Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
19
Latest May 21, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 270 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Fuel systemInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 21, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE GAS GAUGE IDLED BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL THE GAUGE IDLED FROM FULL TO A QUARTER THEN BACK TO FULL. IT ALSO IDLED FROM A HALF TANK, QUARTER TANK THEN TO EMPTY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TRUNK, IT FAILED TO CLOSE DUE TO THE LINK AND LATCH MOVING OUT OF PLACE (NOT ALIGNED). THIS FAILURE ALSO CAUSED HER TRUNK TO OPEN RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE STRUTS. THE STRUTS WERE REPLACED THREE TO FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 179850.
NHTSA ID
10191386
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
179,850 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2003
THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH
NHTSA ID
10006290
Incident
Dec 14, 2002
Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2002
1 injury reported
FINGERS ARE BENT AND TWISTED TOWARDS THE BABY FINGER TO CONFORM TO THE STEERING WHEEL CONTOUR. THIS INFORMATION BEING SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF GREG WHEELER BY MIKE TOMICH DT
NHTSA ID
768813
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Steering
Filed Oct 7, 2002
ON THIS 1995 CAVALIER AT APPROX. 67,000 MILES THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING RACK WAS REPLACED BY THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEALER. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE STARTED EXHIBITING THE SAME PROBLEM OF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. THE FRIST TIME THIS OCCURED MAITA CHEVROLET REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK CITING IT AS THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME MAITA REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM STATING THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE LOCK UP PROBLEM. ALSO RAJESH RAMSAY AT CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER, 1-800-222-1020, FILE # S1-37046805 , HAS BEEN NO HELP IN CORRECTING THIS EITHER. HE STATES THE GM REPRESENTITIVE , MICHEAL RENSLOW TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. WHEN DAVID WELLER ,MAITA SERVICE MGR. WAS ASKED TO PUT IN WRITTING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE , HE REFUSED, MR. RAMSEY REFUSED , THUS HERE ARE THE FACTS FOR YOU. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. ROY SHARP III ( STEPFATHER OF MELYNDA HUGHES ). MR
NHTSA ID
768203
Incident
Sep 15, 2002
Steering
Filed Jul 18, 2002
WHILE DECELERATING/BRAKING ON THE CURVE OF AN OFF-RAMP OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE, THE STEERING LOCKED UP ON MY CAR. IT RETURNED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WHILE I CONTINUED BRAKING AND ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE EMBANKMENT. ON ONE OTHER OCCASION, 4 DAYS LATER AND HUNDREDS OF MILES LATER, THE STEERING AGAIN LOCKED UP WHILE BRAKING ON A CURVE OF AN OFF RAMP OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE SHARP CURVE AND CONCRETE BARRIER AND STEERING ABILITY RETURNED JUST BEFORE HITTING THE CONCRETE BARRIER. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON A CURVE, ONCE TO THE RIGHT AND ONCE ON A LEFT CURVE.*AK
NHTSA ID
764387
Incident
Jun 28, 2002
Fuel systemSteering
Filed Jan 28, 2002
Fire reported
POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CUT OUT LIKE STARVED FOR GAS, THEN DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART, REPLACE TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. CK P/STEERING FOR LEAKS, P/STEERING PUMP LEAKING FLUID, R AND RPS PUMP AND RESEAL COMPLETED, P/STEERING PUMP BUSHING GETTING WORN. ON ANOTHER OCCASSION REPLACE PRESSURE HOSE DUE TO LOST OF POWER STEERING. COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR OVERHEATES. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE, OIL AND POWER STEERING PUMP FLUID WAS LEAKING, TOTALLED.
NHTSA ID
9005944
Incident
Jul 9, 2001
Steering
Filed Jan 7, 2002
AFTER DRIVING FOR MORE THEN AN HOUR STEERING WILL BECOME HARDER TO TURN. CONSUMER ALMOST RAN INTO A MCDONALDS BECAUSE STEERING BECAME REAL HARD TO CONTROL. ALSO, IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS TUGGING WHEEL AS DRIVING. VEHICLE NOT DRIVEABLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
8001610
Incident
Dec 30, 2001
AirbagsSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Aug 7, 2001
WHILE TEST DRIVING VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SALESMAN THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALWAYS STAYS ON WHICH WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BEEN REMOVED, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SALESMAN, WHO THEN TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS NOT HIS PROBLEM AND TO CONTACT THE SAFETY PATROL OR CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP.*JB
NHTSA ID
562417
Incident
May 8, 2001
Steering
Filed Feb 28, 2001
THIS UNIT FAILED AGAIN AT 75216 MILES. LETTERS WERE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF GM NORTH AMERICA AND THE CEO OF GM ABOUT THIS MULTIPLE FAILURE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. GM HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON CALL. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD COPIES OF ALL THE BILLS, SHE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FAILURES. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE CEO. IT MAKES ME WONDER WHAT THEY ARE HIDING. OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE INDICATED THEY HAVE ALSO HAD THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THEIR MIGHT BE A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING. JULIE IS MY DAUGHTER. I AM LYLE POTTEBAUM, 4996 STONECASTLE DR., VENICE, FL., 34293. PHONE 941-408-0815. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.
NHTSA ID
741698
Incident
Sep 11, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+6 more
Filed Nov 10, 1998
STRUTS FAILED.
NHTSA ID
542528
Incident
Jun 28, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 16, 1997
STEERING COLUMN FAILED RESULTING IN LOCK UP.
NHTSA ID
604568
Steering
Filed May 2, 1997
OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE RIGHT REAR SPINDLE BROKE. OWNER IS UNCERTAIN WHY THIS HAPPENED. DEALERS HAVE NOT LOOKED AT VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ID
811983
Incident
Apr 18, 1997
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed May 2, 1996
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *SD
NHTSA ID
504021
Incident
Sep 10, 1995
Steering
Filed Feb 8, 1996
STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE, DIFFICULTY STEERING VEHICLE, DEALER HAS REPLACED BELTS HAS NOT REPAIRED VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA ID
978879
Incident
Feb 8, 1996
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 1995
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT, REPLACE STEERING GEAR/ROD KIT/CORE RETURN, TO NO AVAIL. TT
NHTSA ID
976409
Incident
Sep 11, 1995
Steering
Filed Aug 8, 1995
Crash reported2 injuries reported
STEERING WENT OUT CONTROL AND VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. TT
NHTSA ID
969964
Incident
Aug 7, 1995
Steering
Filed Aug 2, 1995
CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. TT
NHTSA ID
969720
Incident
Jul 18, 1995
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jun 27, 1995
THE BOLTS IN THE CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY FALL OUT AND IT IS PART OF A RECALL AND HER CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED AND HER STEERING LOCKS UP. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA ID
967806
Incident
Jun 23, 1995
Steering
Filed Jun 4, 1995
Crash reported
STEERING FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VEER LEFT/LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
NHTSA ID
485399
Incident
Apr 17, 1995
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own