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.
Have put 3 alternators on this car, even when under warranty before 12,000 miles (approximately). Brakes have been replaced at least 3 times. Now, the brakes have failed completely and the ABS light came on. Dealer says no recalls, except for the ignition system. Scheduled that for repair 7/23/02. Seat belt plastic covers snapped off (belt loose on one and hit by car door when shutting it. The other one just popped off. Belt continues to slip off engine, causes stalling even if driving 55 mph. Now brakes intermittently failing. Left front brake continues to have brake dust accumulate on wheel cover. Car has 110,000 miles on it (engine repaired last year). Car is also overheating; has had tstat replaced, radiator fluid. What else could cause this, I don't know.
Defect 1: ABS light would come on when making a left hand turn. ABS would no longer activate while light was on. Defect 2: alternator--went out while driving in city traffic, rush hour. Had previously asked dealer to check, but they claimed it was functioning properly. Defect 3: rack and pinion steering assembly--went out shortly after alternator, while driving in the dealership parking lot. Defect 4: timing chain tensioner--technician said this caused major engine damage--gears, head, etc. Defect 5: horn--has worked sporadically, at best, for the last year and a half. Seemed like a short.
On July 5th of this year my car started making a strange nose when starting it. I took the car to my local Chevrolet dealer so that the and let them listen to the noise and narrow down the problem as to what might be the problem. The said that it sounded like either the flywheel or the starter, I then took the car to my menachic and he told me the same thing, I was going to take the car to him as some as I could be without my car and he told me not to start the car any more that necessary. Before I could find time to take the car to the shop whatever the problem was compleately failed and I had to have my car towed to the shop. This car should not have started problems because even though it has 46,000 miles the majority of those miles are highway miles which dose not require much starting of the car. I think that there is a major defect in my cars started system that should have not of occured to a car this new. When I bought this car it was mainly for the reputation of the Cavalier as a relibale car that would last me for many years.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fayetteville, NC, USA