This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Head gasket replaced @27000 miles, fuel pump @ 30000 and again at 96000 miles. Brakes replaced 2X a year for 5 years. Driver's side door doesn't seal properly. Fan only works on speed 3 or 4.
I have a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. It only had less then eighty five thousand miles on it and the engine blew up.I was told the reason why was because it had a defective rod in it. I have all the parts ect you can see there's a defect in the metal it goes all the way threw the rod. I find it hard to believe that such a new car would blow up. I took very good care of that car I had to fix some things the Chevrolet dealership is a joke out here they are worthless thy mistreated me too. I just want to know if there is anything I can do or someone can do about this? thank you very much denise boozer P.S. that's appr date when it happened.
1997 Cavalier=head gasket became warped and had to be replaced=$900. Thermostat replaced 3 times since purchase, water pump replaced twice. Car returned to dealer every three to six months for the last 3 years for the same problem involving overheating and coolant leaks. Problem continually reoccurs, even after it has been deemed finally repaired.
Consumer noticed coolant leaking from vehicle. Vehicle has not been examined by dealer yet. Dealer found cylinder head gasket and water pump leaking. Replaced pump and head gaskets. Manufacturer notified. Consumer is aware of same problem with the 1996 models.
- Racine, WI, USA
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Mechanic at dealership said that they had received letters that this was occuring on these vehicles due to small hole for oil to chain clogging but I had no recalls or warnings of this. This car has relatively few miles on it and at the time this happened, I had just stopped to turn into a parking lot. There could have been a serious accident if it had happened during the turn or if I had been driving down the road as the car lost power immediately. If the dealerships are receiving letters, why aren't the owners. I realize that there can be failure of this part, but if the failure is due to the clogging of the area that keeps the chain oiled, then this is a defect in the car not the wear of the part.
I noticed that my 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier had been leaking coolant, when I proceeded to find the leak I was unsucessful. Many other complaints on your website have proven to have the same problem. The leak appears to be around the front head gasket. It could possibly have a cracked head. This sounds like a logical explanation due to the violent vibration from the engine, white smoke from the tail pipe and overheating.the coolant must be leaking into the fuel mixture at the head. The car is at an undriveable state. Dealerships which I have contacted told me about recalls of a similar nature for the 1995 and 1996 Cavalier models. Why hasn't there been a recall on the 1997 model? thank you.
Defect 1: ABS light would come on when making a left hand turn. ABS would no longer activate while light was on. Defect 2: alternator--went out while driving in city traffic, rush hour. Had previously asked dealer to check, but they claimed it was functioning properly. Defect 3: rack and pinion steering assembly--went out shortly after alternator, while driving in the dealership parking lot. Defect 4: timing chain tensioner--technician said this caused major engine damage--gears, head, etc. Defect 5: horn--has worked sporadically, at best, for the last year and a half. Seemed like a short.
Since I bought the car, it has had numerous trips to the dealer for repair, including head gaskets, water pump and other things were replaced. Each time I received the car back, it still makes a "ticking noise" that makes my car sound like a diesel engine. My car is not a diesel!!! I am unsure what to do now that I have had the car for this length of time. All the times it was in for repair, I was told that all small engine cars will make that noise.
Loud knocking coming from engine. Took it in to dealer and was told that piston is rocking in cylinder, and that GM cannot do anything about it and that extra warranty wont cover.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dover, OH, USA