RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Heating & air conditioning Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the heating or air-conditioning system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Heating & air conditioning 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.
11
Latest May 28, 2002
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.
2%
of 503 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 heating or air-conditioning

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Heating & air conditioningExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 28, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
762354
Incident
May 26, 2002
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Oct 19, 2001

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE EXPERIENCES RAPID ACCELERATION WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE PEDAL.*JB

NHTSA ID
563725
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 27, 2001

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WAS UNABLE TO STOP, THERE WERE NO BRAKES, ALSO VEHICLE WOULD MAKE LOUD SOUNDS AND THEN STALL, CONSUMER WAS ALWAYS BEING TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT IT WAS A SENSOR AND THE FUEL FILTER WHICH WAS ALWAYS BEING REPLACED, BUT NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A MANAGER AT THE CHEVROLET SHOP THAT THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE AIR CONDITIONER TO BE ON AT ALL TIMES, WHICH CAUSED THESE MALFUNCTIONS AS WELL AS BURNING OUT THE CARBURETOR, THE MANAGER FIXED THE DIAL SO THE A/C WOULD NOT BE ON, BUT STILL INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT NEEDED TO BE PROPERLY REPROGRAMMED, CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURES SINCE THE DIAL WAS READJUSTED, CONSUMER HAS OBTAINED LEGAL REPRESENATION AND FEELS SHE SHOULD NOT BE HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MANUFACUTER CREATED.*JB

NHTSA ID
562669
Incident
Feb 17, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 31, 2001

THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE AIR CONDITION TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, WHICH CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO MALFUNCTION, ABS BRAKE TO FAIL, AND VEHICLE TO STALL AND LOOSE ALL POWER.*YD

NHTSA ID
562282
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 10, 2001
1 injury reported

MY CAR WAS PROGRAMMED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE THE A/C ON AT ALL TIMES. SO, DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MY A/C WAS ALWAYS ON, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME. THIS CAUSED THE COMPRESSOR TO MALFUNCTION THIS FALL. THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR FINALLY REVEALED ITSELF, AND A MECHANIC AT DON RINGLER'S CHEVROLET FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT THE A/C NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED SO THAT IT WAS NOT ON AT ALL TIMES. MEANWHILE, ALL DURING THE FIVE YEARS, THE BRAKES KEPT FAILING AT VARIOUS TIMES, CAUSING ME TO NEARLY CRASH OR RUN OUT INTO TRAFFIC. MANY TIMES I WAS BRUISED FROM THE INCIDENTS. MY CAR ALSO STOPPED RUNNING ALTOGETHER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE OPERATING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND JUST AS THE POWER WOULD SHUT OFF, THE BRAKES WOULD STOP WORKING. I HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAYS, ALMOST BEING KILLED. EACH TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETECTED OR THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED. BEING ONLY THE SECOND CAR IN MY LIFE (THE FIRST ONE, A GEO METRO, CAUSED NO PROBLEMS AT ALL), I TRUSTED THE VERDICT EACH TIME, AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DEEPER, UNDERLYING PROBLEM TO REPORT. IT TOOK ME FIVE YEARS TO UNCOVER THIS. BELIEVING THE MECHANICS AT CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS EACH TIME THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RESOLVED, I CONTINUED TO KEEP CAREFUL MAINTENANCE ON IT WITH THE VERY BEST QUALITY CARE. THIS FALL, I WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, THAT IT WAS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE REAL SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND AFTER ANOTHER $500 AND A TEST DRIVE WITH THE HEAD MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER FAILED ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C WAS MISPROGRAMMED AND CAUSING POWER FAILURE. EVIDENCE OF THIS LIES IN THE FACT THAT WHEN THE A/C IS KEPT OFF, THE CAR RUNS FINE. THE COMPRESSOR IS RUINED. I AM CONCERNED THAT ALL THE OTHER 1996 CAVALIER COMPLAINTS (NHTSA) ON POWER/BRAKE FAILURE MAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A/C MISPROGRAMMING. THOSE CUSTOMERS COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE REASON EITHER. A RECALL MAY BE NECESSARY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE--GM STAFF IS IGNORING ME.*AK

NHTSA ID
748231
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Aug 14, 2000

REAR SEAT BELT GUIDE DETACHED FROM THE SEAT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
553736
Incident
Nov 30, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 28, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
724704
BrakesHeating & air conditioningInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Mar 10, 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
BrakesHeating & air conditioningInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Aug 17, 1998

REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE.ALSO THE HOOD RELEASE/ABS BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
539950
Incident
Aug 11, 1998
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Mar 11, 1998

TRUNK RELEASE LATCH BROKE THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ID
532460
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Dec 9, 1996

PURCHASED CAR IN MARCH 96, THE STRUT WAS REPLACED ABOUT FOUR TIMES . *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT, DEALER ADVISDED HER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE TIRE BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO SOME TYPE OF OBJECT THAT PUNCTURED TIRE, ALSO AIR CONDITION WENT OUT TWICE, STARTER WAS REPLACED, TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED, AND A RECALL ON PISTON PIN, CONSUMER FEELS THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE SOME TYPE OF RESPONSBIILTY SINCE THIS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
806010
Incident
Mar 24, 1996

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .