56 of the
587 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Tracker
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TRACKER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, OIL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SMELLED A STRONG OIL ODOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 02/12/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VALVE COVERS LEAKED OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST AND CAUSED SMOKE TO EMIT FROM THE ENGINE. UPDATED 03/07/16.
NHTSA complaint #10786807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE OIL AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,881.
NHTSA complaint #10607051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS ROTTED, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINES, OIL LINES AND ANTIFREEZE COOLANT LINES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL FOR ANY CAR, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS 12 YEARS OLD. IT WAS HAPPENING TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER BUT HE WAS RELUCTANT TO REPORT IT...I AM NOT. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR ONLY FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS NOW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SOME OF THE COOLANT LINES AND SOME OF THE BRAKE LINES. NOW THE OIL LINES ARE LEAKING HEAVILY AND I AM GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AS WELL. ALSO, THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THAT WHEN A PASSENGER TRIED TO USE THE SEAT BELT IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO HAVE A PASSENGER RIDE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. I FEEL THAT THE CAR SHOULD B E REPAIRED BY GENERAL MOTORS SINCE I FEEL THE STEEL USED IN BUILDING THIS CAR WAS NOT PROPERLY COATED, THEREBY CAUSING THIS SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. I HAD TO BE TOWED WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED GOING DOWN RT. 739 IN PENNSYLVANIA, JUST BEFORE A HUGE HILL/DOWNGRADE IN THE ROADWAY. NOW THE COOLANT LINES ARE LEAKING DUE TO RUST AND SO ARE THE OIL LINES.
NHTSA complaint #10592840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SPONTANEOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHORTLY AFTER THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #10576257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE NIGHT WHEN MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE FELT LIKE ITS WAS GOING TO FALL OFF I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD COULD NOT FIND OUT WHY IT WAS DOING THIS WHEN THE TIRE WAS FINE. SO I DROVE VERY SLOWLY WITH MY CAUTION LIGHTS ON TO AND FROM WORK BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU DID UNDER 40 IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT UNTIL HE DROVE THE CAR AND IT GOT UP TO ABOUT 50MPH THEN HE PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS THAT THE CROSSMEMBER AND LCA ATTACHMENT BRACKET HAD RUSTED SO BAD IT BROKE FREE AND THERE WAS NOTHING HOLDING THE LOWER ARM AND TIRE IN PLACE THIS MADE ME UPSET BECAUSE I JUST HAD THE CAR INSPECTED FOUR MONTHS EARLIER.AND THEY DID NOT CATCH THIS, SO WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED IT AND HE BOUGHT A NEW PART FOR IT AND IT WAS GOOD BUT IT WAS STARTING TO RUSTING OUT ON BOTTOM PART BELOW THE DOORS AND AROUND THE TIRES THEN JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND THAT'S HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS AND AS OF DATE 5/28/13 I ONLY HAVE 137,003 MILEAGE ON MY TRACKER.
NHTSA complaint #10513739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUNE, 2004. AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DEALER INDICATES NEED TO REPLACE COIL/CLOCK SPRING. JULY, 2004, THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. WIRES UNDER HORN PAD WERE "CUT." REPLACED SIR COIL AND REPAIRED HORN WIRE. APRIL 2005, AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN. STEERING COLUMN LOOSE. REPLACED AIR BAG CLOCK ASSEMBLY. MARCH, 2008. AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND HORN BEEPING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN HITTING BUMPS OR POTHOLES. DEALER FOUND BROKEN WIRES FOR HORN CONTACT AND CLOCK SPRING. REPLACED COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN. FEBRUARY, 2011. AFTER THE DASHBOARD WAS TAKEN OUT TO HAVE HEATER COIL REPAIRED, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT AIR BAG CLOCK ASSEMBLY NEEDED WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED REPLACING. FOUR SIMILAR INCIDENTS BEGINNING IN 2004 UP TO PRESENT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10383338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY TRACKER WHICH WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP TO REQUEST INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF THE VIBRATING BRAKES WITH A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND REQUESTED AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE DUE TO ENGINE CUTOFF DURING IDLING WHILE BRAKING AT A STOPLIGHT. MECHANIC FAILED TO INSPECT OR SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER RUSTING. GM SALES MANAGER AND GM STAFF FAILED TO INSPECT MY TRACKER OR SAY ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT THIS KNOWN DEFECT OR THE POSSIBLE DANGER OF THE ARM RUSTING AND FALLING OFF. THEY FAILED TO NOTIFY ME BY A LETTER AND FAILED TO NOTIFY ME IN PERSON WHEN I BROUGHT IN MY TRACKER FOR A VIBRATION PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THEY KNOWINGLY LET ME DRIVE MY CAR WITH THIS POSSIBLE DEFECT EVEN AFTER THEIR MECHANIC FAILED TO FIX THE FRONT BRAKES WHICH CONTINUED TO VIBRATE WHEN I DROVE AWAY. SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THIS INCIDENT, GM HAS ONLY MAILED AN OFFER LETTER TO ME OFFERING A TRADE-IN, BUT MENTIONING NOTHING ABOUT INSPECTING THE DEFECTIVE CROSSMEMBER OR FIXING IT AS PART OF THEIR SPECIAL PROGRAM. TOTAL IRRESPONSIBILITY FROM GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS. NHTSA PERFORMED AND RECORDED DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF THE CHEVY TRACKER. THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER IS EA06018. SUMMARY INCLUDES, "IN OCTOBER 2007, GM INITIATED A SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM FOR ALL MY 1999 THROUGH 2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER VEHICLES SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN SALT-BELT STATES. THE PROGRAM EXTENDS THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION TO 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES". SINCE 2007, GM HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THE 2007 SPECIAL COVERAGE PROGRAM. GM AGAIN FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS FREE INSPECTION AND REPAIR PROGRAM WHEN I BROUGHT IN MY CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION OF A VIBRATION PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND ENGINE, KNOWING THE MILEAGE ON THE TRACKER AND THE KNOWING THE MY 2002. THEY CHARGED ME FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10341949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING WITHIN THE CITY IN WINTER, THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY BECAME FOGGED OVER AND THE SMELL OF COOLANT WAS NOTICED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD AND HAD TO PULL OVER. AFTER PARKING I NOTICED A SMALL DRIP OF COOLANT UNDER THE CENTER CONSOLE. A LOCAL INDEPENDENT GARAGE FOUND THE HEATER CORE TO BE RUPTURED. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10310439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT APPROXIMATELY -10F TO -15F. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE (SPEED) CONTROL. 2. I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REVVING ON ITS OWN, AND MAXXING OUT! THE ACCELERATOR NO LONGER HAD ANY EFFECT AND THE ENGINE WAS GOING AS FAST AS IT COULD EVEN WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. BRAKING WAS INEFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE COUNTERACTED ANY BRAKING ATTEMPT. WHEN I MOVED MY GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL THE TACHOMETER REDLINED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, CAME TO A STOP AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. A FEW MINUTES LATER I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND IT WAS BEHAVING NORMALLY AGAIN. I CONTINUED MY TRIP, BUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS WARMER (ABOVE -10F) 3. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, BUT I WILL NOT PERMIT ANYONE EXCEPT ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SINCE I KNOW HOW TO REACT TO IT NOW. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL YET. THAT'S WHY I'M CONTACTING YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10253551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECENTLY HAD SERVICE BULLETIN #06186, NHTSA # 10023633 PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, REGARDING RUSTED AND CORRODED FRONT CROSSMEMBER. WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND WAS INSPECTING THE WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PAN IS ALSO VERY RUSTED AND CORRODED TO WHERE OIL IS SEEPING THOUGH THE METAL.
NHTSA complaint #10241286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 2 TIMES, WHEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN JULY CAR STALLED. AFTER 1ST STALL IT WAS TAKEN TO BELLAVILLA CHEVROLET WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. AFTER SECOND STALL VEHICLE WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO BELLAVIA WHO SUSPECTS THAT PROBLEM IS PROBABLY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10237405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PAINT ON MY 2001 CHEVY TRACKER IS FORMING WHITE SPOTS ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. IS THIS A PAINT DEFECT? I WAX MY CAR FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND WASH IT WEEKLY, SO POOR CARE FOR THE VEHICLE ISN'T A PROBLEM. WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE'S CLICKING A COMPUTER MOUSE AT A 100MPH. IT DRIVES ME NUTS. WHEN MY CAR IS IDLING AFTER STARTUP, IT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR RECENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND I WAS ONLY GOING 70MPH. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER TURNS BACK EITHER, WHILE PARKING. MY CAR IS A 2001 CHEVY TRACKER WITH ONLY 54,700 MILES ON IT. I AM THINKING ABOUT WRITING A LETTER TO GM TO HAVE ALL MY PROBLEMS RESOLVED AT NO COST TO ME.
NHTSA complaint #10215720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY THE RESONATOR CANISTER ON THE TAIL PIPE, CORRODED THROUGH FORMING A HOLE. THIS ALLOWED EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE EXHAUST LEAK COULD HAVE RESULTED IN CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING ILLNESS, INJURY OR DEATH. THE CORROSION RESULTS FROM A DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS EXHAUST CONDENSATE TO POOL IN THE RESONATOR AND CORRODE THE METAL. THIS IS THE THIRD NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED WITHIN 5 YEARS. THIS DEFECT WAS OBSERVED ON EVERY SINGLE CHEVY TRACKER. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10203341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE BELT FRAYED AND BREAKING. DIFFICULT TO KEEP PROPERLY TENSIONED. FOLLOWING ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF THIS PROBLEM THE FACTORY BOLT HOLDING THE MOUNTING FRAME FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR BROKE OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING THE AC COMPRESSOR TO FALL FROM ITS MOUNT DUE TO THE TOP BOLT HAVING WORKED LOOSE. THIS CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE COMPRESSOR BOUNCED AROUND ON THE HOSES FREELY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD BE DETERMINED. THIS BOLT BROKE OFF DUE TO THE TOP MOUNTING BOLT BACKING OUT OF THE MOUNT ON THE ENGINE HEAD. NEITHER OF THESE BOLTS NEED TO BE LOOSENED TO ADJUST BELT TENSION AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKE OFF OR BACKED OUT. BELT ALIGNMENT AND FRAYING PROBLEM IS LIKELY CAUSED BY THE DEFORMATION OF THE LOWER BOLT PRIOR TO IT BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10164533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE-WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON 3 LANE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED, NO WARNING- AS IT STOPPED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. WAS IN SLOW LANE AND COULD COAST TO BREAKDOWN LANE. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10161210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
4 YEARS OLD, 82K MILES, AND THE TIMING CHAINS (BOTH OF THEM) BROKE. MECHANIC HAS HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK WAITING FOR A BACK ORDERED TENSIONER, FINALLY GOT IT, AND THE ENGINE STARTS BUT RUNS VERY ROUGH - MECHANIC SAYS HE THINKS THE BREAKING TIMING CHAINS DAMAGED THE VALVES. TIMING CHAINS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BREAK AT 82K MILES!!!
NHTSA complaint #10136933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 CHEVY TRACKER WOULD MAKE CLICKING NOISES. I FIRST BROUGH IN MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO. THEN A WEEK OR SO AFTER I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK, THE CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE IS BACK. I THEN BROUGH TEH VEHICLE BACK TO MY GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE, BUT I DON'T ACCEPT THEIR ANSWER. EVENTHOUGH THERE'S NO INJURIES LEADING FROM THIS INCIDENT, BUT I'M AFRAID IT WOULD CAUSE GREATER HARM IN THE FUTURE.
NHTSA complaint #10110581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.