RoadVitals

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
14
Latest Nov 5, 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.
3%
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.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 14 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 exterior lighting

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

Interior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2007

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 3, 2006

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 8, 2004

HEAD LAMP WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE HIGH AND LOW BEAMS MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066842
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
68,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2004

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
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Oct 28, 2003

DEVICE FOR LIGHTS, HIGHBEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL AND BLINKERS WORKS ON AND OFF THEN STOPS WORKING COMPLETELY FOR NO REASON. EVEN IF YOU DO NOT DRIVE YOU CAR AND NIGHT OR USE ALL THOSE FUNCTIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10043822
Incident
Oct 24, 2003
Heating & air conditioningExterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 28, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
762354
Incident
May 26, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 2002

HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD TO REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.*AK . *JB

NHTSA ID
8004893
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 6, 2002

I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AT 61,000 MILES. THE REAR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION. HOWEVER THE INSIDE DASH AND FRONT LIGHTS DID WORK PROPERLY. I WAS HAVING THE CAR TOWED AT THE TIME AND HE IS THE ONE TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I DID CALL GM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PART HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 29,000 MILES. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE FAIL AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES LATER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU! *AK

NHTSA ID
757864
Incident
Feb 4, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2001

VEHICLE IS EXPIRIENCING SAME PROBLEMS AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 96V250000; HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH WHEN HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. MANUFACTURER HAS ADVISED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
884882
Incident
Jan 10, 2001
Exterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jun 18, 2000

I HAVE HAD REOCCURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS AND THE START UP LIGHT ON SUSPENSION SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE AUTOMOBILE. EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR, I GOT A "CANNOT DUPLICATE" IN THE PLACE OF REPAIR. I KNEW NOTHING OF THE RECALL ON THIS ITEMS UNTIL 6/18/2000, WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING OTHER ITEMS ON THE CAVALIER. I WOULD APPRECIATE GETTING THIS REPAIRED AS OPPOSSED TO "CANNOT DUPLICATE." I DO KNOW THE SUSPENSION HAPPENS FAR MORE OFTEN THAN A VEHICLE THIS YOUNG AGE SHOULD. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
724171
Incident
Feb 15, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2000

THE HEADLAMPS FAILED. WATER ENTERED THE FRONT LIGHTING HARNESS LOCATED BEHIND THE FRONT BUMPER FACIA. THE WATER WAS RETAINED IN THE HARNESS AND CAUSED THE CORROSION OF THE SPLICES FOR THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL CIRCUITS. THE SPLICES WERE BROKEN BY THE CORROSION, RESULTING IN FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
720909
Incident
Mar 15, 2000
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Feb 19, 2000

KNOCKING NOISE NEAR TRUNK AREA, BURNING SMELL CONSTANTLY, PANEL LIGHTS ALWAYS SHOW SOMETHING WRONG, ETS OFF LIGHT BLINKING, TILT STICKS, HORN DEFECTIVE, DON'T START IN WARM WEATHER,POPPING NOISE IN REAR SIDE, COOLANT LEAKS, POWER STEERING HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED UP AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, WINDOW RATTLES WHEN COMING DOWN, WINDOW NOT ALIGNED RIGHT AIR COMES THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES,ALARM DOESN'T WORK 85% OF THE TIME EVEN WITH NEW BATTERIES, NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE JUNE 1, 1999.

NHTSA ID
718978
Incident
Dec 16, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 4, 1999

HEADLIGHT WIRING SHORTED ON BRACKET WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS FAILED. CHEVROLET SAID "TOO BAD" CHARGED $73.53 TO FIX WIRING.

NHTSA ID
704031
Incident
Feb 25, 1999
Driver assistanceInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Dec 18, 1997

LIGHT SWITCH BUTTON/RING FAILED.

NHTSA ID
526803
Incident
Dec 12, 1997

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 .