1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,450.

NHTSA ID

10638170

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

Mileage

195,450 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED HE BOUGHT A CAR ON 6-29-05 FROM KLICK LEWIS INC. ON HIS WAY HOME WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, SUDDENLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. HE CALLED THE DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD HIM THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT ROTORS. ON FRIDAY 7-15-05; BEFORE HE HAD TAKEN IT IN TO HAVE THE ROTORS PUT ON, HE NOTICED THE CAR WAS FULL OF SMOKE. HE CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. AND THEY CAME OUT AND DIFFUSED THE FIRE AND TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE THEN CALLED THE SALESPERSON THAT SOLD HIM THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE GET BACK TO HIM. HE HAS MADE 5 TELEPHONE CALLS TO THEM AND NO ONE HAS RETURNED HIS CALLS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10129909

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

Mileage

69,995 mi

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY ENGAGE AND RELEASE WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE STOPS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SLAMMED ON, WHICH ENGAGES THE ABS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS CHECKED THE BRAKE ROTORS , PADS, ALL COMPONENTS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND TIRES. THEY WE FINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS STILL UNKNOWN. *NM *BF *NM

NHTSA ID

10107316

Incident

Sep 15, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MOTOR STOPS RUNNING AND I LOST ALL POWER BOTH STEERING AND ELECTRICAL. GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WAITED 2 MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP IT WAS FINE. ONLY DID THIS 2 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK PERIOD. ENGINE IDLE ROUGH SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 1998. TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. CAME BACK SEVERAL TIMES THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID THAY COULD DO NOTHING THATS JUST HOW THEY RUN. MOTOR SURGES AND LAGS AFTER START UP. REGARDLESS OF TEMPERATURE. PUSH PEDAL MOTOR BOGS DOWN AND THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. REPLACED ALMOST EVERY SENSOR UNDER THE HOOD PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT. BATTERY TOOK A DUMP AT ALMOST 4 YEARS. ENGINE SPUN #3 AND #4 BEARINGS ON A COLD START UP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED A WATER PUMP AT THE SAME TIME.PASS POWER WINDOW WAS ALWAYS SLOW. REPLACED APPROX MID 2002 REAR SUSPENSION CLUNKS AND SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS LUMBER IN THE TRUNK. WHEEL STUDS SNAP EASILY AS I HAVE REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 10. REAR BRAKES DRAG AND GRAB EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT. FRONT BRAKES WEAR EXCESSIVELY. RUBBER MUFFLER HANGER WEARS OUT. REPLACED 2 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10069950

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

63,871 mi

REAR TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT SOCKETS FAILED, CAUSING REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS TO MALFUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND BAD ELECTRICAL CORROSION INSIDE THE BULB SOCKETS, PREVENTING A PROPER ELECTRICAL CONTACT. I WAS ABLE TO FIX THE LEFT SIDE BY CLEANING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, WHILE THE RIGHT SIDE IS UNREPAIRABLE. MALFUNCTION OF BOTH REAR BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10053046

Incident

Jan 5, 2004

Mileage

135,000 mi

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

768922

THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT (HIGH MOUNT) KEEPS BLOWING BULBS,WHEN PULLING THE BULBS OUT THE TOP OF THE BULB IS MELTED TO THE INSIDE OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

562590

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME FOUR-SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, AND "ETS OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE REMAINS IN LOW GEARS UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF OR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ALSO , THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES AS IF THE ABS IS KICKING IN AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

890115

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

TWO TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ON OUR 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVE MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED US TO REAREND OTHER VEHICLES. BOTH TIMES AFTER SLAMMING DOWN ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN WOULD JUT FORWARD 2-3 TIMES AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT, WE TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD US HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WE THOUGHT THAT POSSIBLY IT WAS JUST A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AND MAYBE THERE WOULD NOT BE CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, BUT THEN IN THE LATEST ACCIDENT, OUR CAR BEHAVED IN THE SAME MANNER. THIS TIME WE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED IN EITHER ACCIDENT, PROBABLY BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE ACCIDENTS OCCURED AT VERY LOW SPEEDS. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS OF 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID

745509

Incident

May 2, 2001

BRAKES FAILURE TO STOP, CAR SLIPS IN GEAR WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES, HORN SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK THEN IT STARTS TO WORK , HEADLIGHTS GO DIM WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED ,NOISE IN REAR AREA

NHTSA ID

733900

BRAKE PADS/ ROTORS AND SHOES ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

871844

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/STRUTS/STARTER/TRANSMISSION/ DOME LIGHT/ PAINT/,MUFFLER/SEATS AND ABS BRAKES HAVE ALL GONE BADLY AT LEAST ONCE, AND SOME HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE BAD AGAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REFUSED TO CHECK OR REPLACE. NO LONGER DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM DUE TO THE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES. *AK

NHTSA ID

718613

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SHAKES AND LURCHES...WHEELS LOCK UP AND RELEASE...CAR SKIDS FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME CAUSING CAR TO ATTEMPT TO RUN OFF ROADWAY...THIS HAPPENS MOST OFTEN IN WET CONDITIONS. CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALER WHO "CLEANED REAR BRAKE DRUMS" AND TOLD US THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. LAST NIGHT THE CAR WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS WHEN DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS AT SPEEDS IN 35 TO 45 MPH RANGE WHEN BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKED UP TWICE CAUSING CAR TO SKID. FATHER CAN CAUSE BRAKES TO LOCK UP IN DRY CONDITIONS DUPLICATING BRAKE LOCK UP IN WET CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

716355

Incident

Jun 15, 1999

HAD TO REPLACE DRUMS IN APRIL OF 1998 AND I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM I.E. NEEDING TO REPLACE THE DRUMS AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

712902

Incident

Apr 10, 1998

ABS LIGHT ALWAYS ON, COMPLIED WITH OWNERS MANUAL TO TURN OFF, BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES UNDER BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COVERAGE. NOT FIXED. NOW,GRINDS & BUMPS AT ENGINE START, SKIDS AFTER BRAKES APPLIED.DEALERSHIP VERY UNCOOPERATED!!

NHTSA ID

710582

Incident

Feb 1, 1996

BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

NHTSA ID

844240

WHILE DRIVING GRADUALLY ON WET PAVEMENT ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND SKID WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE REASON,AND WON'T LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

NHTSA ID

842938

Incident

Feb 1, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED MERGING TRAFFIC, SO I SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I THEN HEARD A POP BUT DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I WAS ALSO LISTENING TO THE RADIO. I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN THE CAR KEPT ON SLOWING DOWN AT A STEADY PACE,I HEARD THE ENGINE IDLING LOUDLY AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FOUND IT KIND OF ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GIVE OUT ON ME SINCE THE CAR WAS A 1996.

NHTSA ID

707493

VEHICLE BOUGHT W/BAD WATER PUMP WHICH WAS LEAKING BADLY. BRAKES IN REAR WERE MAKING METAL TO METAL NOISE & WERE SLUSHY. WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANY GREAT DISTANCE & THEN STOPPPED, IT WOULD OVERHEAT & THEN STALL OUT. HARD TO RESTART. ODOMETER NUMBERS NOT EVEN & OUT OF SYNC. WATER HOSE IS LEAKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

838426

Incident

Mar 23, 1999

THE CAR IS FALLING APART, INTERIOR IS FALLING APART, EXAMPLE SEAT BELTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS NOT IN TACT, THE PASSENGER CHAIR ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME IS BROKEN, AIR CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT AND WE NEEDED TO INSTALL A NEW AIRCONDITIONER, THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, I GUESS EVERY NINE MONTHS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW BRAKE CHANGE, THE CHRYSLER CREDIT CORP HAS NEVER GIVEN US A RECEIPT ON HOW MUCH MORE TO PAY AND WHEN WE CALL THEM UP, THEY WOULD NOT TELL US HOW MUCH MORE TO GO FOR THE PAYMENTS, THEY ALSO KNOW THAT SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. THEN THEY WOULD CHANGE CONSTANTLY WHERE THE PAYMENT SHOULD GO. I JUST WISHED THEY WOULD STOP THAT. IT IS LIKE A HOUSE LOAN, WE HAVE CHANGED MORTAGAGER FOUR TIMES AND THIS IS GETTING VERY STRESSFUL. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

704232

MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN ALL EFFORT TO RESOLVE SITUATION AND WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE WHATSOEVER. I AM A 22 YEAR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE BOUGHT INCLUDING BRAKE FAILURE AND HORN FAILURE. IN MY ESTIMATION, THIS VECHICLE IS A LEMON

NHTSA ID

703788

Incident

Feb 26, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES TO STOBUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL A FEW FEET AWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

834000

Incident

Jan 26, 1999

WHEN APPYLING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT THEY INTERMITTENTLY PULSATE. ALSO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE TO OCCURS CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

830838

THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT. THE BRAKES SEEM TO PREFORM NORMALLY OTHERWISE.

NHTSA ID

700531

Incident

Nov 3, 1998

ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE. TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT WILL GO OFF. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED,. DEALER STATES THE HARNESS WIRES ARE DEFECTIVE, HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

829686

Incident

Oct 28, 1998