1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Steering Problems

STEERING DOES NOT TURN GOING AT A RATE OF 5 MPH. *TT

NHTSA ID

10459257

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE IN ANY SELECTED GEAR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING: RACK AND PINION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 5/24/11 *CN UPDATED 1/18/2012 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10395493

Incident

Apr 8, 2011

Mileage

139,000 mi

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW, I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE STALLING ON HILLS OR INCLINES. MY CAR WILL START TO FEEL AS IF IT'S GOING TO STALL, AND THE RPM'S JUMP UP AS IF I AM ACCELERATING THE GAS, BUT SINCE THIS NORMALLY ONLY HAPPENS ON HILLS, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, MY CAR WILL NOT STOP, B/C THE RPM'S ARE STILL HIGH, THEN THAT'S WHEN THE CAR STALLS, AND OF COURSE MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, AND I CANNOT STOP WITHOUT USING THE E-BRAKE, OR PUT IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. I HAVE NO WARRANTY LEFT SINCE IT HAS EXPIRED, HOWEVER, I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALWAYS SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, AND IT'S NOT FAIR THAT THIS DEFECT HAS "SLIPPED" THROUGH THE CRACKS FOR THIS LONG. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE OWNERS OF THIS CAR GET INJURED OR KILLED! I AM ALSO HAVING A RACK AND PINION PROBLEM, BUT GMAC SAID THAT MY CAR DIDN'T COME FROM THE PLANT WITH THE DEFECTIVE PARTS! WELL, I THINK IT DID. MY CAR HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVE DOWN A HILL, I SAY A PRAYER. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 2-3 TIMES/WEEK. MY STEERING IS SO BAD FROM THE DEFECTIVE RACK AND PINION, THAT I CAN'T TURN MY STEERING WHEEL UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 15 MINS.(WHEN IT'S COLD OUT). GMAC HAS FAILED TO TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUS, IT'S SAD THAT A COMPANY I PAID ALL MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO, CAN'T EVEN MAKE/OR FIX AN UNSAFE VEHICLE! AND I ALSO HAVE THE RECALLED DEX COOLANT, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PAID FOR THE DAMAGES AND REPAIRS IN ORDER TO GET REIMBURSED! THEY NEED TO FIX ALL THE AFFECTED CARS, NOT JUST THE ONES PEOPLE HAVE PAID TO ALREADY HAVE IT FIXED! *TR

NHTSA ID

10257007

Incident

Dec 15, 2008

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF JULY 24, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,656. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ A BROKEN WHEEL STUD AND NUT WERE REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

10197342

Incident

Jul 22, 2007

Mileage

83,656 mi

A RECALL REPAIR ON THE STEERING MECHANISM WAS PERFORMED IN 2003; LESS THAN FOUR YEARS LATER, THE SAME REPAIR WAS NEEDED AT AN EXORBITANT COST DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RECALL-REPLACED PART. CHEVY REFUSED MONETARY ASSISTANCE. IS IT COMMON PRACTICE TO PLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN RECALLS SO THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY THE REPAIR, HENCE THE COMPANY GETTING THEIR MONEY BACK FOR THE RECALL REPAIR? THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN THE STEERING MECHANISM BROKE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172422

Incident

Sep 29, 2006

Mileage

82,525 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ON 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BUILD IN 4-01-1997 TO 10-31-1997 MINE WAS MADE 11-01-1997. I KNOW THAT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH MINE BECAUSE AT TIMES I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL WHEN I SLOW DOWN. THE REASON I'M WRITING ABOUT THIS IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER 98 CAVALIERS MADE AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE A REPORT SENT TO GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THEY WILL GO GOOD FOR THIS PART. I HAVE A CHILD AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY THAT THEY SHOULD GO GOOD FOR IT AND HAVE IT FIX BY A DEALER AND THEY SHOULD PAY THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK . YOU HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR BACK ON THIS REAL SOON. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142519

Incident

Nov 11, 2005

Mileage

115,600 mi

DT: CALLER HAD SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING RACK AN DPINION STEERING. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10130414

Incident

Jun 28, 2005

Mileage

96,000 mi

ON 08.25.2003 SUN CHEVROLET (IN PITTSBURGH, PA) PERFORMED RECALL WORK ON MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER. THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS "RACK AND PINION CAMPAIGN 02049, MA-96-V0948.7". AT THAT TIME THE ONLY PART LISTED ON MY RECEIPT AS BEING INSTALLED ON THE CAVALIER WAS BEARING K 6.835 A. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHERE IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING HAS BECOME DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS VERY STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS, AND HAS LED TO SEVERAL "NEAR MISSES" IN TRAFFIC WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS. SO, ON 07.21.2005, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SUN CHEVROLET FOR THEM TO EVALUATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW "STEERING GEAR" FOR $1168.95, AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CALLED PRICILLA LUNDQUIST (FROM CHEVROLET 866.952.4368 X 58092, SERVICE REQUEST # 1-351040321) ON SATURDAY 07.23.2005, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK WILL SUN CHEVROLET THEN GET BACK TO US ON MONDAY (07.25.2005). AT THAT TIME SHE TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, IT WAS COMPLETELY OUR PROBLEM TO FIX AND PAY FOR. FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THIS RACK AND PINION RECALL, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE STEERING GEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL (08.25.2003) ALONG WITH THE BEARING TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM NOW. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10130070

Incident

Jul 21, 2005

Mileage

55,843 mi

STEERING: RACK AND PINION. AT TIMES WHEN I COME TO A STOP I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL EITHER WAY IT'S TO HARD TO TURN. I WENT TO A GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND THEY SAID THAT THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION IS GOING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME FOUR TIMES SO FAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098390

Incident

Nov 6, 2004

Mileage

98,900 mi

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN SHE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AT TIMES SHE WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED IT HAPPENED EVERY NOW AND THEN, BUT IT WAS A CONCERN: SHE SAID SHE LOOKED ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS A RECALL. (RECALL # 02V286000 AND CAMPAIGN # 02049) SHE SAYS WHEN SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS GOING BAD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097076

Incident

Oct 18, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED IT TOOK LONGER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND WHEN MAKING A TURN. PLEASE PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087777

Incident

Aug 12, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT RACK AND PINION STEERING PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE EFFORT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10081417

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE RECALL WAS TAKEN CARE OFF. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10073999

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

Mileage

42,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER TOWED THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WENT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE A RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE (TYPE OF RECALL REPAIR WASN'T STATED). WHEN THE REPAIR WAS FINISHED, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER ASKED THE MECHANIC WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE AND THOUGHT THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BELT FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER. CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE IT CONSULTED TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE MECHANIC BY (PRESUMABLY) A FRIEND OF THE CONSUMER. AS THE DRIVER WAS ABOUT TO RESUME COMING FROM A STOP SIGN, STEERING RACK AND PINION MECHANISM FELL WHICH ALSO LED TO STEERING LOCK-UP. THE STEERING FAILURE RESULTED THE DRIVER TO OVER TURN VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. POLICE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT BOLT FROM THE FALLEN MECHANISM WAS MISSING. *LA

NHTSA ID

10064953

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

Mileage

39,040 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10067751

Incident

Apr 23, 2004

Mileage

76,968 mi

AS LISTED IN THE MAY 2004 C.R. THE RECALLS ON THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, AND MALIBU 97-98 ON REPLACING THE PINION BEARING IN POWER-STEERING GEAR COULD SEPARATE AND ALLOW PINION SHAFT TO MOVE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, WHEREAS I COULD BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNING. MY RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. WHY IS THIS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR RECALL LISTINGS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10065614

Incident

Jan 27, 2004

Mileage

44,452 mi

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (02-V-286-000) FOR REPLACEMENT OF RACK AND PINION BEARING. THE DEALERSHIP THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS THE SERVICE MANAGER (RICK JACKSON). *NM

NHTSA ID

10065570

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT TO PULL OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING POP AND IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF MY CAR HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING. ONE MONTH LATER I HEARD OF RACK AND PINION STEERING RECALL ON 1998 CAVALIERS WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE AND MY CAR HAD ALL OF THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WERE LISTED. AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO A CHEVY DEALER, I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT FIT THE RECALL AND THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED IF THEY HAD CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THEY SAID YES THAT THERE WAS PLENTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1200 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THEIR SERVICES TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND LATER HAD MY UNCLE WHO IS AN AIRPLACE MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION I WAS JUST VERY VERY LOW ON FLUID. MY TRANSMISSION IS PERFECT NOW AND HE AGREES THAT MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SEEING AS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BROKEN. REPEATEDLY I HAVE CALLED GM TO NO AVAIL ON WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, AND I FEEL VERY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE CHEVY DEALER OUTZ CHEVROLET FOR NOT BEING HONEST WITH ME ABOUT MY CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062255

Incident

Dec 15, 2002

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE RACK AND PINION ON MY CAR FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE LOWER PINION SEPERATION AS OF JAN. 2003, IT ONLY SEEMS TO COVER A CERTAIN RANGE OF VIN #'S FOR THIS MAKE. MY MECHANIC CALLED IN JAN. OF '03, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION ON IT. I GUESS UNTIL A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN, AND THERE ARE NO INJURIES, THE MANUFACTURERE DOES NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I HAVE 3 YOUNG KIDS, AND I CAN NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10060840

Incident

Dec 28, 2002

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT REALIGN PROPERLY AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10055772

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.!!

NHTSA ID

10070260

Incident

May 15, 2003

CHEVROLET CAVLIER 1998 - THE CAR IS ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 33,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD STEERING ISSUES FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS WITH THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PARALLEL PARK OR MAKE HARD TURNS WITH OUT THE STEERING LOCKING UP OR FORCING ME TO YOU MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT TO GE THE WHEEL TO MOVE. WHEN I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SIMPLY SAY THIS IS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED USE THE GAS AND THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO THIS WEB PAGE THERE HAS BEEN. APPARANTLY ACCORDING TO GM MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NOV/2002 RECALL FOR STEERING RACK/PINION WHICH SOUNDS AS IF IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS SCHEDULED IN THE FUTURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10045885

Incident

May 14, 2002

Mileage

10,000 mi

REQUEST OF RESTITUTION FOR REPAIRS MADE TO A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED THAT A PINION BEARING WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION LOCKING UP. *SCC THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10048264

Mileage

55,000 mi

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02049.*MR PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10043950

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER TAKING MY '98 CAVALIER IN FOR RECALL 02V286000 REPAIR I STARTED HEARING A TERRIBLE SOUND FROM THE STEERING EVERY TIME I MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THIS NOISE IS ONLY HEARD WHEN MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10041122

Incident

Jun 1, 2003