1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Steering Problems

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

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHILE HAVING THE 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#02V286000. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM, THE IGNITION AND THE AIR BAG. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE EVER MADE ON THE VEHICLE. *JB

RECALL CAMPAIGN: POWER STEERING GEAR RECALL. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE STEERING FROM WANDERING AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS DONE, THE CONSUMER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR. RECALL# 02V286000. *SC AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALER 3 TIMES THE RACK AND PINION WAS FINALLY REPLACED IN WHICH THE CONSUMER STATED SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000, AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED ON A RECALL FOR RACK AND PINION THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. *AK

Mileage: 111,447

NHTSA RECALL 02V286000 CONCERNING POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. AFTER HAVING THE LOWER PINION BEARING REPLACED CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN LEFT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP , WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A BUSY ROAD.I TOTALLY LOST POWER AND I PULLED OVER, AFTER ALMOST BEING HIT BY SEVERAL OTHER CARS. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN FOR THIS VECHILE.GM, SHOULD INQUIRE MORE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM!

Mileage: 61,199

I PURCHASED A 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS FROM ADVANCED CARE CARE INC IN ORLANDO FLORIDA 9-23-03 THIS CAR IS A LEMON. LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH IT (WAS SOLD TO ME TELLING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT ). *AK PROBLEMS IVE PAID TO FIX SO FAR ENGINE REPLACED HEAD JOB (BLOWN HEAD GASKET) 02 SENSOR TWICE ECM COMPUTER TWICE COIL PACK- 3 TIMES ICM 5 TIMES ENGINE STRUT TRANSMOUNT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT BRAKES ROTORS MAIN ROD BEARINGS CATALYTIC CONVERTOR THEY ARE NOW SAYING IT NEEDS ANOTHER ENGINE THAT THE CRANKSHAFT IS BAD , IT IS POURING OUT OIL, I CANT GO PAST 3 RPMS IT HAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM AS WELL WHICH HAS ALMOST COSTED ME AND MY SON OUR LIFE. ADVANCED CAR CARE INC (SILVERSTAR ROAD) IN ORLANDO FLORIDA SOLD ME THIS CAR NOTIFYING ME NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE ALREADY PAID 7,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS EVEN MORE MESSED UP THAN WHAT IT WAS. EVERYTIME I PAY FOR SOMETHING TO BE FIXED SOMETHING ELSE WRONG SHOWS UP... I TOOK IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE MECHANICS WERE ALL SHOCKED AT THIS CAR. THEY SD THE HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAR BUILT THIS MESSED UP BEFORE. THE COMPUTER WAS SHOOTING OUT 13 DIFFERENT CODES. THIS IS A LEMON CAR. I NEED IT FIXED OR REPLACED ALSO S & S AUTOMOTIVE IN APOPKA FLORIDA CHARGED ME 1,515 IN REPAIRS WHICH THEY NEVER GAVE ME A WRITTEN QUOTE OR EVEN ON THE PHONE. THEY LIED TO ME ABOUT PARTS BEING NEW WHEN THEY WERE USED. THEY INSTALLED MY CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WRONG AS WELL. THEY DID WORK AND LABOR TO THE CAR AND CHARGED ME FOR IT WITHOUT MY CONCENT.. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AND I TEST DROVE IT I WAS SHOCKED THAT NOW THE CRANK SHAFT IS ALL OF A SUDDEN BAD AND IT WILL COST ME 2,000 THERE OR 5,000 AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I DONT EVEN HAVE A DOLLAR TO MY NAME RIGHT NOW. COULDNT BUY MY SON ANY GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS AFTER PAYING ALL OF THESE CAR BILLS AND NOW IM STUCK WITH THIS LEMON OF A CAR .

Mileage: 100

I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT ALL THE GM STEERING STUFF AND I JUST WANTED TO WRITE MY COMPLAINT, MY STEERING LOOKED UP ON ME CAUSING ME TO RUN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE WHICH FLIPPED MY CAR OVER AND TOTALLED OUT MY CAR. I JUST THINK THAT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT GM NEEDS TO FIX BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED OR HURT LIKE ME.

FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM

Mileage: 39,500

FUEL PUMP SEAL DISINTEGRATED. COST $1,081.00 (INCLUDING 3 DAY CAR RENTAL). EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND I WOUND UP PAYING AN ADDITIONAL $600 FOR OTHER DEFECTS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THINK THAT THIS AND MANY ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR CONSTITUTE IT BEING A LEMON. MORE THAN 5 RECALLS IN 7 YEARS. *NLM

Mileage: 39,500

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL, THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER A NEW RACK AND PINION WAS NEEDED.MR *TS *JB

Mileage: 50,000

WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CAMPAIGN # 02V28600 WITH THE SUBJECT POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER CHEVROLET. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THAT RECALL AND A GM REPRESENTATIVE WOULD MAKE CONTACT AND TEST THE VEHICLE. THE GM REPRESENTATIVE CALLED THE CONSUMER AND STATED THAT THE RECALL PART WOULD BE FIXED BUT NO OTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. *NLM

THE STEERING RACK & PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. HAD THE RACK AND PINION UNIT REPLACED BEFORE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE.

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION, RECALL # 02 V 286 000. *JB

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE IT SERVICED FOR THE STEERING COLUMN RECALL 02 V 286 000 . AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE APART INDICATED THAT THE PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. PH

NHTSA#02-V-286-000 CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY CAVALIER VIN # [XXX] THAT HAD SOME VERY SERIOUS STEERING PROBLEMS 1 YEAR AGO. THE CAR ACTED LIKE THE POWER STEERING UNIT QUIT OR WOULD ONLY ALLOW YOU TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. WE HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $1500. I THEN LEARNED OF A CAMPAIGN, #02V286000, THAT LISTED THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT MY CAR WAS HAVING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU COULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE OR IF MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY COVERED FOR THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 54,000

POWER STEERING FAILED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HAD PROBLEM FIXED FIRST TIME DEALER WANTS TO TOTAL VEHICLE SECOND TIME. GM DID NOT OWN UP TO THE PROBLEM. SAID CAR DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL PERIOD, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY. *TS **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770164

Mileage: 100,000

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE CRASH. MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NOTICED A LEAK COMING FROM VEHICLE .TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT ANALIZED. LEAK WAS COMING FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING, WHICH TOTALLY DAMAGED VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT THIS MILEAGE.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP AT 10 MPH. MANUFAUCTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A SCAPING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW.*JB

CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A SCAPING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LOW.*JB

THE STEERING STARTED VERY GRADUALLY AND WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. IT GOT SO BAD BEFORE WE HAD TO REPAIR IT THAT YOU COULD NOT STEER AT ALL TO THE LEFT. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP AND ASKED THEM TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR THEY SAID KNOW. AFTER THE REPAIR WA COMPLETED I TALKED OT THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR AND HE INDICATED THAT HE REPLACES THIS ON A LOT OF GM VEHICLES INCLUDING CAVALIERS. I AM REQUESTING THAT GM BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND PUT A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO REPAIR ANY VEHICLE INCLUDING MY OWN WITH PARTS AND LABOR COSTS.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN COLD WEATHER STEERING BECOMES HARD AND UNMANAGEABLE. CHEVROLET WAS CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND 4 ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALL WITH NO AVAIL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR 4 MONTHS NOT IN USE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT A PART WILL FAIL AND COST ME AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN MY LIFE. THANKS STEVE LEHST. *AK

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER SAID IT WAS RACK AND PINION STEERING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

REPLACED POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE LINE AND RESEALED PUMP. *MJS

BELIEVE THIS TO BE MANU. DEFECT. GM DOESN'T WANT TO COVER COST OF REPAIR - KM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN THE SUMMARY. *AK

KNOCKING NOISE NEAR TRUNK AREA, BURNING SMELL CONSTANTLY, PANEL LIGHTS ALWAYS SHOW SOMETHING WRONG, ETS OFF LIGHT BLINKING, TILT STICKS, HORN DEFECTIVE, DON'T START IN WARM WEATHER,POPPING NOISE IN REAR SIDE, COOLANT LEAKS, POWER STEERING HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED UP AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, WINDOW RATTLES WHEN COMING DOWN, WINDOW NOT ALIGNED RIGHT AIR COMES THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES,ALARM DOESN'T WORK 85% OF THE TIME EVEN WITH NEW BATTERIES, NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE JUNE 1, 1999.

KNOCKING NOISE NEAR TRUNK AREA, BURNING SMELL CONSTANTLY, PANEL LIGHTS ALWAYS SHOW SOMETHING WRONG, ETS OFF LIGHT BLINKING, TILT STICKS, HORN DEFECTIVE, DON'T START IN WARM WEATHER,POPPING NOISE IN REAR SIDE, COOLANT LEAKS, POWER STEERING HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED UP AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, WINDOW RATTLES WHEN COMING DOWN, WINDOW NOT ALIGNED RIGHT AIR COMES THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES,ALARM DOESN'T WORK 85% OF THE TIME EVEN WITH NEW BATTERIES, NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE JUNE 1, 1999.

KNOCKING NOISE NEAR TRUNK AREA, BURNING SMELL CONSTANTLY, PANEL LIGHTS ALWAYS SHOW SOMETHING WRONG, ETS OFF LIGHT BLINKING, TILT STICKS, HORN DEFECTIVE, DON'T START IN WARM WEATHER,POPPING NOISE IN REAR SIDE, COOLANT LEAKS, POWER STEERING HOSES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY BURNED UP AND LEAKED FLUID ONTO EXHAUST SYSTEM, WINDOW RATTLES WHEN COMING DOWN, WINDOW NOT ALIGNED RIGHT AIR COMES THROUGH ON BOTH SIDES,ALARM DOESN'T WORK 85% OF THE TIME EVEN WITH NEW BATTERIES, NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE JUNE 1, 1999.

STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP FOR NO REASON. *AK

THIS IS A SECOND REPORT OF THE POWER STEERIG FAILURE. THE FIRST WAS LOSS OF POWER ASSIST ONLY. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS TOTAL LOCK UP OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE RACK AND PINNION ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACED, IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR INSPECTION UNTIL 8/25/99. THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WHICH REQUIRED A COMPLETE TURN T

LOSS OF POWER ASSIST THREE TIMES, HAVE NOT DRIVEN SINCE 7/1/99. WE ARE TAKING IN FOR SERVICE 7/7/99.

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, UNDER WET CONDITIONS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER AND MANJUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

A VALVE INSIDE THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM IS STUCK, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE INOPERATIVE AND ALLOWING IT TO JERK FROM SIDE TO SIDE, CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD.

FUEL PUMP WENT OUT/OIL PRESSURE VALVE BLEW UP AND OIL IS ALL OVER/COMPUTER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, AND RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEMS NOT YET REMEDIED. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ANTI THEFT SYSTEM LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES.

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/ENGINE/MUFFLER/CONVERTER/SEAT/HORN/POWER STEERING HOSE AND WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED.

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, DRY ROAD CONDITION, VEHICLE CHANGED LANES AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH AND INJURIES. ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE RAN OVER A POSSUM, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT ON AN EMBANKMENT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER SEVERAL TIMES, IN WHICH BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. ALSO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BROKE IN HALF. *AK

RACK AND PINION BROKE CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK.

NOISE AROUND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN.

STEERING WHEEL SEEMS LOOSE.

NOISY ABS BRAKES, ALSO REPLACED NOISY POWER STEERING VALVE. *AK

WAS DRIVING AND TRYING TO TURN APPLIED THE BRAKES, COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT ANOTHER CAR . *AK

WHILE TRYING TO PRESS THE HORN, HORN DID NOT RESPOND AND THEN THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO INFLATE. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE AN AIRBAG. *AK

ALARM REMOTE FAILS INTERMITTENTLY.

STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN AND MAKES LOUD NOISES WHEN TURNING. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK

RATTLING NOISE/VIBRATION FROM WITHIN STEERING COLUMN/DASH AREA. *DSH