CHEVY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ISN'T WILLING TO HELP. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE??
NHTSA complaint #11415422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. PINS ON TILT MECHANISM ARE GONE. DON'T KNOW WHEN IT FELL OUT. NOTICED WHEN CLEANING CAR WHEN I TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL UP.
NHTSA complaint #11414792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WAS RECALLED FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, RPM, SPEEDOMETER.... NONE OF MY GAUGES WORK. THEY GAVE THE WRONG READINGS, THE HAND WOULDN'T RETURN TO THEIR STARTING POSITIONS, THEN THE HANDS WENT LOWER THAN THEIR STARTING POSITIONS TO THE POINT THEY ALL DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE GM RECALL LIST FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11414789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
EVERY TIME I GO TO MY JOB MY POWER STEERING RESERVOIR BECOMES EMPTY AFTER I PUT ONE OR MORE QUARTS IN THE RESERVOIR. ANYTIME I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I SWAY BACK AND FORTH NO MATTER HOW MUCH CONTROL I HAVE OVER THE VEHICLE. MY STEERING GETS SO HARD TO THE POINT WHERE I ALMOST CRASH EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR ANYWHERE BECAUSE I HAVE NO POWER STEERING OR DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THE STEERING BECAUSE IT BECOMES SO TIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11228454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
LOST PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING BECAUSE SHEER PEN RELEASED AND ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER-( INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE )
NHTSA complaint #11124077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
I'VE OWNED THE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SINCE IT HAD 2000 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 85000. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2017 A GREASY BOLT CAME FLYING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAULTY "PINS" THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT. NOW MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER STEERING WHEEL MOVES TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS OCCURRED IN MANY GM/ CHEVROLET CARS. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND BEING CHECKED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10985572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
INSTRUMET CLUSTER PROBLEMS FOR A FEW YEARS. FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT ABOUT 52,000 MILES AFTER QUITING TWICE WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. DEALER CLAIMED THE CAR QUIT BECAUSE OF A BAD BATTERY THE FIRST TIME AND DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM CORRECTLY. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT INTERMITTENTLY READS WELL BEYOND FULL AND INTERFEARS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAGE FUNCTION. NOW SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 85 MPH WHILE TURNED OFF. I WAS DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE DOING 67 MPH, I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A TURN AT AN AT GRADE INSECTION TO A ROAD POSTED AT 55 MPH. I COMPLETED THE TURN AND SPED UP. THE SPEEDOMETER READ 58 MPH BUT IT FELT LLIKE I WAS GONG ABOUT 30 MPH. I STOPPED AT ANOTHER INTERSECTION AND THE SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH. I MADE THE TURN AND ACELERATED AND THE SPEED WENT TO 110 MPH BUT I WAS NOT GOING NEAR THAT FAST. THE CAR IS IN DRIVEWAY TURNED OFF BUT THE SPEEDOMETER READS 85 MPH. MOST RECENT ISSUE IS STEERING RACK AND K-FRAME RUSTED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC STATED HE NEVER SAW A STEERING RACK RUST OUT OR A K FRAME RUSTED AS BAD AS THE ONE ON THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #10850333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MAVNUEVER. THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10818422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
UNNECESSARY GAS ODORS. SEAT BELTS KEEP UNLOCKING. STEERING
NHTSA complaint #10816442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THE VEHICLE STEERING IS NOT TIGHT AND I AM NOT ABLE TO TIGHTLY CONTROL THE MOVEMENT COMPLETELY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR MAKING TURNS. THE WHEEL STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND UNSECURED. WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS REGARDLESS IF I HAVE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10811156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
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.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 35 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MECHANIC RESET THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10794585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
AROUND 4:00PM AFTER GETTING OFF WORK. I WAS DRIVING HOME AND I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, MY STEERING WHEEL MOVED UP THEN DOWN DIAGONALLY ABOUT A INCH; INCH AND A HALF. IT DOES IT EVERY TIME NOW WHEN ANY KIND OF UPWARD PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS OF A PROBLEM THIS IS, BUT IT DOES SEEM IF IT GETS ANY WORSE IT COULD EFFECT YOUR DRIVING ABILITY OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10748651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. LAST YEAR I WENT SHOPPING, GOT BACK INTO MY CAR & STARTED IT, OR RATHER TRIED TO START IT, BUT IT SHUT DOWN QUITE QUICKLY. THINKING IT WAS A FLUKE, I TRIED TO START IT SEVERAL MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. NOT EVEN PUSHING ON THE GAS COULD KEEP IT GOING. AFTER TOWING THE CAR & HAVING IT SIT AROUND FOR A WHILE BEFORE SOMEONE COULD FINALLY FIND THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE, IT WAS 'REPAIRED'. THE ISSUE WAS THE WIRING FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE REPAIR COMPLETED WAS A CHEAPER ROUTE THAN REPLACING THE ACTUAL SWITCH. WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL TOO LATE LAST YEAR WAS THE 'SERVICE W/WRENCH' AND 'THEFT SYSTEM' LIGHTS WERE THE WARNING THAT THE SWITCH WAS ABOUT TO GO OUT. THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN & THE THEFT & SERVICE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN LAST WEDNESDAY, 7/15/15, AND NOW I KNOW I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SEITCH. LAST YEAR I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY ONLY WANTED TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT IT. I'M SURE THAT AS TIME GOES ON OTHERS WILL HAVE ISSUES TOO. HOW CAN WIRES COME LOOSE OR BREAK BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL? PLUGS, HOSES & THINGS LIKE THAT I CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND, BUT NOT SOMETHING THAT IS HIDDEN & SUPPOSEDLY SAFE BEHIND A STEERING WHEEL
NHTSA complaint #10735069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10726245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL AND SHROUD BECAME TOTALLY DISENGAGED AND FELL INTO MY LAP WHILE TRYING TO TURN ONTO LIVERNOIS ROAD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO STEER VEHICLE.LUCKY I WAS LEAVING POST OFFICE AFTER MAILING LETTERS AND NOT WHILE ON FREEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10704146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DETAILS INVOLVING THE REPAIR AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10680964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.