1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Complaints

View complaints related to 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 400 complaints submitted for the 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - BABSON PARK, FL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS MAKING A U TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, RIGHT SHOULDER, AND LEFT KNEE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - MARION, IL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE CRASH; HOWEVER, IT SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE WHIPLASH, LEG BRUISES, AND HEAD LACERATIONS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL UNDER HER DOCTOR'S SUPERVISION. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE DOCTOR DETERMINED THAT THE CONTACT'S NECK WAS FRACTURED AND SHE WAS SENT TO GET AN MRI AT THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY MARION CHEVROLET/CADILLAC IN MARION, ILLINOIS. THE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE'S BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - MEEKER, OK

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,450.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - NICHOLASVILLE, KY

    THIS CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING LIKE THE GM CARS BEING MENTIONED IN THE NEWS TODAY. STARTED IN 2005 AND WAS EVALUATED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS INCLUDING A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT KEPT IT OVER A MONTH. IT DOESN'T SHOW A CODE WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING (VARIED SPEEDS). IT ALSO RANDOMLY WON'T START. TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT WILL QUIT ON YOU OR NOT START.RESETTING DID NOT HELP.CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR DAUGHTER (NEW DRIVER) TO DRIVE, BUT WAS TOO UNSAFE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - ANAHEIM, CA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF SIXTEEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REMOVED THE INTERIOR LIGHT FUSE TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V027000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 233,163.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - SPRING, TX

    THERE'S ALOT OF STUFF WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IT RAN GOOD AND IS RELIABLE WHEN RUNNING,BUT RECENTLY STOP RUNNING. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - SAN FRANCISCO, CA

    I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2.4L WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION ABOUT 3 DAYS AGO. TODAY AS I WAS DRIVING TO GET GAS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO IDLE LOW AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL TO THE ENGINE. AS I CAME TO A STOP IT GOT WORSE AND THEN I CHECK THE DASH FOR ANY INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION ONLY TO SEE MY AIRBAG, CHECK ENGINE, ABS, CHECK OIL & BATTERY LIGHTS FLICKERING. MOMENTS LATER AS I SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR IT DIES RENDERING ALL SAFETY AND NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO JUMP ME 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE REACHING MY HOME WHICH WAS LESS THAN A MILE AWAY! *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - CALUMET CITY, IL

    YES CAR WILL TURN OVER BUT WON'T START IT DOES THIS AT TIME OR U CAN PRESS THE GAS TO TRY AND START INTERIOR LIGHT DON'T WORK. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - ANAHEIM, CA

    I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 1999 AND FROM THE BEGINNING HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY ON ETC. FROM 1999 TO SEPT 2010 - I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL CHEVY DEALERS WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. I WAS TOLD TO PUT FUEL INJECTION CLEANER IN IT BY ONE CAR DEALER OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T WORK. YEARS LATER AND MANY REPAIRS, ENGINE REBUILT, THERMOSTAT REPLACED, WATER PUMPS, FANS ETC.. FOUR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - LOSS OF POWER, CAR SHUTTING OFF AND LEAVING ME IN INTERSECTION, FREEWAYS ETC.. CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, I HAVE OVER THESE YEARS BECOME VERY FRUSTRATED THE CODES READ O2 SENSORS, THE CAT CONVERTER PIECES FALL APART EASILY CAUSING VERY COSTLY REPAIRS BECAUSE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS CLOG THE AIR FLOW CAUSING OVERHEATING AND LOSS OF POWER, IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT OR COST TO KEEP THIS CAR IN REPAIR ORDER. CAT CONVERTERS, SENSORS, HEAD GASKETS, SEALS, WATER PUMPS, STICKING THERMOSTATS ETC.. CONTINUALLY REPLACED AND STILL THE SAME ON GOING PROBLEM WITH NO HOPE OF EVER FINALLY FIXING THIS DANGEROUS DEFECTIVE PROBLEM. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - KNOXVILLE, IA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADWAY AND THE PASSENGER HAD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE VEHICLE STEERED OF ROAD INTO A GAS STATION AREA. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN INDEPENDENTLY DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,950 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,018. UPDATED 9/13/10 *CN UPDATED 09/15/10

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE