Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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 27, in the owner's own words
IGNITION GETS VERY HOT WHEN KEY IS TURNED CAN SMELL PLASTIC IGNITION OR BATT 1 CIRCUIT PROBLEM.CLEARCOAT IS PEELING.LUG NUTS COMING LOOSE
REPORTING THIS AS A DEFECT ON CAR LIST ABOVE .I'M PA. STATE INSPECTION STATION. THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY WE SEE AND REJECT FOR RUST OUT UNIT BODY REAR FRAMES . I FEEL THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE AWARE OF THEY OWN ONE THESE MODELS CAR COULD BUCKLE ON A REAR END COLLISION. I DID NOT SEE THIS ON YOUR SITE TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED THANKS KEN AT C&W PERFORMANCE PA. STATION # E7 .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD CRACKED CAUSING SHARP EDGES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS WERE NEAR THE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOVINGLY CARED FOR SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE UNDERBODY IS PERFECT BUT THE SUBFRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) IS BADLY RUSTED, WITH PITTING, SCALING AND A RUSTED THROUGH HOLE. I AM HEARTBROKEN! THIS CAR IS VERY NICE BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR
BROKEN K-MEMBER /477-03540. *TR
I OWN A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH SEVERE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE DASH BOARD BODY. THE PROBLEM IS NOT SIMPLY A CRACK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD PANEL (WHICH IS COMMON ON THESE CARS), BUT THE ENTIRE DASH IS CRACKING FROM WITHIN AND THROUGHOUT THE BODY OF THE DASH. AFTER RECENTLY REMOVING THE TOP PART OF THE DASH, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT EVEN THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AROUND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG UNIT IS CRACKED AND BROKEN AWAY. THIS COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ALL OF THE PLASTIC WITHIN THE BODY OF THE DASH IS EXTREMELY BRITTLE AND PIECES OF PLASTIC ACTUALLY FALL IN TO THE FLOORBOARD WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES. I AM CERTAIN THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY SINCE IT IS NO LONGER SECURED CORRECTLY AND THIS COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND THAT THE MODEL WAS NOTORIOUS FOR THAT TYPE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 112,000.
DASH BOARD CRACKED AND WAS REPLACED ONCE ALREADY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND DEALERS REFUSED. THE DASHBOARD IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND IT STARTS WITH A CRACK IN THE MIDDLE NEAR WINDSHIELD AND THEN THE WHOLE DASH GOES EVEN AROUND THE HEATER AND RADIO AREA. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE NONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY NOW. THERE IS PLASTIC FALLING OFF EVERYTIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR AND HIT THE SLIGHTEST BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Z24. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD, ROOF, TRUNK AND SPOILER OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO CHIP AND PEEL OFF. AS TIME PROGRESSED, HE NOTICED THAT OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB
WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT WARNING- NO OUTSIDE FORCES (EG. ROCK) IN THE MIDDLE ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO. DASH CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE 3/10/08- NO REASON. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY BAGS OPERATING CORRECTLY. KNOW OF MANY OTHER CAVALIERS WITH SAME DASHBOARD PROBLEM. *TR
DASH IS CRACKED RIGHT WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDOW IN THE CENTER AND TO THE FAR RIGHT. ALSO, THE CLEAR COAT & PAINT ON THE ENTIRE CAR IS COMING OFF. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THROUGH A PARKING LOT, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND DETERMINED THE A FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE ROAD SALTS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE A FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
THE TOP OF THE DASH CRACKED WHERE IT JOINS INTO THE WINDSHIELD. *TS THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE DASHBOARD CAUSING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IF THE DASHBOARD COMPLETELY SEPARATES THE AIRBAGS MAY NO LONGER BE OPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM
THE DASHBOARD DEVELOPING CRACKS WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATES THE DASH MATERIAL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL BE DEFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THE DASH MOUNT ON CAVALIER 2000 CRACKED IN CENTER. GM DEALER SAID I CRACKED IT ,BUT THERE ARE 7 MORE CAVALIERS IN MY WORK PARKING LOT ALONE WITH THE SAME CENTER CRACK IN THE DASH MOUNT. GM TREATED ME VERY POORLY WHEN I REPORTED IT, I AM NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE RUN-A-ROUND , SINCE MY FATHER WORKED 30 YEARS FOR GM IN THE WILLMINGTON DE. PLANT.*AK
THE TRIM AROUND MY DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY. EVERYONE THAT I KNOW HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. A FRIEND HAS A 1997 CAVALIER WITH THE SAME DAMAGE. MY SON HAS A 1999 CAVALIER, SAME DAMAGE. MY WIFE HAS A COWORKER AND I HAVE 2 COWORKERS THAT ALSO OWN 2000 CAVALIERS, SAME DAMAGE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS A STRESS FRACTURE.*AK
FIRST, THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY CAR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER BUYING THE CAR THE PAINT ON BUTTONS ON THE CD PLAYER/RADIO STARTED PEELING OFF. THE PROBLEM HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. LASTLY, THE LATCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE OFF AND THE SEAT IS NOW STUCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION AND CANNOT BE LAID BACK. PAINT IS PEELING OFF ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR ON THE OUTSIDE AT THE TOP FROM INTERSTATE DRIVING.*AK
POPPING SOUND AND FEEL WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN WORKED ON TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM; INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON WHEN OPENING DRIVERS DOOR; TOP PORTION OF DASH IS SPLIT IN THE MIDDLE; MAKES LOTS OF CRACKLING NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE WITH THE SUSPENSION. *LA
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD, AND THE DASHBOARD SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
WE BOUGHT A USED CHEVROLET CAVALIER FROM THE YEAR 2000 WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (GM CERTIFIED) FOR 3 MONTHS OR 3,000 MILES. SINCE THE BEGINNING THERE WERE 4 PROBLEMS NOT YET FIXED. 1 - THERE IS A POPPING NOISE UNDER THE BACK OF THE CAR. DEALER (KOONS CHEVROLET - WITHE MARSCH, MD) SAID HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE. AFTER BRINGING THE CAR FOR THE 3RD TIME, HE SAID THE BRAKES WERE DIRTY AND HE CLEANED THEM, BUT THIS NOISE IS STILL HERE, WHEN STARTING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT FOR EXAMPLE, OR WHEN RIDING ON A ROUGH ROAD. 2 - THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN FRONT WHEN DRIVING. IT'S STOPPING WHEN PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT'S LINKED WITH THE BRAKES FOR SURE. THE PADS ARE NEW AND THE DEALER SAID THE ROTOR MAKES HIS NOISE, BUT HE REFUSED TO CHANGE IT (WHEREAS IT'S UNDER WARRANTY). HE SAID IT'S NOT UNSAFE. BUT THIS NOISE IS COMING LOUDER AND I FEEL LIKE A LOSS OF CONTROL. 3 - THE ABS LIGHT COME ON EVERY SINGLE DAY WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BRAKING. THE 1ST TIME, THE DEALER CHANGED THE BULB. THE 2ND TIME PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVE) HE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR, BECAUSE MY CAR BROKE DOWN THE DAY BEFORE (NO MORE POWER AT ALL). HE SAID THE ALTERNATOR PUTTED A LOW VOLTAGE TO THE ABS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO TURN ON. THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVE. AND I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT BEEN SOLVED, AND THIS IS THE 5TH TIME I AM GOING TO THE DEALER. I THINK HE'S PLAYING WITH ME, SO THAT MY CAR WON'T BE UNDER WARRANTY ANY MORE, AND I WOULD PAY TO CHANGE STUFFS IN THE FUTURE. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. *NLM
WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE.*JB
WHEN IT RAINED OR IF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CAR WASH, WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE PROBLEM ON 5 OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM WAS UNRESOLVED, CONSUMER PURCHASED A 2001 MODEL AND ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THAT VEHICLE.*JB
WHILE RAINING WATER WILL ENTER INSIDE OF TRUCK WHILE CLOSING, AND SPARE TIRE IS FILLED WITH WATER. ALSO. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WERE ON DASHBOARD.*AK
WHEN IT IS RAINNING WATER WILL LEAK INTO TRUNK WHILE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND SPARE TIRE SPACE WILL GET ALMOST FULL OF WATER DUE TO THE LEAK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT COULD NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*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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