Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
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
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
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
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
I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER Z24 ON MAY 13, 2004 WITH ONLY 73,000 MILES ON IT PERFECT CONDITION, GREAT CAR, WELL 7 DAYS LATER MY REAR PASSENGER TIRE SNAPPED OFF RESULTING IN ME HAVING AN ACCIDENT !! I AM OUT OF WORK NOW, I AM TRYING TO GET COMPENSATED FOR THIS CAUSE I AM OUT OF MONEY, I FEEL THIS WAS NOT FAIR , THIS WHOLE YEAR I HAVE TRIED TO GET LAWYER AFTER LAWYER NO ONE WANTS TO HELP ME I HAVE THE CAR STILL AND THE TIRE THAT SNAPPED OFF , IT'S A PERFECT CLEAN CUT TO THE AXLE JUST BY LOOKING AT IT YOU CAN TELL THE AXLE GAVE AWAY!! NOW I AM OUT OF A CAR, MONEY, NO JOB, AND PAIN EVERYDAY!!! *JB
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.
FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM
FAILURE OF WHEEL BEARINGS. *JB
THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT ALIGNED. *JB
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL # 98 V 319 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
AFTER LISTENING TO A SQUEEK NOISE FROM TRUNK AREA PROCEED TO A CLUNKING NOISE, I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT REAR STRUT AND IT'S MOUNT HAD FAILED REQUIRING BOTH TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $800. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MUFFLER FAILED PREMATURELY. WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURLEY. STARTING TO THINK 1996 CAVALIER WAS NOT ENGINEERED VERY WELL.
SHOCKS COMPRESS ALL THE WAY AND MAKE A LOUD SLAMMING NOISE, HAPPENS AT VERY SLOW RATE OF TRAVEL ON VERY SMALL BUMPS, AND GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR LARGER BUMPS.*JB
REAR STRUTS & MOUNTS & EXHAUST HANGERS REPLACED AT 47,000 MILES. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED.
CONSUMER CAN HEAR A BUMPING IN REAR DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE.*AK
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.
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.
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION RECALL COMPONENT, HOWEVER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY RECEIVING REPAIR WORK. MJS (98V-319)
SUSPENSION SYSTEM CONTINUALLY MAKES NOISE.
WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED A KNOCKING NOISE IN FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHICH THE OCCUPANT BELIEVES MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
FRONT BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLEY FAILURE.
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/ENGINE/MUFFLER/CONVERTER/SEAT/HORN/POWER STEERING HOSE AND WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED.
FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS DID NOT LOCK, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT MOVED FORWARD. ALSO, CLUTCH PEDAL CLICKS WHEN DEPRESSED/FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/DOME LIGHT INOPERATIVE AT TIMES WHEN OPENING LEFT DOOR. *AK
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
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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