1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING RACK AND PINION ON 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BUILD IN 4-01-1997 TO 10-31-1997 MINE WAS MADE 11-01-1997. I KNOW THAT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH MINE BECAUSE AT TIMES I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL WHEN I SLOW DOWN. THE REASON I'M WRITING ABOUT THIS IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS ON THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER 98 CAVALIERS MADE AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE A REPORT SENT TO GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THEY WILL GO GOOD FOR THIS PART. I HAVE A CHILD AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY THAT THEY SHOULD GO GOOD FOR IT AND HAVE IT FIX BY A DEALER AND THEY SHOULD PAY THE DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM. PLEASE EMAIL ME BACK . YOU HAVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR BACK ON THIS REAL SOON. THANK YOU. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED SHE THERE WAS A CRACK IN GAS TANK. IF THE CONTACT FILLED THE TANK 3/4 FULL THE TANK LEAKED. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A CRACK IN THE TOP OF THE TANK. SHE NOTICED THIS A WHILE BACK. SHE ALWAYS KEPT TANK FULL. BUT WHEN GAS PRICES WENT UP EXCESSIVELY SHE COULD NOT AFFORD TO FILL IT UP. WHEN GAS PRICES WENT DOWN, THE CONTACT FILLED IT UP AGAIN, AND THAT WAS WHEN THE TANK STARTED TO LEAK. HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRACK. *AK

DT: THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE IN TWO YEARS BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL O4V036000 NOTICE CONCERNING THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MARCH 2004. THE OWNER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE REPAIR WORK DONE. THE DEALER INSTALLED A RELAY KIT AND RECHARGED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME AND WORKED FINE FOR THREE OR FOUR WEEKS. THE OWNER CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY DRAINING, AND HAVING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT LEAST ONE OTHER TIME IN NOVEMBER 2004. THE OWNER TALKED WITH THE DEALER BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE DEALER ACTUALLY WANTED TO CHARGE FOR CHECKING AS TO WHY THE BATTERY WAS DRAINING INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE IGNITION SWITCH AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. OWNER HAS TALKED WITH RONALD BERKAN AT GENERAL MOTORS, WHO CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE KIT WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE AS REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. MR. BERKAN ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT INVOLVED. THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT GM WOULD DO UNDER THIS RECALL.*AK CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT IF RECALL WORK IS NOT PERFORMED THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND NOW HAS TO JUMP START VEHICLE EVERY 24 HOURS. *TT

ON 08.25.2003 SUN CHEVROLET (IN PITTSBURGH, PA) PERFORMED RECALL WORK ON MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER. THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS "RACK AND PINION CAMPAIGN 02049, MA-96-V0948.7". AT THAT TIME THE ONLY PART LISTED ON MY RECEIPT AS BEING INSTALLED ON THE CAVALIER WAS BEARING K 6.835 A. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHERE IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE POWER STEERING HAS BECOME DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS VERY STARTLING WHEN IT OCCURS, AND HAS LED TO SEVERAL "NEAR MISSES" IN TRAFFIC WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE TURNS. SO, ON 07.21.2005, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO SUN CHEVROLET FOR THEM TO EVALUATE THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW "STEERING GEAR" FOR $1168.95, AND THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CALLED PRICILLA LUNDQUIST (FROM CHEVROLET 866.952.4368 X 58092, SERVICE REQUEST # 1-351040321) ON SATURDAY 07.23.2005, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK WILL SUN CHEVROLET THEN GET BACK TO US ON MONDAY (07.25.2005). AT THAT TIME SHE TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, IT WAS COMPLETELY OUR PROBLEM TO FIX AND PAY FOR. FROM READING THE INFORMATION ON THIS RACK AND PINION RECALL, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE STEERING GEAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL (08.25.2003) ALONG WITH THE BEARING TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM NOW. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM.

(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SHE WAS STRUCK, HER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE FURTHER PREVENTED HER STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY SAFETY DEVICE IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED MISERABLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY.