1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Power Train Problems

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

Mileage: 17,035

WHILE TURNING INTO A GAS STATION AND CAR BEGAN TO MAKE CLUNKING, SPUTTERING NOISES. IT STALLED THEN BEGAN TO GO AGAIN, THEN JUST STOPPED AND SAT THEIR HALFWAY IN THE ONCOMING LANES. THE ENGINE JUST REVVED IN ANY GEAR. THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO THE GAS STATION TO AVIOD A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND A CHUNK OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING FELL OFF. THE CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE IF IN NUETRAL AND PUSHED. THE CAR IS PENDING DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR.*AK

Mileage: 140,000

WHILE DRIVING ON A BACK ROAD BETWEEN 25-30 MPH VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO LEFT. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACKWARDS 15 YARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVER HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOW TO EXIST THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE OFFICER INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED DUE TO AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE. THE AXLE BROKE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. *AK

Mileage: 78,000

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

JULY 2002 MANUAL TRANSAXLE LEAK- REPLACED LEFT AND RIGHT SEALS; MARCH 2003, LEFT SEAL REPLACED; OCTOBER 2003 RIGHT SEAL REPLACED. OCTOBER 2003, LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN DRIVING UP HILLS IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR AND SOMETIMES ON FLATS- SAME GEARS. DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK AND THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, MEANWHILE I TOOK IT IN FOR THE LEAKING TRANSAXLE- I CAN'T WIN.

Mileage: 142,000

WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT ON THE THIRD GEAR. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT ON THE THIRD GEAR. *AK

1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ETS OFF LIGHT CAME ON DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, OFF AGAIN BY THE TIME WE GOT TO HE DEALER. HAPPENED AGAIN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING A WEEK LATER. DEALER FOUND THAT COMPUTER CODE INDICATED FAILURE OF A PUMP SEAL IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (4-SPD OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION). COST TO REPAIR WILL BE AT LEAST $1,305. OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND ON THE NHTSA SITE SHOW PROBLEMS WITH PUMPS INSTALLED IN TRANSMISSIONS PRIOR TO JUNE, 1996. CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES.

Mileage: 37,000

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE TRANSMISSION CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. SOMEONE CAME TO HELP GT IT BACK ON THE ROAD BUT THE VEHICLE STOPPED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED A MAJOR TRANSMISSION JOB WAS NEEDED. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR SERVICES. *JG

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME FOUR-SPEED OVERDRIVE TRANSMISSION WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR, AND "ETS OFF" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE REMAINS IN LOW GEARS UNTIL LIGHTS GO OFF OR UNTIL VEHICLE COOLS DOWN. ALSO , THAT WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS VEHICLE JERKS AND VIBRATES AS IF THE ABS IS KICKING IN AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. CONSUMER PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NO TRANSMISSION WHICH HAS BEEN CARED FOR, WHICH THIS ONE HAS, SHOULD FAIL AT 78000 MILES. *AK

THE TRANSMISSIONS IN GM CARS SEEM TO BE HAVING MULTIPLE FAILURES AT WHAT I SEEM TO THINK ARE UNUSUALY LOW MILAGES. THIS TRANS THAT WENT OUT IN MY CAR IS A GM REBUILT TRANSMISSION WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE LOOK INTO THE GM TRANSMISSION SITUATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT CAR WILL NOT MOVE AND IT ALREADY HAS A GMC REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. *AK

4 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FORWARD GEARS FAILED, REVERSE STILL WORKS. *AK

MY ETS OFF LIGHT AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED FOR THE PAST 10 MONTHS. THE CODE 1810, WHICH IS THE TCC SWITCH, HAS SHOWN WHEN MY CAR HAS BEEN SCANNED. MY CAR HAS BEEN SEEN BY SEVERAL MECHANICS . THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN. THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON WHICH CAUSED MY CAR NOT TO SHIFT PROPERLY. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT HAVE LOOKED AT MY CAR SAID THAT GETTING A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WHICH IT HAS NOT. WHAT CAN YOU RECOMMEND I DO. DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T FIXED ANYTHING? ALSO THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED.

WHEN DRIVER WENT TO ACCELERATE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS SECOND TRANSMISSION IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION IN THE PAST AND NOW AGIAN I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *AK

BRAKES FAILURE TO STOP, CAR SLIPS IN GEAR WHEN PRESSING ON BRAKES, HORN SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK THEN IT STARTS TO WORK , HEADLIGHTS GO DIM WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED ,NOISE IN REAR AREA

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. I WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT THE PUMP SHAFT HAS FAILED IN EACH OCCASSION. ALSO NOTE, EACH TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THIS PART, I HAVE HAD TO PAY AT LEAST OVER $1400. *AK

PCM REPLACED. *MJS

BOTH TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED. *MJS

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.

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

ENGINE HEAD GASKET/STRUTS/STARTER/TRANSMISSION/ DOME LIGHT/ PAINT/,MUFFLER/SEATS AND ABS BRAKES HAVE ALL GONE BADLY AT LEAST ONCE, AND SOME HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND ARE BAD AGAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT REFUSED TO CHECK OR REPLACE. NO LONGER DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM DUE TO THE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES. *AK

CAR REFUSED TO MOVE WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC, ALL REG MAINT. PERFORMED, NO WARNING, BARELY AVOIDED BEING REAR ENDED. COMPANY NOT INTERESTED IN DANGER OR IN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. ENGINE WORKS, CAR WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. *AK

VEHICLE'STRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. HAD TO PUSH VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION, BELIEVED THIS CONDITION WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SINCE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 54,000 MILES OF WEAR. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

I FOUND OUT THAT THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 31 1996, BUT NOT BY ME I CAN'T FOUND WHO OR WHOM PURCHASED THE CAR . I WOULD LIKE TO FIND IF THIS CAR WAS OWNED BY SOMEONE BEFORE ME BECAUSE THIS CREATE A PROBLEM WHERE IF SOMEONE ENTER THE DATE OF OWNSHIP AS 7/31 /96 WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. SHIRLEY HURT

THE SUN GEAR AND CARRIER CRACKED AND BEARING EXPLODED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *YC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED MERGING TRAFFIC, SO I SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I THEN HEARD A POP BUT DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I WAS ALSO LISTENING TO THE RADIO. I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN THE CAR KEPT ON SLOWING DOWN AT A STEADY PACE,I HEARD THE ENGINE IDLING LOUDLY AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FOUND IT KIND OF ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GIVE OUT ON ME SINCE THE CAR WAS A 1996.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED MERGING TRAFFIC, SO I SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, I THEN HEARD A POP BUT DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION CREWS WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I WAS ALSO LISTENING TO THE RADIO. I NOTICED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WHEN THE CAR KEPT ON SLOWING DOWN AT A STEADY PACE,I HEARD THE ENGINE IDLING LOUDLY AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I FOUND IT KIND OF ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GIVE OUT ON ME SINCE THE CAR WAS A 1996.

VEHICLE BOUGHT W/BAD WATER PUMP WHICH WAS LEAKING BADLY. BRAKES IN REAR WERE MAKING METAL TO METAL NOISE & WERE SLUSHY. WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANY GREAT DISTANCE & THEN STOPPPED, IT WOULD OVERHEAT & THEN STALL OUT. HARD TO RESTART. ODOMETER NUMBERS NOT EVEN & OUT OF SYNC. WATER HOSE IS LEAKING. *AK

TRANSMISSION (MAIN DRIVE) FAILED. NLM

TRANSMISSION (MAIN DRIVE) FAILED. NLM

PART BROKE WITH NO WARNING - RESULTS IN NO POWER AT ALL TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC- MECHANIC SAYS THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL CAVALIERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HAD STOPPED FOR NO REASON. WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AT 43,000 MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID THAT TRANSMISSION HAD WORN OUT & NEEDED REPLACING. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

CLUTCH GETS REPLACED EVERY 26 K MILES, MANU CLAIMS NORMAL WEAR (NO OTHER I EVER HAD NEED A NEW CLUTCH THAT OFTEN).

REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE.ALSO THE HOOD RELEASE/ABS BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION CABLE RUNS AGAINST THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CATALATIC CONVERTER GOT HOT AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION CABLE TO MELT. THE DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR AXLE FELL OFF, CAUSING DRIVER TO HAVE A MAJOR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE AND IT WAS HARD TO SHIFT GEAR. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ALSO REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK

AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, BRAKES STUCK AND THE ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR- DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AUTOMOBILE. HE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO STOP AUTOMOBILE BY SHUTING THE IGNITION OFF. HE ALSO STATES AT THAT TIME HE COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS SO HE COULD NOT DISENGAGE THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK

TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE/SEALS FAILED.

WHEN PUTTING IN PARK, VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD/BACKWARD.

WAS DRIVING AND CAR LOST POWER AND SMOKE COME OUT OF CAR. TOOK TO DEALER, HE SAID THAT CLUTCH FLUID WAS OVERFILLED NOT KEPT RIGHT CLUTCH, HAS DAMAGE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TORQUE BRACKET BACKED OUT, RE TORQUED.

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS DID NOT LOCK, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT MOVED FORWARD. ALSO, CLUTCH PEDAL CLICKS WHEN DEPRESSED/FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT/DOME LIGHT INOPERATIVE AT TIMES WHEN OPENING LEFT DOOR. *AK

PURCHASED CAR IN MARCH 96, THE STRUT WAS REPLACED ABOUT FOUR TIMES . *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT, DEALER ADVISDED HER THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE TIRE BLOW OUT WAS DUE TO SOME TYPE OF OBJECT THAT PUNCTURED TIRE, ALSO AIR CONDITION WENT OUT TWICE, STARTER WAS REPLACED, TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED, AND A RECALL ON PISTON PIN, CONSUMER FEELS THAT MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE SOME TYPE OF RESPONSBIILTY SINCE THIS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.*JB

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH CASING OF THE CAR WAS NOT WELDED, VEHICLE CONSTANTLY MAKES A NOISE, ENGINE STALLED AT 3000-3500 RPMS. *SLC

PARKED VEHICLE ON SLIGHT INCLINE, REMOVED KEY, THEN VEHICLE ROLLED 10 FEET, NO EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL.

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

THE CAR IS HAVING MAJOR TRANSMISSON PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION, WHEN ENGAGING TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE. TT WHEN OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE IS COLD, AND CONSUMER BACKS CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND PUT INTO NEUTRAL THEN DRIVE VEHICLE DOES NOT GO INTO GEAR FOR 3-10 SECONDS, IT JUST SITS THERE OR COASTS, THE ENGINE REVS UP AS YOY STEP ON THE GAS, THEN THE VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR, WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THEN STEP ON THE GAS VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE BUT IT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE, THE ENGINE REVED UP AND THEN JUMPED INTO GEAR CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT ALL THESE VEHICLE TYPES ARE LIKE THAT AND IT CAN NOT BE CRRECTED.*JB