Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 62 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 62, in the owner's own words
THE ENGINE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WHERE IT DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE AND THE GAS PUMP KEPT MESSING UP AND THE GAS NEEDLE DOESN,T SHOW CORRECT IT WILL SAY YOU HAVE A HALF A TANK WHEN YOU REALLY HAVE A QUARTER TANK, AND THE THROTTLE SENSOR IS MESSED UP I WAS ON I-4 WHICH IS A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN ORLANDO IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THE WAS ON BUT LOSS POWER AND STALLED OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME ABNORMALLY SOFT AND THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE ABS BRAKE MODULE COMPONENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND SO DID MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO DROVE CAR BEFORE ME. ABS WAS ALWAYS VERY SENSITIVE TO ACTIVATING AND WHEN ACTIVATED VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAVE BE DRIVING 40 YEARS AND NEVER OWNED A MORE DIFFICULT VEHICLE TO STOP. HAD BRAKES SERVICED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO AT DEALER, HAVE BRAND NEW MICHELINS. DOES NOT MATTER, I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT THIS CAVALIER ABS SYSTEM AND IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
ABS BRAKES FAIL WHEN TURNING AND BREAKING AT 10 MPH. *NM
DT: CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. AT ANY SPEED, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, ABS KICKS ON AND DOES NOT CATCH, BUT STARTS TO JOLT. BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO CATCH/RELEASE OVER AND OVER, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. ALSO CAUSES ROLLING FOWARD OR BACKWARD IN ANY WEATHER CONDITION OR UNDER ANY DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. CONSUMER HAS BARELY HAD AN ACCIDENT UP TO THIS POINT. VEHICLE HAS ROLLED INTO TRAFFIC SEVERAL TIMES AND CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TT
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP.... THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT WORK... THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES CAN LOCK UP AND SEVERE CONDITIONS, ON GRAVEL, OR ON EXTREMELY HARD STOPS....*JB
CHEY CAVALIER HAS ABS LIGHT ON FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. ALSO IT HAS FAIL MANY TIMES I CALLED THE COMPANY FOR ANSWERS BUT NO ONE HAS HELP. *JB
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE .*AK
BRAKE LINING RUSTED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO INSISTED THERE WAS NOT MUCH THEY COULD DO, AND CONSUMER SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS NOW; IN FEB. 2003 I HAD TO PAY 321.25 TO HAVE AN IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED IN MY CAR (WHICH WAS AN RECALL ISSUE); I ASKED MARTIN BURKS CHEVROLET ON FOREST PARK PARKWAY IN FOREST PARK, GA IF THE IGNITION PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE AND BOB ALLEN, THE AUTO PART SERVICE MANAGER LIED TO ME AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE, SO I PAID $321.25 FOR REPAIR SERVICE TO FIND OUT A YEAR LATER THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM PROBLEM WAS A RECALL ISSUE. SO I WANT TO INFORM YOU THAT CHEVROLET HAS AUTO REPAIR SERVICE CENTERS WITH WORKERS THAT LIES TO CONSUMERS JUST TO TAKE THEIR MONEY. AT THIS PRESENT TIME, MY 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WILL NOT START BECAUSE SOMETHING IS BLOCKING THE FUEL FROM REACH THE MOTOR/ENGINE (WHICH IS ANOTHER RECALL PROBLEM) BUT NOT ACCORDING TO THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER; MY WHEELS FEELS AS IF THEY ARE WOBBLING SOMETIMES; AND MY STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN I TURN IT LEFT OR RIGHT. BY PUTTING IN THE VIN NUMBER, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN FOUR RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE RECALL, SOMEONE IS AGAIN LYING AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THE CARFAX REPORT. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTIES ON THEIR VEHICLES LONGER THAN THEY DO BECAUSE THEIR VEHICLES ARE LEARNED TO BE DEFECTIVE BEFORE A LIFETIME OF 5 YEARS IS UP (PRE YEARS LIFESPAN) FOR ANY VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO PURCHASE THE WARRANTIES, BUT GMPP (GENERAL MOTORS PROTECTION PLAN) SHOULD REISSUE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN SOMEONE HAVE HAD AS MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES AS I HAVE WITHIN THESE LAST TWO YEARS. I FEEL THAT THESE HEADACHES AND EXPENSES COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF MARTIN BURKS HAD FIXED MY CAR THE FIRST TIME; I ALSO FEELS THAT MARTIN BURKS CHEVROLET IS AN UNTRUSTWORTHY SERVICE CENTER. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO INFORM THEM OF THE UNSATISFIED SERVICE I HAVE HAD WITH MARTIN BURKS CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER. *AK
POWER STEERING HAS SLOWLY GONE I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT READ BUT SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEAK BUT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE. IT'S CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO ACT UP AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ANYMORE.!!
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ABS FAILED. *NLM THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
CONSUMER STATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A DELAY IN BRAKING. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH WHEN THE ROAD IS WET, THE BRAKING DISTANCE IS THE LENGTH OF TWO TELEPHONE POLES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES BUT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BRING THE VEHICLE BACK WHEN ITS RAINING. CONSUMER DID SO AND EACH TIME THEY STATED THEY WERE BUSY. MECHANIC WROTE ONE REPAIR ORDER. CONSUMER INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND PADS WHICH HELPED A LITTLE BIT. CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM IS THE ANTI LOCK. *PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
CAR WAS STOPPED ABOUT 2 FEET FROM WALL. FOOT SLIPPED OFF BRAKE ALLOWING CAR TO ROLL FORWARD, CAUSING IT TO BUMP WALL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BUSTED WINDSHIELD. PARTS/SERVICE MANAGER AT OUR LOCAL GENERAL MOTORS DEALER REMOVED BUMPER AND INSPECTED, AND HE SAW NO REASON WHY AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO, THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OTHER THAN AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND BUSTED WINDSHIELD. HE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND REPORTED THIS. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO SEND AN INSPECTOR. *AK
LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS ONLY DUE TO LUCK. I CONTACTED GM REGARDING THIS, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE I DIDN'T BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR "MAINTENANCE" (I DO ALL MY OWN OIL AND EASY FILTER CHANGES), I WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANYTHING TO HELP DEFRAY THE $700 COST OF THE ABS MODULATOR THAT FAILED, PREMATURELY, AT ONLY 64,000 MILES. IT IS LUDICROUS THAT THEY CAN TIE OIL CHANGES TO FAILURE OF A KEY BRAKE COMPONENT, AND REWARD REPEAT GM CUSTOMERS IN THIS MANNER. WHILE I AM AWAITING THE REGIONAL PERSON'S FINAL SAY ON THIS, IT DOESN'T SEEM PROMISING, JUDGING BY THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THEY'RE "CUSTOMER CARE" HOTLINE. (NOW THERE'S AN OXYMORON IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE!!). *AK
ABS FAIL TO WORK AT HIGH OR VERY LOW SPEEDS. ROTORS REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEARS. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE LAST TIME I HAD THE ROTORS FIXED THEY PUT A HOLE IN MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID CONTAINER AND WANT OVER $100 TO REPLACE IT. STARTER REFUSES TO TURN OVER OCASIONALLY, DEALER COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A RECALL VERY SOON ON THE BRAKES SOON, I'M LUCKY I HAVEN'T GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT HAS THE SAME CAR HAS HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BRAKES. THEY HAD TO ISSUE A RECALL ON A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM THEY HAD ON THEIR TRUCKS SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR AND WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVY AGAIN. *AK
WHEN I DEPRESS MY BRAKES AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT AWHILE, THEY LOCK UP SLAMMING THE CAR TO A STOP. WHEN IT GETS ICY OUT MY TIRES WILL LOCK UP AND I WILL GO INTO A SKID.*AK
VEHICLE HAS HAD MAJOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACE TWICE, DUE TO THEM BEING WARPED, AT TIMES CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS, DEALER STATES THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.*JB
THIS IS THE THIRD CAVALIER I HAVE OWNED, AND THE LAST. THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT CAR, GUESS I WAS WRONG. THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE BRAKES 3 TIMES (THEY WEAR FUNNY), THE SEAT BROKE AND I FELL INTO MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. AND CHEVROLET HAS ONCE AGAIN STOOD BY THEIR WORD, I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, SO THEY WILL DO NOTHING. WHAT A COMPANY.
3 MINORS INJURED. CAR TOTALED. BRAKES APPLIED, BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND HIT EMBANKMENT.*AK
EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYINGE BRAKES. PROBLEM IS DUE TO AN ABS MODULATOR FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL, AND WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO MAKE LOUD GRINDING NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO DEFECT. BUT, AFTER 3 DAYS CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO INOPERATIVE BRAKES.*AK *SLC
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SHAKING IN THE FRONT WHEN BRAKING, DEALER TURNED ROTORS AND FOUND THAT 60% OF BRAKE PADS WERE LEFT, CONSUMER IS WORRIED THAT THIS HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. *SLC
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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