RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
18
Latest May 2, 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 540 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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistance
Filed May 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72622 ,AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72632. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT RELEASED THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. AFTER PHYSICALLY LIFTING THE PEDAL UP WITH THE SHOE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED FOR ABOUT 9 MILES. HOWEVER, AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE A FEW TIMES THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED WORKING. SHE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND MADE IT TO DEALER WHERE SHE LEFT THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 45 DEGREES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AT FUL THROTTLE. UPDATED 05/23/07.*JB

NHTSA ID
10189550
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
72,622 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 14, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED H THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH HE TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH SHOULD MANUALLY TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. HOWEVER, THESE ATTEMPTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AS A RESULT, HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. HE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. AFTERWARDS, HE PULLED THE FUSE AND DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. NO FURTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10145214
Incident
Dec 13, 2005
Mileage
164,900 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 16, 2004

DEFECT SUMMARY: THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE COULD HAVE BEEN KINKED DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING HIGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL EFFORT, STICKING ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE, OR A BROKEN ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE. *AK CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: IF THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE STICKS OR BREAKS, UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND/OR LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL CAN RESULT INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. REQUESTED CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL CABLE ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID
10086962
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Mar 25, 2003

THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND STALLED. THE SPARK PLUGS MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE HEAD WARPED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE INTERNAL EXHAUST HEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY SWITCH, REMOVED THE HEAD AND RESURFACED. THE ELECTRIC FANS DON'T TURN ON. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FAN RELAY, ECT SENSOR, AND FUSIBLE LINK SHORTED(REMOVED REPLACED). THE VEHICLE HAD SURGED AND DIED OUT. THE SENSOR CONNECTOR CLIP BROKEN AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSOLE UNDER THE RADIO HAD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, DUE TO MULTIPLE DTC PLUGS FOULED. THE VACUUM LINE HAD BROKEN, AND THE CONNECTORS WERE RE-PINNED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AND THERE WAS POOR BATTERY CONTACT TO THE TERMINAL. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 25-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO REV UP. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND THE COOLER LINES WERE FLUSHED. THERE WAS NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND OR THE DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN. THE TENSIONER WAS REPLACED/RESEALED, THE TIMING CHAIN WAS GREASED, AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10009896
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 4, 2001

WHILE THE VEHICLE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHT WITH CONSUMER'S FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL, ENGINE WILL RUN AT HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPMS AND ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANY CODE ON COMPUTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
889628
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Dec 12, 2000

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE IDLING AND WITHOUT WARNING , DEALER HAS REPLACED THROTTLE POSITIONING CENTER, AND REPROGRAMMED PCM, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURRING, AND CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
876369
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 16, 2000

VEHICLE ACCELERATES AND WILL NOT STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID
556143
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 14, 1999
Fire reported2 injuries reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL, DUE TO THROTTLE STICKING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE AND INJURIES. *YC

NHTSA ID
546095
Incident
Jun 14, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT THROTTLE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN CRUISE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF. DRIVER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP. APPLYING THE BRAKES DOES NOT HELP. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THIS REASON. *AK

NHTSA ID
834903
Incident
Feb 5, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 21, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55MPH THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 85 MPH, BLOWING THE BRAKES, AND CAUSING SPARKS TO FLY FROM TIRES. TO STOP, CONSUMER WAS ON AN INCLINE THAT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, AND CONSUMER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
833861
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 2, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PRESSURE OF APPLYING THE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
836087
Incident
Oct 4, 1998
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Nov 25, 1998

SPARK SPLUG FAILED CAUSING ENGINE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID
542730
Incident
May 8, 1997
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jul 20, 1998

VEHICLES DIES INTERMITTENTLY AFTER A COLD START. AFTER RESTARTING VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WILL RACE. ALSO VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR BEING APPLIED. BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, IT SURGED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
538492
Incident
Jun 1, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 10, 1998

WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR OR ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AS SOON AS TAKING FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
823701
Incident
May 26, 1998
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Jan 21, 1998

NOISY REAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR STRUTS. IN ADDITION, ACCELERATOR STICKS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
523397
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 4, 1997
1 injury reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
525640
Incident
Jul 10, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 20, 1997

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH.

NHTSA ID
524969
Incident
May 12, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 24, 1997
Crash reported

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL, WANDERING AND UNABLE TO STEER, RAN INTO BORDER, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. *AK

NHTSA ID
810314
Incident
Mar 22, 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 .