1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical Problems

CAR RADIATOR FAN WON'T KICK ON CAUSE CAR TO GET VERY DANGEROUSLY HOT CAUSING CAR TO BECOME A BOMB

NHTSA ID

10936588

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING MY HORN STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY KIND OF INDICATOR!! 3 TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING !! MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE! WAS UNABLE WARN CAR BACKING OUT AND HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT! REPLACED FUSE 3 TIMES!! SOMEONE MAY DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION!! NEVER RECEIVED ANY KIND OF NOTICE FROM DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURE REGARDING THIS ISSUE! UPON GOOGLING FOUND MANY ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM!! A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH MAY RESULT BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT!!!PLEASE,PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM !!!!!! ALSO THE GAGE LIGHTS TEND TO STAY ON!! FIRST IT WAS THE OIL SENSOR LITE, NOW THE RADIATOR LITE!! BOTH CHAMBERS ARE FULL EVEN AFTER PROFESSIONAL SERVICING!!!!!! THE OIL LITE STILL COMES ON JUST HAD PROFESSIONAL OIL SERVICE?!????

NHTSA ID

10838740

Incident

Feb 22, 2016

Mileage

162,000 mi

THE SAFETY DEVICE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WON'T GO OFF, CAN'T START MY CAR. *JS

NHTSA ID

10681975

Incident

Dec 24, 2014

Mileage

117,000 mi

MY 1987 CHEVY CAVALIAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I HEARD CLICKING IN THE CLUSTER AND THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT TURNS ON AND MY FUEL PUMP SHUTS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN IN VERY CRITICAL PLACES WHILE THIS SITUATION TAKES PLACE. THE THEFT SYSTEM HAS SHUT MY VEHICHLE OFF ON THE HIGHWAY, IN THE INTERSECTION ECT.. I HAVE TRYED TO RESET THIS SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MANY CHEVY CAVALIARS AND OTHER GM MODELS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND SHOULD BE FIXED. I, A LOYAL GM CUSTOMER, SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DRIVE A UNPREDICTABLE VEHICHLE THAT HAS SECURITY PROBLEMS THAT ARE DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MAKING OF THE SYSTEM. I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS AND AM STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659080

Incident

Sep 5, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY REAR DEFROST QUIT WORKING AND I WENT AND CHECKED SOME OF THE CONNECTIONS. THE CONNECTION UNDER THE DASH HAD BEEN MELTED, WITH THE PLASTIC SHOWING EVIDENCE OF BEING MELTED. I HAVE DONE SOME CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND IT APPEARS IT IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU CHECK GM CARS PONTIAC, AND GM SOME OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON BASED OFF THE FORUMS AND YOU TUBE VIDEO'S. IT APPEARS IN IMPALA, CAVALIER, SUNFIRE, AND THIS ISN'T AN ALL INCLUSIVE LIST. THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A FEW YEARS AND GM ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652496

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND EXPOSED MELTED WIRES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568604

Incident

Mar 4, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE FIRST INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS IN 2009. IT WAS THAT THE SWITCH OF THE KEY ENGINE DID NOT WANT TO START. SOMEONE CAME TO FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO REPAIR IT. HE HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND I WOULD BE TUNING THE KEY TO THE ENGINE TO START I WOULD HAVE TO PUSH THAT BUTTON TO START THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACING LIGHT BULBS CONSTANCY FROM THE REAR BACK OF THE SINGLE LIGHT. THE THEFT LOCK SYSTEM WOULD BE TURNING IT SELF ON WHILE I WOULD BE DRIVING. THANKFULLY THERE WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT I WOULD BE STRUGGLING TO START MY CAR .I HAD TO WAIT SOME COUPLE OF MINUTES TO START THE CAR. THE RECENT INCIDENT THAT OCCUR WAS WHEN MY NEIGHBOR HEARD LIKE SOME FIREWORKS IN OUR SIDE OF OUR HOUSE. HE TOOK A LOOK AND HE SEEN THAT OUR CAR WAS SOME SPARKLING LIGHTS OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT WHAT HE SEEN AND HE TOLD US THAT MORNING. AS I WALK TOWARDS THE CAR I COULD SMELL SMOKE AS IF SOMETHING BURN. I WANTED TO START MY CAR BUT WOULDN'T START. SOME ONE CAME TO FIXED IT AND HAD TO REPLACE SOME CABLE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE THAT WAS THAT CAUSE THE SPARKING OF THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10567219

Incident

Sep 20, 2009

Mileage

119 mi

AS I WAS GOING TO TURN THE SWITCH ON TO TURN ON MY CAR IT DIDN'T WANT TO START. I HAD SOME ONE FIX IT BUT COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO FIX IT. THEY HAD TO ADD A BUTTON UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO START THE CAR AS I TURN THE SWITCH ON. THERE WAS COUPLE A OF TIMES WHERE THE CAR WOULD GO ON PASSLOCK BY ITSELF AND WOULDN'T START UNTIL A LONG PERIOD OF WAITING. THE EXTERNAL HEADLIGHTS BURN CONSTANTLY AND I WOULD BUY NEW BULBS FOR THE BACK LIGHTS. ONE TIME OUR NEIGHBOR SAID HE HEARD NOISE LIKE FIREWORKS ON OUR PROPERTY AND HE SAID THAT HE SEEN OUR CAR WAS SPARKING LIGHT OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT MORNING OF THAT DAY HE TOLD US AND AS WE WERE CHECKING THE CAR I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNED. AS A RESULT OF THAT THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO START . THE AUTO REPAIR PEOPLE HAD TO COME TO OUR HOUSE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT SOME WIRES INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BURNED BUT MOSTLY I HAVE BEEN FIXING MORE OF ELECTRICAL SWITCHES AND BURNED WIRES. I APPRECIATE FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO READ THIS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564734

Incident

Sep 14, 2009

Mileage

119 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ACTIVATED THE ANTI THEFT MODE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10467247

Incident

Jul 16, 2012

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN AND IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HORN SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10447035

Incident

Feb 1, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

1997 CHEVY CAVALIER STEERING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MARCH 10, 2011. CAR HAD NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THE FIRE. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION. CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER BEING USED FOR A SHORT DRIVE. THE CAVALIER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE FROM THE CAR. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397150

Incident

Mar 10, 2011

Mileage

185,747 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED LAST YEAR FOR MY DAUGHTER. WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY TO START, THE KEY WAS LEFT IN THE START POSITION A FEW TIMES TRYING TO GET STARTED. WE NOTICED A SPARK COME FROM THE COLUMN AND NOTHING. I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH DOING THE SAME THING AS I STATED ABOVE. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL BECAUSE NOW THEY ARE STATING THE LOCK CYLINDER MECHANISM IS BROKE AND THEY CANT GET INTO THE COLUMN WITHOUT BREAKING IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT NOW THAT IT IS FAILED THEY WON'T FIX THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286349

Incident

Oct 2, 2008

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE STARTING MY CHEVY CAVALIER. THE PROBLEM IS THE THEFT SYSTEM. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER AND THE CHEVY PLACE SAID IT WOULD BE 400 DOLLARS TO FIX. I HAVE READ THAT ALOT OF CHEVY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HAVE THIS RECALL. I BEG YOU THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10230032

Incident

Mar 5, 2007

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219246

Incident

Feb 22, 2008

SOMETIMES I HAVE TROUBLE STARTING CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10182725

Incident

Feb 13, 2007

PASSLOCK/THEFTLOCK SYSTEM ENABLES WITH KNOWN KEY IN SYSTEM PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING OR SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING DISABLING POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEMS. A GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS SYSTEM. GM'S ATTITUDE IS LACKADAISICAL TOWARD THIS ISSUE AT BEST. DEALERS WILL NOT DISABLE SYSTEM AND AFTER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ARE SPENT ON FIXING THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA ID

10170605

Incident

Oct 9, 2006

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY CAR HAS RECENTLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166255

Incident

Jul 14, 2006

Mileage

133,000 mi

DT RECALL 00V053000 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE RETURN AND THE FEED LINE. THE RETURN LINE STARTED LEAKING FIRST AND THEN A MONTH LATER, THE FEED LINE STARTED LEAKING. NOTICED IT ON JULY 29, 2005 THIS IS WHEN THE RETURN METAL FITTING WAS LEAKING AND THE RETURN STARTED LEAKING ON AUGUST 29, 2005. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THE PART THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING THE WHOLE UNIT, AND WITH LABOR WOULD COST $600.00 OR $700.00. ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 02V070000. THIS VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER IT COMPLETELY. THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON. THE DEALER HAS NOT LOOKED AT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL 98V146000 CONCERNING AIR BAGS. VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. DID NOT HAVE THE DEALER CHECK THIS. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10136553

Incident

Jul 29, 2005

Mileage

112,000 mi

THE CYLINDER LOCK HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE ON POSITION. THE KEY IS STUCK. CONSUMER HAD TO LET THE VEHICLE RUN UNTIL IT SHUT ITSELF OFF, MEANING IT HAD TO RUN OUT OF GAS. IT WILL NOT LET THE CONSUMER RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113110

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 02V07000. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS. THIS RECALL FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091882

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE HORN FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK THERE WAS ERRATIC HORN OPERATION. THE HORN DIDN'T WORK 50% OF THE TIME. THE DEALERS NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10080047

Incident

Apr 28, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE BUT IT FAILED TO DO SO. CONSUMER LIFTED UP THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT MAIN WIRE TO STARTER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO A WORN OUT RELAY SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10073485

Incident

May 11, 2004

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON THE WIRING HARNESS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10045032

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE IGNITION SWITCH STUCK. RECALL 02V070000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE BEARING HUB PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED BY THE MECHANIC. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044834

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

78,633 mi

LOSS OF STEERING AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BEFORE VEHICLE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ANYTHING. REGARDING JANNIE WELCH.*MR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND WAS REPAIR BY THE DEALER ON OCT. 7, 1998. THE VEHICLE TAPE PLAYER SOUNDED GARBLED AND THE SPEAKERS WERE NOT VERY LOUD. THE HORN WIRE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE. A LEAKING SEAL WITHIN THE POWER STEERING SHAFT CAUSED A WHINING SOUND. (BRADLEY BANKS ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042574

Incident

May 1, 1999