1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Complaints

06/99 BLOWN HEAD GASKET, TIMING CHAIN, MINOR VALVE DAMAGE, REPLACE WHOLE TOP PART OF ENGINE. 10/01 MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED DUE TO MINOR OIL LEAK, ADVISED TO KEEP EYE ON LEAK, WILL FIX IF GETS WORSE. 01/02 OIL LEAK WORSE , REPLACED HEAD GASKET AND STARTER. 02/02 IGNITION WIRES SMOKING, REPLACED IGNITION WIRES, FRIED STARTER AND CYLINOD. 03/02 (55243 MILES,) ENGINE PULLING IN AIR FROM BAD HEAD GASKET OR CRACKED ENGINE AND IS SPITTING OUT ANTIFREEZE FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP IS STILLING DETERMINING EXACT PROBLEM. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. NEED A MAJOR RECALL. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND HAD TO REPLACED TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.*AK . *JB

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL, ALSO LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON DASH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH AT 61,000 MILES. THE REAR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION. HOWEVER THE INSIDE DASH AND FRONT LIGHTS DID WORK PROPERLY. I WAS HAVING THE CAR TOWED AT THE TIME AND HE IS THE ONE TO BRING IT TO MY ATTENTION. I DID CALL GM AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THIS PARTICULAR PART HAD BEEN REPLACED AT 29,000 MILES. THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT OF A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE FAIL AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES LATER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU! *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, INTERMITTENTLY, TRANSMISSION FAILS TO OPERATE. *JG *AK

AFTER LISTENING TO A SQUEEK NOISE FROM TRUNK AREA PROCEED TO A CLUNKING NOISE, I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT REAR STRUT AND IT'S MOUNT HAD FAILED REQUIRING BOTH TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $800. I FEEL THE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MUFFLER FAILED PREMATURELY. WATER PUMP FAILED PREMATURLEY. STARTING TO THINK 1996 CAVALIER WAS NOT ENGINEERED VERY WELL.

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

THERE ARE 2 KNOWN SERVICE BULLITINS OUT ON THESE PROBLEMS AND CHEVROLET NOR THE DEALER WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

SHOCKS COMPRESS ALL THE WAY AND MAKE A LOUD SLAMMING NOISE, HAPPENS AT VERY SLOW RATE OF TRAVEL ON VERY SMALL BUMPS, AND GETS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR LARGER BUMPS.*JB

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CONSUMER STATES NOW STARTING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION.*JB