Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH MY 1995 BASE MODEL CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS WHEN THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST ON A FREEWAY WHEN SOMEONE WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME WHILE CHANGING LANES. THE HORN FAILED, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $100, WHICH I COVERED, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY OFF OF WARRANTY. MONTHS L…
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THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH MY 1995 BASE MODEL CHEVROLET CAVALIER WAS WHEN THE HORN STOPPED WORKING, WHEN I NEEDED IT MOST ON A FREEWAY WHEN SOMEONE WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME WHILE CHANGING LANES. THE HORN FAILED, AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $100, WHICH I COVERED, SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY OFF OF WARRANTY. MONTHS LATER, THE TRUNK LATCH REFUSED TO WORK. I COULD NOT OPEN THE TRUNK FROM THE REAR OR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IN LATE 2000, MY BRAKES WERE MAKING GRINDING NOISES. TURNS OUT THE ROTORS WERE BADLY WARPED AT 50,000 MILES. NOW, 15,000 MILES LATER, THE BRAKES ARE GRINDING AGAIN, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ROTORS MAY ONCE AGAIN BE WARPED. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2002, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT ALL OVER MY ENGINE. THE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR. ONLY RECENTLY HAVE I HEARD THAT THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE COVERED BY A "SECRET" WARRANTY UP TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, SOMETHING I WISH I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. FINALLY, WITHIN WEEKS OF THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR, THE PLASTIC ON THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT SNAPPED OFF, SO NOW I MUST HAVE THE ENTIRE SEATBELT REPLACED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CAR, AND I HAVE HEARD THAT OTHER CAVALIER OWNERS HAVE HAD EVEN WORSE EXPERIENCES THAN ME! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GENERAL MOTORS STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR SOME OF THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR COST, WHICH WAS NEARLY SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT THIS MAY ONLY BE A PIPE DREAM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE CAVALIER ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FOR THE 2.2 L ENGINES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A LONG-RUNNING PROBLEM ON CAVALIERS THROUGHOUT THE 1990S THAT GM HAS YET TO PUBLICLY ADMIT OR ADDRESS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO RECALL IT, SOMEONE DYING ON THE ROAD WHEN HIS OR HER CAR EITHER STALLS IN BUSY TRAFFIC OR CATCHES ON FIRE?
NHTSA ODI #758889
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts
"LOW ANTIFREEZE" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. ADDING ANTIFREEZE FIXES TEMPORARILY, AND WE STILL SMELL FUMES FROM HOOD. INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER OF FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD GASKET MONTHS BEFORE PROBLEM MANIFESTED. DESPITE COUNTLESS REPAIRS, LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR CUTS OFF SPORADICALLY. NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. MIDDLE BACK SEAT B…
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"LOW ANTIFREEZE" LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. ADDING ANTIFREEZE FIXES TEMPORARILY, AND WE STILL SMELL FUMES FROM HOOD. INFORMED BY MANUFACTURER OF FAULTY CYLINDER HEAD GASKET MONTHS BEFORE PROBLEM MANIFESTED. DESPITE COUNTLESS REPAIRS, LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR CUTS OFF SPORADICALLY. NO REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. MIDDLE BACK SEAT BELT ALSO RELEASES, CAUSING OUR TODDLER'S CHILD SEAT TO TIP OVER WHEN VEHICLE TURNS CORNERS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758642
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2001
Seat BeltsInjury
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH I BRAKED HARD TO MISS A DEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SONS SEATBELT IN THE REAR LEFT FAILED TO LOCK AND HE FLEW FORWARD INTO MY SEAT (DRIVERS) AND MY SEAT DOESNT LOCK DOWN THEREFORE I WAS FLUNG INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT 65 MPH AND LOST CONTROL...MY SONS WAS HURT AND WE ALL COULDVE BEEN KILLED. THE FLIP FLOP N…
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WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH I BRAKED HARD TO MISS A DEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY SONS SEATBELT IN THE REAR LEFT FAILED TO LOCK AND HE FLEW FORWARD INTO MY SEAT (DRIVERS) AND MY SEAT DOESNT LOCK DOWN THEREFORE I WAS FLUNG INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AT 65 MPH AND LOST CONTROL...MY SONS WAS HURT AND WE ALL COULDVE BEEN KILLED. THE FLIP FLOP NON LOCKING DRIVER SEATS NEED TO BE RECALLED! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGERSOUS AND WITH THE REAR PASSENGERS WEIGHT AND THE SEAT PUSHING ON THE DRIVER THERE IS NO WAY TO OPERATE THE CAR THEREFORE I COULD HAVE HIT ANOTHER CAR AND KILLED EVERYONE! PLEASE INVESTIGATE!*AK
NHTSA ODI #747434
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Seat Belts
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. WHILE DRIVING APPLIED BRAKES VERY HARD TO AVOID HITTING A DEER, AND SEAT BELTS FAILED TO TIGHTEN AND TO RESTRAIN HER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #832041
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline
STRUTS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #542528
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1997
Seat BeltsSeats
SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED DURING REAR END COLLISION, CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #516046
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1996
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE, THE SEAT BELT CAME OUT THE BUCKLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #804621
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1996
Seat Belts
SEAT BELTS TWIST WHILE RETRACTING, RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE.
NHTSA ODI #509270
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1996
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT FROM THE FLOOR BROAD CAME OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA ODI #977414
Mileage unknown · May 30, 1995
Seat Belts
SHOULDER BELT CAN'T BE ADJUSTED AND CUTS DRIVER ACROSS THE NECK. TT
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
1995 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year