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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Chevrolet Cavalier accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Comments

problem #12

May 262002

Cavalier

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Stanton, CA, USA

problem #11

Feb 171998

Cavalier

  • miles
Consumer states while driving was unable to stop, there were no brakes, also vehicle would make loud sounds and then stall, consumer was always being told by delaership that it was a sensor and the fuel filter which was always being replaced, but never resolved the problem, however it was finally determined by a manager at the Chevrolet shop that the manufacturer programmed the air conditioner to be on at all times, which caused these malfunctions as well as burning out the carburetor, the manager fixed the dial so the A/C would not be on, but still informed consumer that it needed to be properly reprogrammed, consumer has not experienced the failures since the dial was readjusted, consumer has obtained legal represenation and feels she should not be held financially responsible for something that the manufacuter created.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #10

Oct 192001

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
Consumer states it took four years before anyone could determine what was causing vehicle to lose all power casuing consumer not to be able to stop, driving several feet with the ABS light on, the dealer finally discovered that the A/C and the compressor were programmed by the manufacturer to be on at all times, adversely affecting the compressor, brakes, and power, and the mechanic found a way to get the A/C and compressor to stay off, causing the problems to cease.jb

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 171998

Cavalier

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states while driving was unable to stop, there were no brakes, also vehicle would make loud sounds and then stall, consumer was always being told by delaership that it was a sensor and the fuel filter which was always being replaced, but never resolved the problem, however it was finally determined by a manager at the Chevrolet shop that the manufacturer programmed the air conditioner to be on at all times, which caused these malfunctions as well as burning out the carburetor, the manager fixed the dial so the A/C would not be on, but still informed consumer that it needed to be properly reprogrammed, consumer has not experienced the failures since the dial was readjusted, consumer has obtained legal represenation and feels she should not be held financially responsible for something that the manufacuter created.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #8

Oct 102000

Cavalier

  • miles
The manufacturer programmed the air condition to be on all the time, which caused the compressor to malfunction, ABS brake to fail, and vehicle to stall and loose all power.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #7

Oct 102000

Cavalier

  • miles
My car was programmed by the manufacturer to have the A/C on at all times. So, during the last five years, my A/C was always on, unbeknownst to me. This caused the compressor to malfunction this fall. That's when the problem with the car finally revealed itself, and a mechanic at don ringler's Chevrolet finally figured out that the A/C needed to be reprogrammed so that it was not on at all times. Meanwhile, all during the five years, the brakes kept failing at various times, causing me to nearly crash or run out into traffic. Many times I was bruised from the incidents. My car also stopped running altogether several times while operating at different speeds, and just as the power would shut off, the brakes would stop working. I have gone out into the middle of highways, almost being killed. Each time I took the car in, I was told that the problem could not be detected or the problem had been resolved. Being only the second car in my life (the first one, a Geo metro, caused no problems at all), I trusted the verdict each time, and did not know that there was a deeper, underlying problem to report. It took me five years to uncover this. Believing the mechanics at Chevrolet dealerships each time that the problem had been resolved, I continued to keep careful maintenance on it with the very best quality care. This fall, I was told the same thing, that it was something other than the real source of the problem, and after another $500 and a test drive with the head mechanic where the power failed once again, it was discovered that the A/C was misprogrammed and causing power failure. Evidence of this lies in the fact that when the A/C is kept off, the car runs fine. The compressor is ruined. I am concerned that all the other 1996 Cavalier complaints (NHTSA) on power/brake failure may be attributable to A/C misprogramming. Those customers could not figure out the reason either. A recall may be necessary. Please investigate--GM staff is ignoring me.

- Temple, TX, USA

problem #6

Mar 302000

Cavalier

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air conditioning system failed, repaired on two occasions.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 282000

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #4

Mar 101999

(reported on)

Cavalier

  • miles
The car is falling apart, interior is falling apart, example seat belts on the driver's side is not in tact, the passenger chair on the right side frame is broken, air conditioner has gone out and we needed to install a new airconditioner, the brakes have been replaced twice already, I guess every nine months the car needs a new brake change, the Chrysler credit Corp has never given us a receipt on how much more to pay and when we call them up, they would not tell us how much more to go for the payments, they also know that since we purchased this car from the very first day this vehicle has been in and out of the shop for repairs. Then they would change constantly where the payment should go. I just wished they would stop that. It is like a house loan, we have changed mortagager four times and this is getting very stressful. Can you please help us with this matter.

- Barrigada, GU, USA

problem #3

Aug 111998

Cavalier

  • miles
Replaced the automatic transmission with a remanufactured one.also the hood release/ABS brakes and air conditioner failed.

- Wiggins, MS, USA

problem #2

May 011996

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air conditioner failed twice.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #1

Mar 241996

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Purchased car in March 96, the strut was replaced about four times. Consumer also experienced a tire blow out, dealer advisded her there was nothing they could do, because tire blow out was due to some type of object that punctured tire, also air condition went out twice, starter was replaced, torque convertor replaced, and a recall on piston pin, consumer feels that manufacturer should take some type of responsbiilty since this a brand new vehicle.

- Valliant, OK, USA

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