1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A U TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, RIGHT SHOULDER, AND LEFT KNEE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

NHTSA ID

11050932

Incident

Nov 24, 2017

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH; HOWEVER, IT SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE WHIPLASH, LEG BRUISES, AND HEAD LACERATIONS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL UNDER HER DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE DOCTOR DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT'S NECK WAS FRACTURED AND SHE WAS SENT TO GET AN MRI AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY MARION CHEVROLET/CADILLAC IN MARION, ILLINOIS. THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID

11029889

Incident

May 12, 1997

Mileage

5,000 mi

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

THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10567934

Incident

Oct 4, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF SIXTEEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REMOVED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FUSE TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V027000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 233,163.

NHTSA ID

10501440

Incident

May 21, 1999

Mileage

11,000 mi

THERE'S ALOT OF STUFF WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT RAN GOOD AND IS RELIABLE WHEN RUNNING,BUT RECENTLY STOP RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440387

Incident

Dec 16, 2011

Mileage

158,721 mi

I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2.4L WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING TO GET GAS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE LOW AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS I CAME TO A STOP IT GOT WORSE AND THEN I CHECK THE DASH FOR ANY INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION ONLY TO SEE MY AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, CHECK OIL & BATTERY LIGHTS FLICKERING. MOMENTS LATER AS I SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR IT DIES RENDERING ALL SAFETY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO JUMP ME 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE REACHING MY HOME WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10438689

Incident

Dec 5, 2011

Mileage

17,035 mi

YES CAR WILL TURN OVER BUT WON'T START IT DOES THIS AT TIME OR U CAN PRESS THE GAS TO TRY AND START INTERIOR LIGHT DON'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10361181

Incident

Oct 13, 2010

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 1999 AND FROM THE BEGINNING HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON ETC. FROM 1999 TO SEPT 2010 - I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL CHEVY DEALERS WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I WAS TOLD TO PUT FUEL INJECTION CLEANER IN IT BY ONE CAR DEALER OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T WORK. YEARS LATER AND MANY REPAIRS, ENGINE REBUILT, THERMOSTAT REPLACED, WATER PUMPS, FANS ETC.. FOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - LOSS OF POWER, CAR SHUTTING OFF AND LEAVING ME IN INTERSECTION, FREEWAYS ETC.. CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, I HAVE OVER THESE YEARS BECOME VERY FRUSTRATED THE CODES READ O2 SENSORS, THE CAT CONVERTER PIECES FALL APART EASILY CAUSING VERY COSTLY REPAIRS BECAUSE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS CLOG THE AIR FLOW CAUSING OVERHEATING AND LOSS OF POWER, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT OR COST TO KEEP THIS CAR IN REPAIR ORDER. CAT CONVERTERS, SENSORS, HEAD GASKETS, SEALS, WATER PUMPS, STICKING THERMOSTATS ETC.. CONTINUALLY REPLACED AND STILL THE SAME ON GOING PROBLEM WITH NO HOPE OF EVER FINALLY FIXING THIS DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354784

Incident

Sep 5, 2010

Mileage

226,250 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADWAY AND THE PASSENGER HAD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE VEHICLE STEERED OF ROAD INTO A GAS STATION AREA. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,950 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,018. UPDATED 9/13/10 *CN UPDATED 09/15/10

NHTSA ID

10342884

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

135,950 mi

SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER JUST STOPPED WORKING,AND I WAS TOLD MY THROTTLE CABLE IS JUST BARELY HANGING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330604

Incident

May 1, 2010

I HAVE JUST GOT A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT CAME ON AND SHUT DOWN GOING DOWN THE HWY 50 MILES PER HOUR NO BRAKES OR STEERING . THE IGNITION SWITCK IT HAS A CODE SILINDER NOW IT WANT RUN OR NUTHING IT TURNS OVER BUT WANT START. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277045

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

188,000 mi

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER THAT WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE STEERING WENT HAYWIRE. WHEN IT WAS CHECKED BY A SHOP IT WAS FOUND TO BE CAUSED BY A RUSTED OUT SUBFRAME. THIS CAR HAS 112K ON IT WITH VERY MINIMAL RUSTING IE AROUND THE GAS CAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250485

Incident

Nov 25, 2008

Mileage

112,000 mi

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE SUB FRAME ON THE FRONT HAS ROTTED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM RIPPED OUT AND THE FRONT WHEEL WAS RIPPED OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. GM NEEDS TO RECALL ALL OF THESE CARS TO EVALUATE THE CONDITION OF THESE SUBFRAMES. REPAIR OR BUY BACK IF NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236434

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 4 DOOR, 2.2 LITER CHEVROLET CAVALIER AUTOMOBILE THAT HAS A FAULTY TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THE TENSIONER WENT AND THE TIMING BELT SKIPPED, THUS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE FLAW IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN SOME CAR REVIEW MAGAZINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230965

Incident

May 6, 2008

Mileage

220,000 mi

ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIFT ON ALL THE TIME. FROM THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR THESE TWO LIGHTS REMAINED ON. THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO BE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALER AND THE SELLER AND TO VARIOUS CAR REPAIR PLACES. BUT, NO ONE WAS ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR IT. A FEW YEARS AGO - I TOOK MY CAR FOR REPAIRS TO ANOTHER CHEVORLET DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AND THAT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO HAVE IT REPLACED TBY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A DEALER. SO, I TOOK MY CAR MUFFLER REPAIR AND HAD IT REPLACED (AT A VERY EXPENSIVE COST). THE LIGHTS DID NOT GO OFF AFTER THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO BE RE SET WHICH THEY COULD NOT DO. SO, I TOOK IT TO A CAR REPAIR PLACE AND HAD THE LIGHTS RESET. IT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW, A YEAR OR SO HAS GONE BY AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AGAIN AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MUFFLER SHOP - THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM . AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR PLACE AND HAD THE LIGHTS RESET. AT THIS TIME THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAIN OFF, BUT THE CAR STILL LOSES POWER OFF AND ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219234

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

THE ENGINE/CAR TURNED OFF AND LOOSES ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING.. CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. WITHOUT REASON THIS CAR TURNS OFF AND LOOSES POWER WHILE FULLY ENGAGED IN DRIVE, THIS LEAVES ME THE DRIVER WITHOUT POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF VARIOUS INTERSECTIONS AND MAIN STREETS...VERY SCARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219217

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY AND/OR STAY ON AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF. I PURCHASED THIS CAR WHEN IT WAS TWO YEARS OLD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I FINALLY GOT TIRED OF COMPLAINING AND I REMOVED THE FUSE - SO THAT THE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN OFF (OF COURSE THIS IS ALSO A FUSE TO SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS WITHIN THE CAR). BUT, IT WAS THEY ONLY WAY I COULD RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219209

Incident

Sep 1, 1999

BLOWN HEAD GASKET VEHICLE OVER HEATING, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR ISSUE; HEAD GASKET RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING VERY BADLY EVEN THOUGH A COMPLETE TUNE UP HAS BEEN DONE; FUEL SYSTEM RECALL SUSPENSION MAKING LOTS OF NOISE; REAR SUSPENSION RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210010

Incident

Sep 11, 2007

Mileage

93,309 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE REAR HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT FLASH WHEN THE SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10207954

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAUSING HER TO HIT A TREE. EYE WITNESSES STATE THIS AS WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184361

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER INJURED HIS ARM WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND CRASHED THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER, THE DEALER STATED HE HAS NO RECALL RECORDS FOR HIS VEHICLE PRIOR TO 2003.

NHTSA ID

10176514

Incident

Dec 15, 2006

Mileage

160,282 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGN 98V027000 REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AND 98V319000 REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THERE WAS A LOSS OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTING, AND AN INTERMITTENT CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10146993

Incident

Dec 23, 2005

Mileage

249,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS GLOWED AN ORANGE/YELLOW COLOR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SOCKETS AND BULBS, BUT THIS HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSISTED THIS IMPAIRED HIS VISION AND HE COULD NOT SEE THREE FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10146763

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

Mileage

128,000 mi

DT: VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF THE DAY BEFORE. AN ENGINEER FROM GM CAME AND STATED AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF MOISTURE IN THE CAR. THE WINDOWS WERE DOWN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND RAIN GOT IN THE CAR. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE AIR BAGS SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES, BRUISES. OWNER BELIEVED WAS A POLICE REPORT. GM WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF MOISTURE. NO PICTURES WERE AVAILABLE. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10126827

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

Mileage

86,000 mi