1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Complaints

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO ON, (HIGH OR LOW BEAM) RESULTS IN UNABLE TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK AT NIGHT.

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT FEELS LIKE REAR WHEELS ARE GRABBING. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPLACED REAR HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY.*AK

CATALITIC CONVERTER WENT BAD IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AT THE MILEAE THAT I HAVE. I HAVE APPROX. 83K MILES ON MY CAR. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH MY CAR TYPE.

RECALL CAMPAIGN: STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION (RECALL NUMBER 02V286000). THE VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNAL ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM, WHICH, AS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL IF THE CORRECT KEY IS NOT USED TO START THE CAR, FUEL IS CUT OFF TO THE ENGINE. THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THEN FLASHES, AND YOU ARE UNABLE TO START THE CAR FOR (AS I FOUND OUT ON MY OWN) EXACTLY 10 MINUTES. SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW 5 YEARS AGO. THIS SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED TO ME DOZENS OF TIMES. I START THE CAR (WITH THE CORRECT KEY, OF COURSE) AND THE CAR DOES NOT START-THE THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF FOR 10 MINUTES, AND I CAN NOT START THE CAR DURING THIS TIME...IF YOU ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR DURING THIS TIME, YOU ARE FORCED TO WAIT EVEN LONGER BEFORE THE LIGHT STOPS FLASHING AND YOU CAN RESTART THE ENGINE. ON THE OCCASIONS THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY EITHER TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG, OR THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE EXTERNAL ALARM, OR THEY JUST SAID IT WAS FIXED...MEANWHILE, THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE FEATURE WAS-I HAD TO TELL THEM THAT IT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. LONG STORY SHORT, THIS THEFT SYSTEM HAS CAUSED ME TO BE LATE FOR WORK NUMEROUS TIMES, AND HAS CAUSED MANY INCONVENIENCES FOR ME! OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. I SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, AND NEITHER WERE AWARE OF THE FEATURE, OR THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THE DEALER SAID TO BRING IT IN, BUT FOR ME TO TAKE A DAY OFF FROM WORK IS DIFFICULT-ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY PROBABLY WON'T FIX A THING. I AM DESPERATE FOR SOME HELP WITH WHAT I CONSIDER A MAJOR DEFECT IN THIS CAR! DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT A FIRE STARTED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATES THAT THE FIRE DEPT. SAID IT STARTED FROM THE TAIL LIGHTS. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH, "SOFTLY" TURNED STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD. CONSUMER LOSS COMPLETE CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING, TRAVELLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. CONSUMER FEELS ISSUE MAY BE RELATED TO CURRENT RECALL 02V286000 TS

UPON STARTING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WATER TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES HOT, SMOKE COMES OUT OF RESERVOIR, AND THE ANTI-FREEEZE INDICATER GOES DOWN ABOUT A GALLON. BUT ANTI-FREEZE IS NOT LEAKING OUT SIDE VEHICLE ITS INTERNAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE A HEAVY VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2002, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING AROUND 11:15 AM. THE CAR DID NOT START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT. THE CAR DOOR WAS OPENED AROUND 2:00 PM AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT ALL OVER FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THERE WAS A FIRE FLAME ON THE DASH-BOARD FROM THE HOLE INSIDE THE STEERING. THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AS IT RECEIVED OXYGEN FROM THE WIND BLOWING. IMMEDIATELY 911 WAS CALLED. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME DOWN WITHIN 5 MINUTES AND BLEW OUT THE FIRE. A POLICE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. ALSO WE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER THE FIRE. FINALLY GM ACCEPTED FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE AFTER 14 BUSINESS DAYS. GM REIMBURSED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY ALL THE EXPENSES INCURRED. DT