1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Complaints

THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 OR 50 WHEN THE RIGHT TIRES HIT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER LANDING ON IT'S TOP-SIDE. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD NOR DID THE AIR BAG ACTIVATE. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND IS STILL HAVING BACK PROBLEMS. SHE WAS SLUNG TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HER SHOULDER HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HER HEAD HIT THE TOP OF THE CAR.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15 )

CONSUMER NOTICED LIGHT ON THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLASHING AND STEAM POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, DEALER SAID ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE, ANOTHER MECHANIC SAYS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CONSUMER WANTS REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

IT STALLS IN THE RAIN SOME TIMES IT DOES HARD STARTS RUFF IDEAL SOME THING CALL THE COMPTER CONTROLE MODULE OR SOME THING JUST LIKE THAT L GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON THAT. COULD THAT HAVE SOME THING TO DO WITH IT IT WAS REPLACE. *AK

MY QUESTION IS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHAT IS THE RATE OF FATILITY IN A HARDTOP CAR VS A CONVERTIBLE. ANY OTHER DATA THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE ON THE SAFETY OF CONVERTIBLES VS HARDTOPS WOULD BE WELCOMED.

THE HORN DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IT HAS CONTRIBUTE TO TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST WAS WHEN MY CAR BACKED INTO ANOTHER CAVALIER, SAME YEAR, AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT HER HORN WOULD NOT HONK. THE SECOND WAS WHEN A CAR BACKED INTO ME AND I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TOHONK THE HORN TO WORN THE MAN HE WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME AND THE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. THIS HAS CAUSED TWO DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS JUST IN MY CASE. THE HORN WORKS OCCASIONALLY, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK MORE OFTEN THAN IT DOES. THIS COULD REALLY BE A HAZARD.

HORN HASN'T BEEN WORKING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FUSE WAS REPLACED, BUT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER CLAMED THAT IN DIFFERENT WEATHER &TEMPERATURES IT WILL NOT WORK. VEHICLE STALLED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY & ALTERNATOR THE 1ST TIME. 2ND TIME DEALER INDICATED FUEL PUMP WENT OUT.CONSUMER HAD TO COVER THE COST & FELT THAT THEY SHOULD BEEN ABLE TO DETECT THIS WHEN THEY DID THE DIAGNOSTIC READING A MONTH AGO. *AK

AT 46K MILES, MY TRANSMISSION PANEL LIGHT STARTED GOING ON AND OFF. AT 53K MILES, A GM DEALER READ A P1887 TCC RELEASE SWITCH CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. AT 58K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AT 70 MPH ON I77 NORTH OF CHARLESTON WVA. THE GM DEALERSHIP IN WVA FOUND THAT THE PUMP IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME APART, DAMAGING THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, AND BILLED ME. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SAID I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, TOUGH LUCK, NO OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS HAVE EVER BEEN REPORTED. HOWEVER, I FOUND NUMEROUS IDENTICAL PROBLEMS IN THE NHTSA FILES (SEE NHTSA BULLETIN SB049140). I PRINTED A TSB (SERVICE BULLETIN) FROM A GM DEALER IN OHIO THAT SHOWS THAT THE TRANSMISSION PUMPS INSTALLED ON CAVALIERS BEFORE 6/96 HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PUMP SEAL FAILURES THAT CAN LEAD TO THE TRANSMISSION BURNING UP EVEN THOUGH THE CAR DRIVES LIKE NORMAL. SINCE GM ADMITTED IN THE TSB THAT CARS PRODUCED BEFORE 6/96 (MINE WAS BUILT 4/96) HAD A PUMP PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE CAVALIER TRANSMISSION, I BELIEVE I STILL SHOULD BE REIMBURSED BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR. THE COST FROM THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,062.70.

HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. IT WAS AROUND THE ENGINE WHERE A TECHNICIAN BELIEVED THERE WAS A HEAD BLOWN HEAD GASKET.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AFTER FOUR TIMES IN SHOP, MISFIRING,SEVERAL KNOBS HAVE FALLEN OFF,PASSENGER WINDOW DOES NOT WORK,INTERIOR PROBLEMS. *AK

CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON RECALL #C00010, DEALER AGREED TO PAY PART OF REPAIRS AND NOT ALL. WOULD NOT PAY FOR DEALERSHIP CHARGES ON PRESSURE TESTING COOLING SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH DEALERSHIP REQUIRED IT....