2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE AND THE LEVER BECAME STUCK. OCCASIONALLY, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. ALSO, THE HOOD WAS HOT, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THERE WERE ALSO MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

11187497

Incident

Mar 13, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE AND CLOSING THE DOORS, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE LIGHT BULB WIRING IN THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *LN

NHTSA ID

11097095

Incident

May 18, 2018

Mileage

100,000 mi

IGNITION SWITCH AND THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED IN 2009, ROUGHLY FIVE YEARS AFTER GM'S RECALL. THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH'S SERVICE. IN ADDITION TO THE RECALL, GM INSTALLED AN IGNITION WIRING HARNESS. BACK IN 2009, THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION WOULD OVERTURN, AND THEN, THE ENGINE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHUT-OFF. TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BOTH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND LOCK CYLINDER WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $492. IN 2014, THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS. THIS TIME, IT APPEARS THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAME DAMAGE DUE TO CURRENT FLOW TO THE IGNITION WHEN HOLDING THE KEY IN THE START POSITION. THE HEAT MELTED THE INTERNAL SWITCH. I HAD NOT KNOWN IN 2014 THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN THE SAME YEAR, HOWEVER, GM RECALLED A MASSIVE NUMBER OF VEHICLES FOR IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS NOT ON THE LIST. TODAY, IT COSTS $180.00, EXCLUDING TAXES AND FEES, TO GET THE IGNITION SWITCH INSTALLED BY A CHEVROLET TECHNICIAN. A LOCKSMITH RATE STARTS AT $90 BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE SERVICE FEE, AND LABOR. BASED ON FEW ONLINE REPORTS, THE INSTALLATION TAKES A MINIMUM OF 20 MINUTES. WOULD INSTALLED THE IGNITION SWITCH MYSELF BUT CANNOT LOCATE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS. ALL THE CHEVROLET MANUALS OWNED DO NOT PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS ON REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF I DO INSTALL THE IGNITION SWITCH, I AM UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER WILL NEED REPROGRAMMING. A FEW REPORTS MADE REFERENCE TO REPROGRAMMING THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER FOLLOWING THE CHANGING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. SOLUTION: I THINK GM NEEDS TO ADD CHEVROLET CAVALIER TO THE "RECALL" LIST. THE ALTERNATIVE, IGNITION WIRING HARNESS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ENTIRELY WHEN THE CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT REMAINS ON THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ID

10924470

Incident

Jun 9, 2014

THE WHOLE FRONT DASH HAS MANY CRACKS IN IT AND APPEARS TO BE DANGER SINCE PIECES ARE FLYING OFF AS I DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

10874074

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 35 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MECHANIC RESET THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10794585

Incident

Oct 15, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

SOMETIMES, DURING REGULAR BRAKING, REAR BRAKES LOCK AND CAR DOES NOT STOP. HAPPENS ON ASPHALT EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO STEM FROM A FEW CAUSES AT TIME OF PRODUCTION.

NHTSA ID

10745488

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

Mileage

73,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON 2/15/2012. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO GREENLEAF COLLISION INC., LOCATED AT 5100 A. KENTUCKY AVENUE, NASHVILLE,TN 37209,615.320.7818, OWNER [XXX]. ON 2/16/2012 MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED IN TO GREENLEAF COLLISION INC, FOR REPAIRS. ONCE I FOUND OUT FROM GREENLEAF COLLISION, INC. THAT MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2001 WAS ON RECALL LIST TO BE REPAIRED FOR "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE", GENERAL MOTORS. THE GREENLEAF COLLISION INC., HAD MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2001, TOWED TO FREELAND CHEVROLET 5333 HICKORY HOLLOW PARKWAY, ANTIOCH, TN. 37013, 615.731.3020. MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER, IS IN THE RECALL FOR "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE", ONCE MY VEHICLE WAS SENT OVER TO FREELAND CHEVROLET FOR REPAIR OF THE "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE", TO MY UNDERSTANDING BY GREENLEAF COLLISION INC. I WAS INFORMATED THAT MY VEHICLE THE CHEVROLET CAVALIER, WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE", ON 3/8/2012 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WERE MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER," IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE" . MY WAS TOTALED OUT, THE VEHICLE JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, AND WE WERE HIRE AND TOTALED OUT. MY "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE" WITH MY CHEVROLET CAVALIER TOTALED OUT, AND WAS NOT REPAIRED, AT FREELAND CHEVROLET ON 3/7/2012 THE" IGNITION SWITCH", WAS NOT REPLACE/NOR REPAIRED. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED OUT, AND I WAS LEFT WITHOUT VEHICLE COMPENSATION, AND I WAS INJURED, AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE INJURED ALSO. I HAVE AN CLAIM NUMBER WITH GENERAL MOTORS:[XXX]. WHO HAS A THIRD PARTY COMPANY NAMED ESIS/GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT P.O. BOX 300, DETROIT, MI 48265-3000. 800.888.0164. ESIS/GM CENTRAL CLAIMS UNIT HAS NOT PROCESSED MY CLAIM WITH THE" IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE", ON THE CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I REQUEST HELP IN RECEIVING COMPENSATION ON MY TOTALED OUT VEHICLE. YOUR URGENT ASSISTANCE IS GREATLY NEED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10692802

Incident

Mar 8, 2012

Mileage

188,288 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BODY AND HEAD INJURIES, THE REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND THE REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BODY INJURIES. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10690793

Incident

Mar 8, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE IGNITION KEY WAS SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS TURNING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID

10678879

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

Mileage

13,000 mi

MY CAR ABRUPTLY SLOWED DOWN AND BEGAN TO DRAG AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING INTO A LOW GEAR AND THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653142

Incident

Oct 23, 2014

Mileage

99,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT FIXED I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CHEVROLET CAVALIERS AND I WORRY THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT MY AIRBAGS WONT PROPERLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED DASHBOARD. NOW MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS CAUSED BY THE CRACKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639178

Incident

Jan 30, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

MY KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND IN THE ON POSITION, AND ALSO ANOTHER TIME THE CAR KEY TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AND I LOST POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639177

Incident

Feb 12, 2008

Mileage

92,000 mi

KEY COMES OUT IF THE IGNITION WHILE CAR IS RUNNING/ IN RUN POSITION

NHTSA ID

10631734

Incident

Aug 26, 2014

Mileage

156,081 mi

KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION WHILE CAR IS IN GEAR AND IN PARK. AND CANNOT BE PUT BACK IN DURNING VEHICLE RUNNING

NHTSA ID

10619142

Incident

Jul 30, 2014

Mileage

220,000 mi

I,WAS COMING FROM WALMART .ONTO THE THREE LANE HIGHWAY ,I CROSSED OVER INTO THE LANE THEN I SAW THIS CAR ,I HIT MY BRAKES ,THEY FROZE AND MY CAR SLID INTO THE FINDER OF THE OTHER CAR ,I COULD NOT STOP AND IT SLED ONTO THE OTHER LANE AND STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615426

Incident

Dec 8, 2008

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, PREVENTING THE VEHICLE FROM BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE KEY TO THE START POSITION SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,610 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,615.

NHTSA ID

10594257

Incident

May 24, 2014

Mileage

85,610 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, A RED LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 25 MPH. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACK LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY ONCE THE SPEED STARTED TO INCREASE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NEARLY 12 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS 85, 610 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 85,615.

NHTSA ID

10594250

Incident

May 24, 2014

Mileage

85,610 mi

SES AND DTC P1810 COME UP, THERE IS NO REVERSE, AND P0507 COME UP, RESULTING IN TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED

NHTSA ID

10593542

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

145,810 mi

HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID A REAR END CRASH ANDABS AND TRAC OFF SERVICE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS NO COLLISION, HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED WITH BOTH FRONT ABS SENSOR HARNESS WAS WORN-OUT HAD TO FIX AND REPLACE AND COST 398.81$

NHTSA ID

10565900

Incident

Dec 9, 2013

Mileage

109,541 mi

UPON DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS 20-30 MPH WITH FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON,IT BECAME MORE,AND MORE EVIDENT OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. FIRST THERE WAS AN INCREASING BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. A CONNECTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE KICK PANEL HAS MELTED BEING SO CLOSE TO THE CARPET ITS POSSIBLE THAT IT BEING WINTER MOISTURE FROM MELTED SNOW SOMEHOW MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN, A SEARCH ON GOOGLE SEEMS TO PULL MULTIPLE CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO I WANT TO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF MY REAR DEFROSTED WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER SWITCH, I HAD TO PULL THE 30 AMP FUSE THAT STILL HAD A COMPLETE CIRCUIT IN IT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10555521

Incident

Dec 10, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A PARK CAR. THE SEAT BELT WAS TIGHT, AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE WHEEL WAS AT A 90 DEGREE PERPENDICULAR ANGLE TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY LOOKED DESTROYED.

NHTSA ID

10514223

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREE WAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION POWER. GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR. IT TRIES BUT WON'T START. ALL POWER IS WORKING AND STARTER AND ALTERNATOR ARE TRYING TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433508

Incident

Oct 28, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME SUSPENSION UNIT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,400.

NHTSA ID

10428969

Incident

Sep 13, 2011

Mileage

64,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS FRACTURED IN SIX PLACES. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD WAS CAVED IN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS WELL AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 10 YEARS OLD AND THE FAILURE WAS JUST WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/08/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10413715

Incident

Jul 19, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON IR 80 IN THE RIGHT LANE. UNIT 1 CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WHILE DRIVING. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0259-90) *JB

NHTSA ID

10404865

Incident

Apr 8, 2011