1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DETAILS INVOLVING THE REPAIR AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10680964

Incident

Nov 28, 2014

Mileage

180,000 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT AND LOCKED. WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT DUE TO ANY TYPE OF DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

NHTSA ID

10390397

Incident

Dec 28, 2010

Mileage

116,000 mi

1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH A STEERING COLUMN RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL AND BY THE TIME THEY RECEIVED THE SECOND ONE THEIR DAUGHTER HAD DIED IN THAT VEHICLE DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10217148

Incident

Dec 28, 2003

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WORKS WHEN DRIVING FORWARD AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BUT FAILS ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. GMC STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A CHEVROLET DEALER AWAITING REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10205267

Incident

Oct 5, 2007

Mileage

61,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE STEERING:RACK AND PINION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10167687

Incident

Sep 8, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000, REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10155995

Incident

Apr 24, 2006

Mileage

84,005 mi

THE STEERING COLUMN IN THE CONSUMER'S 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LOCKED UP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM IN JANUARY 2003. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151945

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. CAR FAILS TO STEER LEFT AND ALMOST CAUSES A CRASH DUE TO LACK OF BEING ABLE TO STEER. ABILITY TO STEER TO THE RIGHT IS FINE. MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS NOW WORRIES ME WHEN DRIVING. DURING MY COMMUTE I AM CONSTANTLY WORRIED WHETHER OR NOT I CAN MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED THREE ACCIDENTS. WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED CONSIDERING ALL THE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS LISTED WITH THE NHTSA? PLENTY OF GM MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS TAKE THE FALL WHEN IT STEMS BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER?

NHTSA ID

10130116

Incident

Jul 17, 2005

Mileage

125,000 mi

TAKING A LEFT TURN IN A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER LEFT WITHOUT ABILITY TO CORRECT UNTIL EXPLICIT FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE INCIDENTS LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SLUGGISH CONTROL AND THEREFORE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH ASKED FOR 800$ FOR THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN GM CARS HAS BEEN SEEN THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET, AND A COMPLAINT IS MORE THAN NECESSARY.

NHTSA ID

10116514

Incident

Mar 4, 2005

Mileage

8 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V286000 CONCERNING RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT, HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10113698

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN IN 97 CAVALIER, CAUSED AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN EXTREME INJURIES. *BF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V286000. THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A SLOW LEFT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED LATE STRIKING THE CONSUMERS LEFT EYE. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10105410

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A STEEL POLE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE RACK PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID

10094224

Incident

Sep 23, 2004

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN RACK PINION STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION: PINION SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092001

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V186000; STEERING ASSEMBLY; THE OWNER TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER ITEMS WERE WRONG. THOSE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE. IT APPEARS THAT THEIR INTEREST WAS NOT ABOUT THE STEERING, IN WHICH THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION. THE CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE REPAIRS MADE TO HER VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILING ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB TIRE WAS HIT WITH A NAIL CREATING AN UNBALANCED TIRE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10091441

Incident

Sep 7, 2004

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND WHEN TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE WHEELS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, AND INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090305

Incident

Apr 21, 2004

Mileage

81,150 mi

RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT- WAS LATER A RECALL. HEAD GASKET CRACKED LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. AIRBAG RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10069314

Incident

Jul 15, 1999

Mileage

50,000 mi

IN FEBRUARY, I HAD TAKEN MY 1997 CHEVY CAVALIER TO THE DEALER FOR THE BEARING RECALL IN FEB OF 2003, AFTER THAT I HAD PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING LEFT MY STEERING GETS HARD AND HAVE NO CONTROL, I HAD THE RACK CHANGED, IN JULY OF 2003 IT WORKED FINE UP TILL SAT. JAN 10, 2004 I HAD NO CONTROL WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AND IT STILL DOES IT, AND IM AFRAID THAT IT COULD INJURE MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. I SAW THE RECALL THAT GM WAS DOING AND THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD BE MY PROBLEM AS WELL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052990

Incident

Jan 10, 2004

THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FROM A PREVIOUS RECALL. RECALL NO. # 02V286000, SUBJECT: POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S GRANDDAUGHTER FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TO COLLIDE WITH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND CITED THE CONSUMER'S GRAND DAUGHTER. THE CONSUMER'S GRANDDAUGHTER AND THE OTHER DRIVER BOTH SUFFERED WHIPLASH. *PH

NHTSA ID

10047850

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

Mileage

76,000 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

CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING 5-10 MPH, VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL DID A 360* TURN WHILE STILL TRAVELING , AND VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING RACK IN PINION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040505

ON APRIL 23, 2003 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TWO RECALLS. THE FIRST WAS RECALL 02V070000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. THE SECOND WAS RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, DEALER DID DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031636

Incident

Apr 23, 2003

SAFETY RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT. *MR CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1,1996 AND OCTOBER 31,1997 THAT COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARING TO ESCAPE. SO THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS BROUGHT BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID

10042033

Incident

Mar 24, 2003

Mileage

56,485 mi

WHEN MY CAR FIRST STARTED ACTING UP, THE STEERING WOULD KIND OF HANG WHEN TURING TO THE LEFT. I AM NOT A MECHANIC SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. I CHANGED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH HELPED IT SOME. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER MY FRIEND AND I WERE GOING TO SCHOOL, WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL HUNG AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT BUT I WAS WRONG. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT SENDING US OFF THE ROAD RIGHT INTO A TREE AT ABOUT 30 M\P\H. MY FRIEND SUFFERED AN INJURY TO HIS HIP AND HAD TO HAVE SURGERY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I NEVER GOT THE RECALL STATEMENT AND HAVE YET TO. GM HAS NOW SAID THEY WILL NOT COMPINSATE ME OR MY FRIEND FOR DAMAGES SUSTAINED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029139

Incident

Feb 13, 2003

RACK AND PINION FAILURE. WHILE TURNING ONTO THE INTERSTATE MY 17 YEAR OLDS 1997 CHEVY CAVALIER STEERING LOCKED, MAKIING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY SHE ONLY GRAZED THE GAURD RAIL BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A FATAL FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028950

Incident

Jul 20, 2003

Mileage

87,000 mi