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.
The first incident with my 1995 base model Chevrolet Cavalier was when the horn stopped working, when I needed it most on a freeway when someone was about to hit me while changing lanes. The horn failed, and it had to be replaced at a cost of about $100, which I covered, since the vehicle was recently off of warranty. Months later, the trunk latch refused to work. I could not open the trunk from the rear or from the inside of the car. In late 2000, my brakes were making grinding noises. Turns out the rotors were badly warped at 50,000 miles. Now, 15,000 miles later, the brakes are grinding again, which leads me to believe that the rotors may once again be warped. At the beginning of 2002, I took my car in for a routine inspection, only to discover that the head gasket was cracked and leaking coolant all over my engine. The head gasket had to be replaced, which was a very costly repair. Only recently have I heard that this may or may not be covered by a "secret" warranty up to 7 years or 100,000 miles, something I wish I had been notified of before this happened. Finally, within weeks of the head gasket repair, the plastic on the driver's seatbelt snapped off, so now I must have the entire seatbelt replaced. I am very disappointed with all of the problems I have experienced with this car, and I have heard that other Cavalier owners have had even worse experiences than me! I would like to see General Motors stand by their products and at least reimburse me for some of the head gasket repair cost, which was nearly seven hundred dollars, but this may only be a pipe dream. There should be a recall on the Cavalier engine head gaskets for the 2.2 L engines. This seems to be a long-running problem on Cavaliers throughout the 1990S that GM has yet to publicly admit or address. What will it take for them to recall it, someone dying on the road when his or her car either stalls in busy traffic or catches on fire?
I was traveling about 60 mph on a highway when the panel lights came on and the car quit. I traveled about 10ft when the car came to a halt and would not go any more. After about 15 minutes, I tried turned the key and the car started. I traveled about 15 miles with the car almost stalling 2 to 3 times along the way. It started fine for the next 4 days and almost stalled another 5 times. During this time the engine light would flicker. After 5 days the car wouldn't start, at all. It had to be towed and fixed. This is related to the modulator and crank sensor. In regards to the serpentine tensioners and belt, the first belt was replaced after it was squeking. While driving, at about 40 mph, I forget which light came on, but I had to pull into a midas station and they diagnosed that the tensioners had to be replaced. This previous belt was also squeeking before the tensioner was replaced.
The check engine light has been coming on and off. You can drive the car and it will not come on for 2 weeks and then it comes on 10 minutes after you start the car. Then it will do this for 4-5 weeks, and then nothing will happen. It has been in the shop and when it comes out the car is fine and the check engine light does not come on, and then about 1 month later it starts all over again. I am not sure if it is a short or if it is something else. It also has a tendency to come on after the car hits a bump too hard.
The engine check light/coolant light came on when driving fast, letting driver know to check coolant. Coolant was pouring out through the air conditioning line. Within a minute the fluid was all gone. Consumer has gone through five heater cores. July 16, September 11 and November 24. Also blew the head gasket on December 22, 1997. Vehicle is now being repaired for heater core. Due to defective heater core, there was engine damage. Dealer said they have done everything manufactured. Told them to do, but they still could not find a cause for defects.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Milwaukee, WI, USA