Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Aug 15, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 240 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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. 17 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.
Owner reports naming fuel system
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2017
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
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2017
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
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2013
1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE SOMETIMES EMITS WHITE SMOKE THROUGH THE VENTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. ALSO, A SERPENTINE BELT AND FUEL PAN WAS NEEDED.
NHTSA ID
10520307
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Fuel system
Filed May 2, 2011
MY 1999 CHEVY CAVALIER'S FUEL GAUGE JUST STOPPED WORKING OUT OF THE BLUE. IT READS THAT THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND DOESN'T DROP. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THIS HAD OCCURRED UNTIL MY CAR RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT. WE WERE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY APPROACHING HIGH-SPEED TRAFFIC MULTIPLE TIMES, AND WE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE MY VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO GET TO SAFETY. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE DANGED CAR OFF OF THE ROADWAY/INTERSECTION ONCE A PASSERBY STOPPED BEHIND US AND TURNED HIS HAZARD FLASHERS ON. THE NICE GENTLEMAN ALSO GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND HELPED MY HUSBAND PUSH THE CAR OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THANK GOD FOR GOOD SAMARITANS! THE FUEL GAUGE NEVER LEAVES "FULL". AFTER TALKING TO A DEALER AND SEVERAL AUTO SHOPS, WE DECIDED IT MADE MORE SENSE TO GO BY THE ODOMETER FROM NOW ON, WHICH IS A GIGANTIC INCONVENIENCE. THIS DECISION WAS MADE BASED UPON THE RIDICULOUSLY HIGH COST FOR REPAIR, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT MOST MECHANIC'S TOLD US THAT THE FIX WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY, AS FUEL GAUGE FAILURES ACROSS THE BOARD IS A WELL-KNOWN COMMON GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCT PROBLEM, AND THAT A FUEL GAUGE FAILURE WILL LIKELY REAR IT'S UGLY HEAD AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10398668
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Mileage
92,500 mi
ElectricalFuel systemSteering
Filed Apr 1, 2010
Fire reported
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
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 19, 2007
Fire reported1 injury reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
NHTSA ID
10193704
Incident
Jun 12, 2007
Mileage
64,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 26, 2006
FUEL TANK RUST THROUGH FROM OUTSIDE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10156130
Incident
Apr 4, 2006
Mileage
889,350 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jun 3, 2005
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
Fuel system
Filed May 23, 2005
GAS ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK, CAUSED BY THE STRAPS AROUND THE TANK. STRAPS AND LEAK WERE REPAIRED. *NM NEW GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED. *BF
NHTSA ID
10119019
Incident
Apr 19, 2005
Mileage
95,365 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 21, 2005
NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE . THE GAS GAUGE STOPPED WORKING IN MY 96 CHEVY CAVALIER AND NOW MY 99 CHEVY CAVALIER AND I'VE RUN OUT OF GAS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THANKFULLY NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE HEARD THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT IS SOME KIND OF SENSOR PROBLEM AND IT EXISTS THROUGHOUT A NUMBER OF GM CARS . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM
NHTSA ID
10111901
Incident
May 6, 2004
Mileage
56,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2003
RUSTED OUT FUEL LINES THAT ARE LEAKING BAD
NHTSA ID
10039485
Incident
Sep 10, 2003
Mileage
69,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 10, 2003
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LINKED TO THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING, IN A STEADY DRIP, FUEL. EITHER O RINGS WERE FAILING OR REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE OR FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA ID
10005608
Incident
Feb 4, 2003
Mileage
47,500 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jan 10, 2003
WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SPRINGFIELD MO., I ONLY HAD 8 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I LIVE IN ROLLA WHICH IS ONLY 110 MILES AT THE MOST. I DROVE STRAIGHT HOME AND THE MILEAGE SHOWED 265 MILES, TWICE THE MILEAGE. ALSO, THE CAR SHAKES AND GRINDS WHEN STARTING. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THAT WAS WHEN IT HAD LESS THAN 1000 MILES. FUEL LINES OR SOMETHING SMELLS HEAVY WITH GAS. MY CAR EATS GAS MORE THAN MY ASTRO VAN. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I HAVE PUT THREE COOLING SYSTEMS IN THIS CAR THEY SAID WAS WRONG. FUSES KEEP BURNING OUT. I HAVE REPLACED 65 BULBS, THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. IT'S MUCH WORSE NOW. WHEN I TURN THE CAR THE STEERING STICKS THEN GOES INTO THE TURN, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770836
NHTSA ID
10006813
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 12, 2002
GAS GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS WILL COME ON - GAS LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, ETC. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING WILL WORK PROPERLY. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR THE ODOMETER READING HIEROGLYPHICS BUT NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.
NHTSA ID
758124
Incident
Feb 11, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Nov 2, 2001
WIFE AND KIDS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. COST ME $850 TO REPLACE. TRIED TO WORK WITH CHEVROLET TO GET COMPENSATION AND THEY WERE UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE AND KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK
NHTSA ID
754011
Incident
Oct 31, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Apr 30, 2001
FUEL PUMP FAILED ON EXPRESSWAY DRIVING. ENGINE ABRUPTLY DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. CAR WAS PUSHED TO SHOULDER OF EXPRESSWAY AND TOWED TO DEALER WHO REPLACED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND SENDER MODULE. *AK
NHTSA ID
744749
Incident
Apr 26, 2001
AirbagsFuel system
Filed Feb 8, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT AT SPEED 55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO A DITCH AT 30 MPH IMPACT HEAD-ON IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ,CAUSING DRIVER TO GO INTO STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH DID NOT KICK IN. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ID
880091
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own