1999 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical Problems

I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY DENTIST APPOINTMENT, SUDDENLY A HISSING NOISE CAME FROM THE CAR.ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND I KNEW I WAS IN TROUBLE.I WAS ON A BUSY INTERSECTION IN THE CITY.I HAD TO ACT IN A SPLIT SECOND AND STEER QUICKLY OFF OF THE NEAREST SIDE RIDE.THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING UP.I HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO GET SAFELY OFF OF THE STREET IN TIME AND TO KEEP FROM GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND.I WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.THE CAR WAS TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE.I BELIEVE IT WAS A FLOODED OUT CAR SOLD TO THE UNSUSPECTITHAT UNSUSPECTING PERSON WAS ME.I GOT SUCKERED OUT OF OVER $2400. I HAVE PAID FOR AT LEAST 2 NEW CARS WITH THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT ON THIS LEMON.BY THE WAY THE SHADY OWNER DON'T FEEL RESPONSIBLE AT ALL FOR SCAMMING MY MONEY OUT OF ME.

NHTSA ID

11015464

Incident

Aug 15, 2017

Mileage

198,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL: FUEL GAGE NAS NEVER WORKED SINCE BEING BOUGHT, TURN SIGNALS ( BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT) BARELY WORKED WHEN BOUGHT AND WENT OUT COMPLETLY THE NEXT DAY, POWER STEERING LOCKS UP OCCASIONALLY AND AND CANT TURN WHEEL,SHIFT GEAR LINKAGES WILL ONLY SHIFT MANUALLY UNDER THE HOOD, CAR WILL DIE OR STRUGGLE TO CONTINUE RUNNING UNLESS FOOT IS ALWAYS PUSHING ON GAS, ENGINE OCCASSIONALLY BACKFIRES, AND NOT QUITE SURE IF THE FUEL PUMP IS WORKING PROPERLY OR GONE OUT

NHTSA ID

11005891

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2005 WHEN SHE MADE A RIGHT TURN AT 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE AND BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT WOULD ALLUDE TO THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD UNLOCK AND TURN INVOLUNTARILY WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOCKED. THE FUEL GAUGE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND HEADLIGHTS, WERE ALSO FAULTY. THE BULBS IN THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT BURNED OUT AND MELTED AFTER THEY WERE USED THREE TO FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO ASK ABOUT RELATED RECALLS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR HER VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FOUND EIGHT RECALLS FOR HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

NHTSA ID

10323331

Incident

Mar 25, 2005

Mileage

77,000 mi

TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY CAR STARTED SMOKING THROUGH THE AC VENTS ONE DAY AND I DESCRIBED THIS TO A CHEVY 800 # REP AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL # 04002 IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. I GO TO PICK IT UP AND THE BURNED WIRES UNDER THE DASH WERE NOT REPLACED, THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF EVEN WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I CALLED THE 800# BACK AND TOLD HIM I WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AND NOW THIS GUY CLAIMS THAT HE NEVER TOLD ME THAT THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL FITS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY WITH NOT FIXING MY CAR. I WANT IT FIXED! I JUST WANTED TO SEND THIS QUICK EMAIL AND WILL GO IN DEPTH ABOUT IT ONCE I RECEIVE YOUR REPLY. THANKS. *TR UPDATED 09/09/08

NHTSA ID

10236315

Incident

Jul 20, 2008

Mileage

188,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH FIRST AND THEN THE DEALER WOULD COMPLETE THE REST OF THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,319 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,019.

NHTSA ID

10214335

Incident

Jan 2, 2008

Mileage

112,019 mi

WITH IGNITION KEY IN START POSITION I BEGIN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THIS PROMPTED SITE SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THAT RE-CALL #02V070000 APPLIES TO MY 1996 CAVALIER. DEALER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE EXISTANCE OF RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212190

Incident

Dec 18, 2007

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 1998, AND A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER, THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE NUMBERS SHOW, AND IT IS DIFFERENT EVERY TIME I START THE ENGINE. I CANNOT TELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY VEHICLE, AND MY GAS GAUGE MOVES BACK AND FORTH FROM FULL TO EMPTY... I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT IS A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS FAULTY. I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT! *JB

NHTSA ID

10159941

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

DT: THE CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR 3 YEARS. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AND TO A REPAIR SHOP 4 OR 5 TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A WIRING HARNESS KIT, AND THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WOULD NOT REFUND HER ANY MONEY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING ELECTRICAL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. THE VEHICLE IS A 1999, CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10136724

Incident

Oct 12, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

TWO ISSUES LEFT CONSUMER STRANDED IN 1999 2.2L CHEVROLET CAVALIER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF INPUT SHAFT/INPUT DRUM ASSEMBLY ON 3T40 TRANSMISSION, LEFT OPERATOR WITHOUT ANY FORWARD OR REVERSE DRIVE GEARS WHILE DRIVE WAS ENGAGED AND ROLLING. MANAGED TO AVOID CRASH. REMEDY WAS REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. INCIPIENT WORSENING OF STARTING TIMES. POOR FACTORY ECM CALIBRATION IN ALL OR MOST 1999 2.2L CAVALIERS CAN LEAVE OPERATOR STRANDED IN WARM STARTING CONDITION. RESULTS IN POOR INITIAL RUNNING AND LARGE AMOUNT OF UNBURNED HYDROARBONS RELEASED TO ATMOSPHERE. A TECHNICAL BROCHURE EXISTS TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, BUT NO RECALL. DEALER WANTS $90 TO REPROGRAM ECM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136720

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, THE CAVALIER QUIT RUNNING AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP. THIS WAS AT EVENING RUSH HOUR AND SEVERAL CARS WERE BEHIND, TRYING TO EXIT. I COULD NOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. CARS WERE HONKING AS I WAS IN THE LANE AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. WE HAD THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP/SENDER UNIT REPLACED. VEHICLE THEN SEEMED TO OPERATE OKAY, BUT TWO DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AGAIN, THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS WAS MORNING RUSH HOUR AND THE EXIT LANE ON THE OFF-RAMP HAD NO SHOULDER... CARS WERE COMING QUICKLY UP THE RAMP AND I WAS NEARLY HIT MORE THAN ONCE, EVEN WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. TOWED VEHICLE AGAIN. TOLD THAT IT WAS A FUSE. REPLACED FUSE AND TOOK VEHICLE AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A THIRD TIME. I REPLACED FUSE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO SAID THAT WIRE WAS LOOSE FROM FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT. THEY SECURED WIRE. HAS NOW HAPPENED FIVE MORE TIMES. I HAVE FUSES IN CAR IN CASE OF PROBLEM. CAR IS NOW AT ELECTRICAL SHOP FOR REVIEW. LAST TIME IT HAPPENED ON JULY 1, I WAS ENTERING THE HOV LANE ON THE FREEWAY! LUCKILY THERE WAS A SMALL AREA IN WHICH TO STOP. REPLACED FUSE AND GET ON... THIS IS VERY SCARY AS IT JUST QUITS WITHOUT NOTICE (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING!)

NHTSA ID

10127801

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

87,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING FUEL REGULATOR FAILED AND GAS WENT THROUGH THE MOTOR, AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK ENGINE AND WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE THE COMPUTER WHEN OUT. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10115866

Incident

Mar 14, 2005

Mileage

99,000 mi

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. UNABLE TO USE HIGH-BEAMS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE HIGH-BEAMS, THE DRL ACTIVATE DUE TO NOT HAVING FULL POWER GETTING TO HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10118546

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT ARE NOT FUNCTIONING WHEN REPLACING BULB. ALSO, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AND OFF. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS UNDETERMINED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10110908

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LAMPS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108723

Incident

Mar 10, 2003

Mileage

6,500 mi

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RELAY SWITCH. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE IT WAS MAKING A WINNING NOISE, AND THE CLOCK ON THE RADIO WAS FLICKERING. DEALER STATED THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099517

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

COMPLAINT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH IGNITION CIRCUITS.*MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE RECALL SYMPTOMS 2 DAYS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10083388

Incident

Mar 9, 2004

Mileage

52,214 mi

PROBLEMS WITH DASHBOARD LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS. AFTER THE RECALL WAS DONE THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASH LIGHT WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $592.86 FOR THIS REPAIR. THE DEALER EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE WIRES BEHIND THE DASH HAD LOOSENED WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLE MAY BE TOO DELICATE IF IT CANNOT STAND A FEW BUMPS IN THE ROAD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10079870

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

THE HIGH BEAMS AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FAIL INTERMITTENLY. *MR THE WIRES RUBBED UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY TRAY. (FOUND CORRODED SPLICES IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE BATTERY TRAY) THE RUNNING LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD WAS OFF AGAIN AND THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR WAS ALWAYS ON WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS IN EITHER POSITION. THE PROBLEM WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS WAS YET ANOTHER CORRODED AND SHORTED OUT A WIRE FORM THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. (FOUND WIRING C101 CORRODED AND CIRCUIT 1200 AT C101 WAS REPAIRED) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT CAUSED BY A BAD SENSOR, BUT ANOTHER BAD WIRE LEADING TO A SENSOR. (FOUND WIRING TO THE VENT SOLENOID BAD) THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE IN THE REAR WHEN HITTING LARGE BUMPS DUE TO WORN REAR STRUT MOUNTS. *SC

NHTSA ID

10079864

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

28,000 mi

APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED IGNITION SWITCH RECALL 04V036000 REPAIRS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075576

Incident

Mar 3, 2004

INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT ILLUMINATE ANYMORE. ALSO, FUSES DO NOT WORK , AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067318

NHTSA RECALL 04V036000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. RECALL WAS NOT BEING HONORED BY THE DEALER, WHO INSTALLED THE WIRING HARNESS, USED TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FLOW. HOWEVER, DEALER DID NOT INSTALL THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALER ASKED CONSUMER TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS WHEN THEY WON'T CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH. CURRENTLY VEHICLE DID NOT START. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063120

Mileage

32,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IN 1999 CONSUMER HAD THIS VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH IN THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANICS KEPT TELLING HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. ALSO, SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE 4 BATTERIES BURNED OUT. VEHICLE HAD LEFT CONSUMER STRANDED, AND SHE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERS, AND ONCE TO HER HOME. ONCE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, BUT VEHICLE STILL NEEDED AN ALTERNATOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062907

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057898

CD WILL NOT PLAY. GET ERROR MESSAGE. KNOB ON MIRROR FELL OFF. BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER 2000. BATTERY KEPT DYING ON ME.

NHTSA ID

10069579

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

I PURCHASE A USED 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER IN HAMILTON NJ. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN LATE 2001, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE MANY TIMES FOR THE WINDOWS AND LOCKS NOT WORKING AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND HAS HAD THREE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD A NEW REGULATOR WAS PUT IN. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE QUALITY OF THE REGULATORS, THE DEALER TOLD ME MY COMPLAINT WAS WITH GM AND NOT THEM BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR PARTS FROM GM. HOW CAN THE WINDOW REGULATORS BE "BAD" THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR? BESIDES THE WINDOWS, I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS NOT WORKING AND THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT CLOSING. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WARRENTY EXPIRES AND I NEED YET ANOTHER WINDOW REGULATOR? I DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE NJ USED CAR LEMON LAW BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS BEGAN THREE MONTHS BEYOND THE LIMITATION DATE, EVEN THOUGH I MET EVERY OTHER QUALIFICATION.

NHTSA ID

10016138

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

29,346 mi