Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 66 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 66, in the owner's own words
THE GAS GAUGE IS GOING HAYWIRE. IT PEGS TO THE "F", AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PEGS TO THE "E", EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS HALF FULL. THE GAUGE THEN JUMPS AROUND THE MIDDLE FORM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER SIDE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL HOW MUCH IS IN THE TANK. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO WHILE SITTING AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,467.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRES FROM THE ALTERNATOR WERE ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY COULD NOT BE INSERTED ALL THE WAY IN THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN ON THE VEHICLE THE KEY NEEDED TO BE SLIGHTLY OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED. WHEN THE THEFT SYSTEM FAILED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PASS LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
IGNITION SWITCH, OR ANTI THEFT SYSTEM, CAUSES FUEL PUMP TO NOT WORK PROPERLY AND ALSO FUEL INJECTORS, BEEN IN GARAGE 3 TIMES AND FINALLY WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM AFTER SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, WAS TOLD GM HAD A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR
THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR MOST OF ITS LIFE. WHEN MY SISTER BOUGHT IT. SHE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE WITH IT STARTING UP. SHE WOULD HAVE TO TRY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD FINALLY START UP. IM NOT SURE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE IGNITION SWITCH. BUT THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THIS GETS EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU DO THIS? I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS. *TR
ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS CAR IS IT IS A PIECE OF JUNK. I HAVE HAD MINE FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW AND IN THIS TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD TO PUT ABOUT 7,000 DOLLARS OF WORK INTO IT. AS OF RIGHT NOW MY CAR IS SITTING 200 HUNDRED MILES AWAY ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE THE WIRING TO MY STARTER KEEPS BLOWING MY STARTERS UP. AND AS FAR AS IM CONCERNED THE CAR CAN STAY THERE. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOTHER GOING TO GET IT. SOMEONE ELSE CAN BAR THE BURDEN THAT COMES WITH THAT CAR! IM DONE! *TR
DT: THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN TWO YEARS BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL O4V036000 NOTICE CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MARCH 2004. THE OWNER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A RELAY KIT AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND WORKED FINE FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. THE OWNER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY DRAINING, AND HAVING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT LEAST ONE OTHER TIME IN NOVEMBER 2004. THE OWNER TALKED WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER ACTUALLY WANTED TO CHARGE FOR CHECKING AS TO WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. OWNER HAS TALKED WITH RONALD BERKAN AT GENERAL MOTORS, WHO CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE AS REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. MR. BERKAN ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT INVOLVED. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT GM WOULD DO UNDER THIS RECALL.*AK CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT IF RECALL WORK IS NOT PERFORMED THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND NOW HAS TO JUMP START VEHICLE EVERY 24 HOURS. *TT
WHEN THE WEATHER BEGAN TO WARM UP LAST SUMMER MY CAR STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS STARTING. I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND MY ENGINE WOULD TURN AND TURN BUT NOT FIRE CORRECTLY. AFTER A FEW TRIES, IT WOULD FINALLY START UP. I DIDN'T THINK ANY THING OF THIS PROBLEM AT FIRST, BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTED MISFIRING LIKE THIS QUITE FREQENTLY AFTER THE WEATHER BEGAN TO GET REALLY WARM AND HUMID OUTSIDE AND I HAD PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN MY VEHICLE THAT DAY. I HAVE HAD ALL THE RECALLS FIXED ON MY CAR, INCLUDING THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THIS PROBLEM WITH STARTING MY CAR STILL PERSISTED. ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND IT DIDN'T START AT ALL AND IT ENDED UP MY BATTERY HAD DIED AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ABOVE STATED PROBLEM, BUT I'M SURE THE ROUGH STARTS WERE NOT GOOD ON MY BATTERY EITHER. I FINALLY MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AFTER I HAD THEM INSTALL A NEW BATTERY AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. NOT SUPRISINGLY, THE DAY AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, IT STARTED ROUGH AGAIN. I BOUGHT ONE OF THOSE MANUALS THAT HELPS YOU IDENTIFY AND CORRECT AUTOMOBILE PROBLEMS YOURSELF, SO I HAVE REPLACED COOLANT SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS, SPARK PLUG WIRES, AND FLUIDS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 2005 AND THE WEATHER IS COOLER OUTSIDE AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS THUS FAR. I'M AFRAID WHEN IT STARTS TO GET WARMER OUTSIDE, THOUGH, THAT I'LL BEGIN TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. IS THERE ANY HELP THAT I CAN GET WITH THIS PROBLEM? ARE THERE ANY RECALLS OR HAS ANYBODY ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM? THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP.
RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER TO DO RECALL REPAIRS AGAIN. *AK
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
NHTSA RECALL 04V036000 ON THE IGNITION SWITCH . AFTER HAVING THE RELAY KIT REPLACED,THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. *JB THE CONSUMER HAD A REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS FAULTY. *TC
I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL 6 TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE CIRCUIT BOARD REPLACED. THE HOUSING, THE SOCKET, AND NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR. TODAY MY REAR PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT/TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT AND UPON INSPECTION THE BULB HAD MELTED IN THE SOCKET. THIS IS POSING A HAZARD TO ME. NO BRAKE LIGHTS, OR TURN SIGNALS IN THE REAR. *JB
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, I HAD MY CAR FOR 4 YRS, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THE NEXT MONTH THE COILS BURN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACE. I HAD MY CAR FIXED 7 TIMES FOR THE SAME THING. I STILL HAVE A CAR NOTE AND MY CAR STILL ISN'T RUNNING, I CAN'T TRADE IT IN BECAUSE THE MARKET VALUE IS LOW AND MY NEGATIVE EQUITY IS TOO HIGH. I HAVE PUT ALMOST $6,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS IN MY CAR AND STILL OWE $5,000.00, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY CREDIT IS BAD BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LATE ON MY CAR NOTE TRYING TO GET THE CAR FIX EVERY OTHER MONTH. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS REAL BAD, THE CORDS BURN OUT TWCE, I HAD EVERY CINSOR IN MY CAR REPLACE, I HAD TWO NEW BATTERIES IN THE LAST YEAR. EVERYTHING UNDER MY HOOD IS ALMOST BRAND NEW AND MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN AGAIN, AND I JUST GOT IT OUT THE SHOP 1 MONTH AGO. I NEED HELP IN REGARDS TO THIS SITUATION.*AK
04 V 036 000/IGNITION SWITCH: CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STARTING PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN RECALL# 04V036000. THE CONSUMER WOULD PLACE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, TURN THE KEY TO THE START POSITION AND THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *SC THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS EVER PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, SINCE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT PROBLEMS. *JB
RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED REGARDING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL# 04V036000. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER AND BATTERY. THE STARTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARED THAT THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAD A SHORT SERVICE SPAN IN THIS MAKE/MODEL. *SC THE CONSUMERS BILL TOTALED OVER SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT WAS SENT A CHECK FOR 136.62 FOR THE PART WHICH PERTAINED TO THE RECALL. *JB
WHILE TURNING RIGHT CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIRS, BUT BEFORE THE CONSUMER COULD GET HOME, THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. *AK THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ALSO ILLUMINATED. *SC THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE SHE RECEIVED THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE DEALER CONTINUED TO TELL THE CONSUMER THAT THEY DID THEIR PART AND ANYTHING FURTHER WOULD COST THE CONSUMER. *JB
WHILE UNDER SLOW ACCELERATION THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS MISFIRING OR HESITATING. THE CAR JERKS REPETITIVELY. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP NO CODES WHERE DETECTED. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH. *MR RECALL#04V036000. THE VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER AND BATTERY. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. *SC
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
ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE CAME OUT THE IGNITION AND STEERING COLUMN. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE IGNITION SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR ALL REPAIRS ALONG WITH REIMBURSEMENT FOR OTHER EXPENSES INCURRED. *NM
NHTSA 04V036000\ IGNITION \SWITCH. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR RAN AND REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO GET THE REMEDY DONE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
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.
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