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 1997 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
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
THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN MANEUVERING A TURN. ALSO MY WATER PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. MY FINAL COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN I TRY AND START MY VEHICLE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START WHEN HOLDING IT IN THE START POSITION. *JB
AFTER THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES FRONT END. *NLM. *AK
THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE BALL BEARING WAS BROKE. *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH FRONT SUSPENSION (RACK AND PINION , SHOCK ABSORBER AND BRAKES). DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
HIGHLY UNUSUAL REPAIR FOR 'NEWER' VEHICLE-1997 80,000-& UNUSUAL THAT BOTH FRONT RIGHT/FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS SUGGESTED AS REASON FOR PART FAILURE SO SOON. PLEASE REVIEW MANUFACTURER'S INSTALLATION. *AK
WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE WILL PULL STRONGLY TO RIGHT, ALSO HARD TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC
I WAS INVOLED IN A 3 CAR CRASH. ONE OF THE CARS HIT A VEHICLE BROADSIDE AND THEN BOUNCED OFF HER AND HIT THE REAR LEFT PANEL AND BUMPER OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE AFTER THE ACCIDENT I EXPERIENCED A LOUD NOISE FROM THE BACK AND VIBRATIONS WHEN I TRAVEL MORE THAN 50 MPH. THE DEALER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAD FIXED THE BODY DAMAGE BUT NOTICED MY REAR AXLE WAS BENT. HE WAS WAITING ON AAA TO CALL TO OK IT GETTING FIXED. WELL, THEY NEVER STOPPED BY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT BECUASE LOOKING AT THE BODY DAMAGE THEY SAID THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD HAVE CASUED A BENT REAR AXLE. HE SAID THEY ONLY WAY I COULD HAVE GOTTEN A BENT AXLE WAS FROM A DIRECT HIT TO THE TIRE OR GONE OFF THE ROAD. THE MAN DRIVING HIT ME AT LEAST 35 MPH RIGHT THERE AT MY TIRE BUT FROM THE LOOKS OF IT I CAN'T TELL IF HE HIT THE TIRE. THE INS GUY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY THERE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND I JUST DIDN'T NOTICE IT. WHAT EVER! MY ALIGNMENT WAS JUST FINE AND THE WEAR ON MY TIRES WAS FROM NORMAL WEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE WAY IT VIBRATES DOESN'T "JUST HAPPEN". I AM SURE HE IS TRYING TO INSINUATE THAT I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. PLEASE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH REAR, SIDE CRASHES. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY CAVALIERS DON'T WITHSTAND WELL COLLISIONS FROM THE REAR AND SIDE. THE INSURANCE CO IS DECLINING TO PAY THIS PROBLEM AND IS TELLING ME TO MAKE OUT ANOTHER CLAIM FOR THE BENT REAR AXLE. THAT IS STUPID. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM TILL AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE A STRONG ODOR ENTERS PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT, FOLLOWING EXTREME VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CAN NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN DRIVING 80-85 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DRIFTED TO LEFT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP AND ROLL OVER FOUR TIMES, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO DRIVER SIDE OCCUPANT, AND KILLING THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. *AK
WHEN DRIVING ON ANY SORT OF BUMPY ROAD THERE IS A CONSTANT 'SQUEAK, RUSTY SOUND' IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT SOUNDS LIKE A OLD SQUEAKY BED. ALSO WITH BACKING UP A LOUD LONG SQUEAK COMES FROM THE FRONT END SUPSPENSION. I'VE HAD THE FRONT BRAKES CHANGED AND PADS REPLACED TWICE (DUE TO MECHANICS NEGLIGENCE). AT THIS SAME TIME I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS, BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. IT'S A VERY ANNOYING SOUND ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING, YOU THINK EVERYONE AROUND CAN HEAR IT AND ALSO IT SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO FALL APART FROM THE FRONT END (?) SUSPENSION!
REAR MOUNT BECOMES LOOSE COULD BREAK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.WE CAUGHT OURS IN TIME. *AK
IN JUL7 OF 1999, THE ETS OFF LIGHT AND THEENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THE MECHANIC SAID THE COMPUTER SHOWED DUE TO EMISSION REGULATIONS, THE EGR VALVE NEEDED REPLACED. REPLACED THE VALVE, A MONTH LATER THE TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE EGR VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE SYSTEM WAS VERY SENSITIVE, BUT THE EGR WAS FINE AND JUST RESET THE LIGHTLS. LAST WEEK THE TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN, THE EGR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY, THE CAR STARTED JERKING FIERCELY AND THE TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THIS SYSTEM AND WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING THE PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A COMPUTER DEFECT, A VALVE DEFECT OR WHAT. BUT IT'S NOT SAVE TO HAVE A VEHICLE THAT CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF THE TRACTION SYSTEM DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND CAUSES THE CAR TO JEK WHILE DRIVING. *AK
THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. NLM
HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH CAR - AT 20,000 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND MACHINED ROTORS, AFTER I REQUESTED THEY BE CHECKED DUE TO SQUEAKING. SERVICE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 30,000 - THE BATTERY FAILED ON CAR WHILE PARKED. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED BATTERY. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CELL. SERVICE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT 40,000 MILES, HORN HAS FAILED. CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH DEALER TO REPLACE WITHOUT COST. HAVE ALWAYS HAD ABS PROBLEMS - CAR WILL BUCK AND JERK UNDER CERTAIN WET PAVEMENT CONDITIONS WHEN ABS SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE. CONCERNED ABOUT THIS - BUT CANNOT AFFORD COST OF REPLACING ABS. DEALER HAS LOOKED AT BRAKES AND SAID NOTHING ABOUT ABS PROBLEMS. HAVE BANGING/CLANGING NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR OF CAR WHEN CAR IS COLD. UNSURE WHAT CAUSES THIS. AFTER READING THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND DEFECTS ON THIS WEBSITE, BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS THESE SAME DEFECTS. FRIGHTENED THAT MY CAR IS NOW INCREDIBLY UNRELIABLE AND MAY CATCH FIRE LIKE OTHER CARS LISTED. SUGGESTIONS?
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN STEERING SLIPS, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE EVO SENSOR. *AK
THERE IS SOME GRINDING AND KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
SWAY BAR BUSHING OUT OF ORDER. YH
RECALL REPAIRS ON REAR SUSPENSION TAILING ARM NOT PERFORMED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
RECALL WORK ON THE (REAR SUSPENSION-TRAILING ARM BOLTS) #98V319000, CAN NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH NOTICED VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN AND PULLING TO THE LEFT. LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM BOLTS TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING. *AK
FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTOR WORE OUT, CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ALSO DEALER REPLACED ENGINE MOUNTS/IGNITION SWITCH. BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND RUBBING AGAINST AXLE SHAFT AND WAS FIXED. IN ADDITION, FRONT END SHAKES/VIBRATES.
DASHBOARD CRACKS AND MAKES POPPING NOISE.
NEW REAR STRUTS INSTALLED AND RATTLE CONTINUES. NEW DASH INSTALLED AND SQUEAK CONTINUES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE DETERMINED.
NOISY REAR DUE TO DEFECTIVE REAR STRUTS. IN ADDITION, ACCELERATOR STICKS AT STOP LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE. *AK
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
Data on this page last refreshed .