Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 66 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 66, 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
AFTER ACCELERATING OVER 35MPH VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. VEHICLE ABLE TO STOP BUT YOU CAN STILL HEAR AND FEEL THE MOTOR TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK AROUND. ITS VERY UNSAFE AND NO ONE AT THE CAR SHOP ABLE TO TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG. I'VE HAD SEVERAL THINGS FIXED AND STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES AFTER STARTING UP WILL ACCELERATE ON IT OWN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN REMOVING THE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RELAYS AND THE INSIDE DOME LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAY ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS CONTANTLY DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION ISSUES AND VEHICLE IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE HAD THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED, HE EXPERIENCED AN UNUSUAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, THE RPM GAUGE BEGAN TO DECREASE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SOMEWHAT DISENGAGED AS IF THE MOTOR WAS ABOUT TO SHUT DOWN. HE PLACED HIS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR AND DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. HE PARKED IT, AND THE NEXT DAY, HE DISCOVERED SOMETHING DRAINED THE NEW BATTERY. A MECHANIC RODE WITH HIM, AND THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. THE MECHANIC, THEN CHECKED EVERYTHING ON THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT COME UP WITH THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HE STATED HE BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS ELECTRICAL, BUT COULD NOT SAY FOR SURE. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, AND HE INFORMED THE CONSUMER, OF ALL THE IGNITION PROBLEMS GM WAS HAVING WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *JB
FIRST DRIVER SIDE REAR TURN SIGNAL BLINKED RAPIDLY, THEN BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN LIGHT CEASED TO WORK. WHEN CHECKED, THE LIGHT AND LENS WERE FUSED (MELTED) TOGETHER. AS WELL DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CEASED TO WORK. MECHANIC STATED ITS ELECTRICAL AND ADVISED I CHECK RECALLS.ALSO SOMETIMES GAS PEDAL ACCELERATES WITHOUT PRESSURE FROM ME. NO CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN OR WHY...JUST OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS. *TR
THIS CAR WILL NOT START. AND WHEN IT DOES START IT BACK FIRES. I HAVE REPLACED THE STARTER, THE FLEX PLATE THE SENSORS, AND THE MUFFLER, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK AND NO MECHANIC CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH. I EVEN WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A CAR CODE READER AND IT SAYS EMISSIONS BUT STILL NO LUCK. *TR
PURCHASED USED 2000 CAVALIER IN 2006. FIRST PROBLEM (WHICH HAS CONTINUED FOR 5 YEARS) IS THAT THE SERVICE LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS CRANKED UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FIRST TURNED ON. IF YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. IT WILL NOT GO OFF UNLESS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT (WITH HEADLIGHTS ON). SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT FUEL HAND DOES NOT REFLECT ACCURATE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE IN TANK. IT GOES UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING (WITH THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT ON). OR SOMETIMES IT IS STUCK ON E OR STUCK ON F REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY PRESENT. THIRD PROBLEM IS THAT CAR INTERMITTENTLY OVERHEATS AND IS ALWAYS LOSING COOLANT. I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, & RADIATOR. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS CANNOT FIND A LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM (DESPITE PRESSURE TESTING, COMPRESSION TESTING, & BLOCK TESTING). WE ARE BAFFLED WHY IT CANNOT RETAIN CONSTANT COOLANT LEVELS. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION AS I AM LEFT WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL HAS CONSISTENTLY FAILED. EACH MONTH HE IS REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE FUSE. HE ALSO CLEANS THE FUSES REGULARLY. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2001. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, A MUFFLER SHOP REPAIRED THE STARTER ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE STARTER BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND BURNED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,812 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,600. UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AN UNNECESSARY RELAY SWITCH WAS ADDED TO THE STARTER WHICH CAUSED THE STARTER TO MALFUNCTION. UPDATED 03/31/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE STARTER REPLACED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT AN ADD ON STARTER RELAY NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED IN HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V036000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 172,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. IN MARCH OF 2005, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A RELAY SWITCH AND A NEW WIRING HARNESS. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THAT TIME. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WAS GETTING HOT. THE DEALER STATED THAT SHE NEEDED ANOTHER NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS AT THE COST OF $403.23. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN COLD WEATHER, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED AFTER FIVE MINUTES. IN WARM WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD TAKE 30 MINUTES TO RESTART. THE WIRE HARNESS THAT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED 4,000 MILES LATER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
I WAS DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK (100 MILES BOTH WAYS) 65MPH THEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING PULLED OVER 2 MIN. LATER BACK ON THE ROAD 1 MILE LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. FORCED IT TO MAKE IT TO TOWN 1AM. LEFT IT AT A GAS STATION. CAME BACK IN THE MORNING TO TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER (45 MIN DRIVE) IT BROKE DOWN 6 TIMES!!! I'VE HAD IT 9 DAYS!!! DEALER SAID IT WASN'T HIS PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE MY 7 MONTH OLD BABY WAS W/ME HE CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER AND SENT ME AWAY. 45 MIN LATER I WAS BROKEN DOWN ON A HIGHWAY 1 HOUR IT STILL WOULDN'T START. A MAN PULLED UP CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM TO TOW IT BACK TO THE SHOP. NEXT DAY HE WORKS ON IT END OF DAY SAYS IT MUST BE ELECTRICAL. I GAVE HIM $4800 CASH!!!! I DON'T EVEN WANT THE CAR BACK!!! HE NEEDS TO GIVE ME MY MONEY CAUSE IT IS A LEMON. *TR
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT DATE OF INCIDENT. IT WAS ABOUT 2 YRS. AGO. THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD NOT STAY ON. THEY WOULD GO OFF AND ON WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT WAS ONLY THE DIM LIGHTS. WE GOT A SWITCH AND HAD MECHANIC PUT IT IN. PLUS A RELAY. IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE RECENTLY. THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS. THEY SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS AT ALL. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH NO LIGHTS. PLEASE RESPOND. THANK YOU. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN INSERTING THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. RECALL #04V036000 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON JULY 5, 2004. TWO YEARS LATER THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,200.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2005 WE HAD THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER CHANGED DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED MORE FREQUENT. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND THEY COULD ONLY FIND THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR FAILS TO START. IT WOULD START FOR THEM WHILE IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. I CONTACTED GMAC AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. I COULD NOT GET ANYONE TO TECHNICALLY FINE THE PROBLEM. IN ESSENCE, THIS CAR HAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM AND IT IS USELESS TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE GOTTEN STUCK WITH THE CAR AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AT MY EXPENSE. WE WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS WE CANNOT EVEN SELL THE CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB
INTERIOR LIGHT OF A 2000 CHEVY CAVALIER, COMES ON AND FLICKERS OFF, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, VERY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT TIME. IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC OF THE DASHBOAD WAS COMING APART AND VERY LOOSE. THIS ISSUE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSEN. ONCE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A GOOD SIZE CHUNK OF THE DASHBOARD CAME OFF.*AK
CONSUMER 2000 CAVALIER STALL WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. *TS AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE FOR THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. TWO SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *NM
2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BATTERY ACID LEAKED. *TS THE ACID DAMAGED OTHER COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCT 6, 2005 *JB THE ACID LEAK DAMAGED THE BATTERY TRAY, TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINES, INNER FENDER AND FRAME (DELCO BATTERY). *NM
A FIRE IN MY 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BEGAN IN THE CENTER CONSOLE APPARENTLY THE RESULT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL WIRINGS. NO ONE WAS IN THE PARKED AND LOCKED CAR AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE. THE DAMAGE RESULTED IN MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALING THE VEHICLE. *JB
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER ON BEHALF OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW [XXX] CONCERNING A CONTINUING PROBLEM SHE IS EXPERIENCING WITH HER 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER [XXX]. ON JULY 10, 2001, SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 AND JUNE 18, 2005, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE E7200 IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK [XXX] AND VARIOUS OTHER COMPONENTS [ACTUATOR (P/N [XXX], AND HVAC [XXX] RELAY (P/N [XXX])]. THE FIRST TWO TIMES UNDER WARRANTEE WITHOUT ANY EXPLANATION AND THE LAST AT [XXX] EXPENSE WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THE WEIGHT OF THE KEYS IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AND IS WELL CARED FOR. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO TO THE NHTSA RECALL 04V036000.*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. OWNER STATED THAT A RECALL NOTICE 04V036000/IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECEIVED FOR IGNITION SWITCH ON FEBRUARY 4, 2005. IT WAS FEBRUARY 25, 2005 WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM DEVELOPED. *AK DEALERSHIP CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY, CONSUMER PAID $85.00 TOWING AND $465 FOR REPAIRS. *BF *NM
1.) LEAKING BATTERY (ACID) CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AT THE CONECTOR UNDER THE BATTERY TO BECOME DETERIATED (CORRODED). 2.) THIS AFFECTED THE HEADLIGHTS BY CUTTING OFF THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT AND SHUTTING OFF THE HEADLIGHT. A NIGHT TIME FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. 3.)I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR STATION AND PAID $300.00 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED, ONLY PATCHED BECAUSE A HARNESS REPLACEMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO COSTLY FOR ME. *AK
THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 2917 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM AT 6237 MILES THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE A STRUT MOUNT AND A BEARING PLATE. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE O2 SENSOR AND STARTER WAS REPLACED. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED TWICE AND THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED. *JB
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
Data on this page last refreshed .