Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 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 53, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A SUDDEN STOP, THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SLID AND HESITATED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE BRAKES WERE READJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS, DRUMS AND ROTORS. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 176,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE BRAKES WOULD BE CLEANED AND ADJUSTED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS AND THE ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.
I BROUGHT A 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER IN DEC 08'. SINCE JAN 09' I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERE LOCKING OF THE REAR BRAKES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS SO FAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. CURRENTLY I AM UNABLE TO PASS A MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AT ALL THREE FACILITIES I USED TO TRY AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON AMONG GM VEHICLES. I HAVE SPENT AT LEAST APPROXIMATELY $600 DOLLARS ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL PERSIST. THE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE ADJUSTED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE REAR BRAKES ARE STILL LOCKING FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE NO APPARENT REASON ALL THREE MECHANICS SAY THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY LOOKS GOOD BUT I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD AT THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE ME TO FISH TAIL EITHER CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGERS IN MY CAR OR POSSIBLY OTHERS. *TR
WELL, I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE BASIC MODEL, NOTHING FANCY. THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE LIGHT AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE FRONT END SHOOK, CAUSING THE WHOLE CAR TO VIBRATE, AND SOMETIMES CLICKED WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY I HAVE FOUND TO STOP IT WAS TO STEER THE WHEEL A BIT, BUT THAT MADE ME GO INTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO REAR DEFROSTER, MAKING IT VERY HARD TIME TO SEE OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW WHEN IT WAS ALL FOGGED UP. WHEN I ATTEMPTING TO STOP SOMETIMES THE BRAKES TOOK A MINUTE TO START WORKING OR THEY JUST PULSATED, AND IT WAS HARD TO STOP FAST IF I HAD TO, I COULD GO ON AND ON SO MUCH MORE ABOUT THE CAR, BUT I THINK ONE GETS THE DRIFT ABOUT IT . WHEN I WENT TO THE RECALL PAGE THERE WERE MORE THINGS ON IT THEN I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT, THE ONLY RECALLS I KNEW ABOUT WAS THE IGNITION, ,AND THE HOSE FOR THE COOLANT THE WAS LEAKING BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBING ON SOMETHING. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE IGNITION FIXED THEY DIDN'T TIGHTEN THE NUT ON THE STARTER AND I HAD TO SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT THE STARTER FAILED, BUT THEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE NUT WHICH WAS NOT TIGHTENED DOWN RIGHTLY. I HAVE GIVEN ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED. I THINK IT WAS SOLD A LEMON. AK
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 CAVALIER ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS. *TS THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING IN AND OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING IN PARKING LOTS AND WHILE PARKING. THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER PULLS THE ABS FUSE TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *NM
BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BRAKES TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTORS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. NEWER DESIGN OF MOTOR PACK CONSISTS OF ELECTRONIC SOLENOID. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS. *NM
VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND NO RECALLS WERE FOUND.*AK
MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT: BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS MOTOR PACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. BAD MOTOR PACK DUE TO CORROSION IN GEARS IN MOTOR PACK. THIS CAUSES ABS TO "SHUT OFF" BUT ALSO FOR BREAKS TO DRAG, STICK, PREMATURE BREAK WEAR, AND WARPED ROTORS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. NEWER DESIGN OF MOTOR PACK CONSISTS OF ELECTRONIC SOLENOID. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS!*AK
BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO OPERATE BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY TWO WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BRAKE CLUSTER. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND RELEASED. THEN VEHICLE SLID. CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
MY '99 CHEVROLET CAVALIER (Z24) SUFFERED BRAKE FAILURE IN DEC. OF 2003. THE ROADS WERE ICY--HAD BEEN SNOWING ALL DAY, AND IT WAS STILL SNOWING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IN AN EASY MANNER, BUT THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. THE CAR CONTINUED AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. MY FOOT FELT LIKE IT WAS STEPPING ON STEEL--THERE WAS NO BRAKE ACTION WHATSOEVER. I HAD PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE, AS I WAS TRAVELING VERY CAUTIOUSLY IN THESE SNOWY CONDITIONS. (THERE WERE AN ABOVE AVERAGE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THAT DAY DUE TO POOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.) I HAD BEEN TRAVELING THIS SAME STRETCH OF ROAD FOR MANY BLOCKS AND IT WAS A STOP AND GO 40 MPH STRETCH OF ROAD. A LEXUS SUV WAS PARKED AT A SEMAPHORE INTERSECTION WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. I DECLARED BRAKE FAILURE AT THE SCENE, AND AFTER THE OFFICER HAD CLEARED THE SCENE I NOTICED MY ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE BRAKES ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED FOR BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS DULY NOTED AND ANALYZED AND I WAS TOLD THE ABS MOTOR NEEDED REPAIR. WHEN I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT THAT NEEDED REPAIR. THE BRAKE FAILURE ITSELF WAS ALARMING, BUT WHAT IS ADDITIONALLY DISTURBING IS THAT I HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED IN JAN. OF 2003, BECAUSE I COMPLAINED THE ABS SYSTEM WAS MAKING STRANGE, RATTLING NOISES --LIKE IT WAS FALLING APART. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE BRAKES, SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND THEY INSTEAD FIXED THE PADS AND ROTARS ON THE BRAKES. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BILL AND THEY SAID "CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF 'SQUEALING BRAKES'. I NEVER DESCRIBED THE NOISE AS SQUEALING. INSTEAD I COMPLAINED THE ABS NOISE WAS DIFFERENT THAN I HAD EVER HEARD--A SOUND LIKE NUTS AND BOLTS COMING LOSE AND FALLING APART. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ABS SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETELY. DEALER STATED ABS MOTOR BECOME INOPERATIVE. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING, CONSUMER DEPRESSED BRAKE PEDAL TWICE SUCCESSIVELY AND ENGINE SHUDDERED, THEN STALLED.. 1999, CHEVROLET, CAVALIER Z24.*AK
FRONT BRAKES LOCKING AT LOW SPEEDS DUE TO ABS FAILURE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO GM DEALERSHIP, THE FIRST MECHANIC SAID FRONT ROTORS MIGHT BE WARPED. I REPLACED FRONT BRAKES AND INSTALLED NEW ROTORS AND PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP THEN THEY ADVISED ME THAT SINCE MY TIRES WERE NOT ALL THE SAME BRAND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM....NEW TIRES DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR IS NOT KICKING ANY CODES OUT TO THE COMPUTER AND NO ABS LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SPOKE TO GM TECH'S AND AT THAT POINT REPLACED BOTH FRONT ABS WIRING HARNESSES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS....BACK TO GM TECH'S AGAIN...RT REAR HUB WAS CHANGED THINKING IT WAS A BAD SENSOR BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 10 TIMES NOW AND CHEVROLET WILL NOT DO A THING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. AT CHEVROLETS REQUEST I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, THE MECHANIC ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM EXISTS BUT CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE ARE RUNNING ME AROUND.*JB
THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED AND CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WHEN IT LEAKED ONTO THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING. A REPAIR SHOP MADE REPAIRS. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEFT OUT OF THE CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE LINE ON TRANSMISSION CAUSING IT TO VIBRATE AND EVENTUALLY RUBBING A HOLE INTO THE LINE.*JB
WHILE DEPRESSING BRAKES CONSUMER NOTICED A THUMBING NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. TECHNICIAN STATED INTER LOCK BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT REPLACED ORIGINAL PADS THREE TIME AND ROTORS ONCE. *YH
PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. *AK CONSUMER STATED BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND ROTORS WERE TURNED, CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 SETS OF BRAKE PADS ON VEHICLE.*SLC
FIRST, THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AT DEALERS, THE SENSOR FAN NOW DOES NOT WORK, THE BATTERY AND RADIATOR ARE NOT FUNCTIONING, THE STEERING IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE BRAKES ARE SLIPPING, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ALSO SLIPPING AGAIN, I REPORTED ALL THIS TO CHEVY AS I WAS NOT GETTING SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALERS IN FLORIDA AND NOW THE MY VEHICLE IS BROKE DOWN AND WILL NOT RUN IN BRADENTON FLORIDA AT COX CHEVELOT ON CORTEZ ROAD IN FLORIDA, I CALLED AND TALKED TO SEVERAL WOMEN IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CHEVY AND THEIR NAMES ARE BRANDY MAYS AND LILLANIA LOPEZ, I STILL HAVE NO VEHICLE AND NOW I AM NOT RECEIVING ANY COURTEOUS SERVICE AS I WAS TOLD CHEVY WOULD BUY BACK THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS A LEASE. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY TRUCK AND DUE TO THE RED TAPE AND CHEVY NOW REFUSING TO HELP ASSIST ME WITH THE BUY BACK I AM UNABLE TO KEEP MY NEW TRUCK DUE TO THIS RED TAPE AND ALL THE FORMS AND INFORMATION THAT THE SERVICE DEPT. NOW SAYS I NEED TO HAVE HAD DONE, BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I FIRST MADE THE COMPLAINT ON SEPT 7. I CALLED BACK ON SEPT, 28, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT CHEVY WENT BACK ON THEIR WORD. I AM NOT A CAR DEALER, I DO NOT WORK AT CHEVY AS A SERVICE REPRESENTITIVE, AND I SURE DO NOT KNOW WHAT PAPERS OR FORMS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MANUFACTURE IN DETROIT MICHIGAN NEEDS TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK. I AM AN UNSATIFIED CONSUMER, AND I FEEL THE RUN AROUND I AM RECEIVING IS A GREAT INJUSTICE. I LOVED MY CAR AND IT IS IMMACULATE INSIDE AND OUT. I ONLY WANT TO KEEP MY NEW CHEVY TRUCK WHICH IS NOT LOOKING AS A POSSIBLE OPTION AS CHEVY IS NOT COOPERATING, THE DEALER MOVED ITS LOT, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IN FLORIDA WILL NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS AN ENGINE CENSOR CHIP, THE TRANSMISSION, THE RADIATOR SENSOR FAN AND NOW THE STEERING, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO REPAIR A SENSOR CHIP OR ANY OF THESE THINGS AND SINCE THE CAR IS IN FLORIDA I CANNOT GET IT TO KENTUCKY. NOW GMAC, MY FINANCER ON MY NEW TRUCK WILL NOT FINANCE ME. *AK
THE BRAKING SYSTEM CONTINUALLY FAILS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE FAULTLY, THEY DO NOT WORK AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO, THEY HAVE A TENDACY TO HOLD AND STICK AT BOTH INSTANT AND IMMEDIATE PRESSURE WITH OUT RELEASE, AS WELL AS DURING NORMAL DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT CALL FOR INSTANT BRAKING.*YD
HAD TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED AT 14,000 MILES; THEN FOUND THEY WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 33,200 MILES. FOUND THERE WAS NO BACKING PLATE TO KEEP ROTORS FROM RUSTING; DEALER ADMITS NOTHING ABOUT DESIGN FLAW AND SAYS THE REPAIR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HAD ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT A SURPRISINGLY HONEST MIDAS, WHERE THEY SAID IT'S LIKELY I WILL NEED TO DO THIS ALL AGAIN IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DISC BRAKE SYSTEM.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
WHEN STOPPING QUICKLY (PANIC STOP) BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD AND DOES NOT STOP THE CAR. LOUD CRUNCHING NOISES ARE PRESENT AND CAR PROCEEDS ANOTHER 50FT BEFORE STOPPING. TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES-THEY CANNOT "DUPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THIS BRAKE PROBLEM.*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
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