2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 35 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE MECHANIC RESET THE STEERING COLUMN SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E063000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

MY KEY CAME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND IN THE ON POSITION, AND ALSO ANOTHER TIME THE CAR KEY TURNED OFF BY ITSELF AND I LOST POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND MY BRAKES LOCKED AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED A "CLUNK" CAN BE HEARD AND FELT. THIS HAPPENED BACK IN ABOUT 2003 AND STILL CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. ON SECOND COMPLAINT, ODOMETER NUMBERS NO LONGER SHOW UP PROPERLY. ONLY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE ODOMETER AREA DO THE NUMBERS LIGHT UP. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH 47000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 25 MPH HE MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE WHEEL OFF, FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID, AND NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Mileage: 47,000

2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER MAKES A CLICK NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING HARD RIGHT. *TS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. THE VALVE COVER GASKET, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

REPLACED FUEL PUMP TWICE WITHIN THE LAST 3 YRS. STEERING COMPONENT THREE TIMES. FUEL TANK ONCE. MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING FROM POWER STEERING LEAK, AND ALSO HAS OIL LEAK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 93,000 MILES. ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD. 01 CAVALIER BOUGHT FROM TERRY LEE CHEVY. THIS CAR SUCKS!!!NEVER BUY AGAIN!!!! NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX HALF THE STUFF WRONG. TLC SUCKS. OH YEAH I FORGOT THE SENDING UNIT WILL BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME INN THREE YEARS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION HAD FAILED. *JB

CLUNKING FELT IN STEERING WHEN TURNING. *AK

Mileage: 53,000

WHENEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED THERE WILL BE A CLANKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CONSUMER CLAIMS THAT STEERING IS SOME TIMES LOOSE AT ANY SPEED. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT A RACK AND PINION STEERING COLUMN WAS NEEDED.*AK

Mileage: 3,345

ACCIDENT OCCURRED POSSIBLE RESULT OF LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE ONLY THING THE CONSUMER COULD REMEMBER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAD TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING SLOW WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THIS ACCIDENT MAY BE RELATED TO RECALL#02V286000. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED AS WELL. *SC *JB

Mileage: 11,317

WHILE PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE FRICTION ON A LOOSE POWER STEERING PULLEY.*AK CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START ENGINE, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. CONSUMER FELT THAT BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. MANUFACTURER'S INSPECTOR SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE FRICTION FROM LOOSE PULLEY ON POWER STEERING PUMP. *LA

Mileage: 28,000

THIS COMPLAINT IS SIMILAR TO GM'S RECENT RECALL. WHEN MAKING MOSTLY LEFT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS I GET CLICKS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT NOW IS STARTING ON RIGHT TURNS. I PURCHASED THE 2001 CAVALIER WITH UNDER 36,000 MI . IT NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 37,000 MI. *CB

Mileage: 36,000

MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT(2001 Z24 CAVALIER) HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. PISTON RODS FAILING, FUEL PUMP LEAKING, CRANKSHAFT FAILURE, GEAR BOX BENT CAUSING ME TO ONLY START CAR IN NEUTRAL AND CAN'T PARK ON HILLS. ALSO... VALVES HAVE BROKEN NUMEROUS TIMES, ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, FUEL GAUGE WAS BROKEN, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING, SUNROOF SHATTERED ON ME... EVERYTHING HAS BROKEN ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME EVEN UNDER WARRANTY... I GOT A LEMON AND THEY WANT ME TO KEEP IT. SO MANY PROBLEMS I CANT LIST THEM ALL... MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 11 MONTH OLD SON AND WE JUST GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP AFTER 14 DAYS REPAIR ON A VALVE, AND THE NEXT DAY WE WERE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP ON ME AND BRAKES, AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP US FROM CRASHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN AND THE CONNECTED SOME HOSE THEY "FORGOT" TO CONNECT AND TOLD ME TO LEAVE. AFTER WE ALMOST COULD OF DIED, I WILL NOT GET INTO THE VEHICLE THAT I AM STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TOO. I WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP ME! (INCIDENT DATE IS MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE) *LA

AIR/HEAT FAN, STEERING COLUMN ,BRAKES, ENGINE. *LA

AT 35,500 MILES FRONT STEERING STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHILE TURNING CORNERS. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT RESET. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ABS MASTER COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. AND STEERING WAS LUBED. AT 37,000 MILES POPPING CAME BACK, DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. ALSO, AT 45,000 MILES THE BRAKES WERE SHAKING, AFTER INVESTIGATION, MECHANIC STATED THAT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 18 MONTHS AND AM LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AND I ONLY HAVE 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. THEN TODAY, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEGUN TO STAY ON. AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR THAT AIRBAGS WON'T INFLATE IN COLLISION. *LA

AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES THE STEERING CASE STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING, THEY LUBED SOMETHING. AFTER THAT THE NOISE WENT AWAY BUT JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I STARTED FEELING A CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING, IT TURNS OUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR MY ANNUAL INSPECTION THE MECHANIC STATES IN ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO THE STEERING WILL NO LONGER WORK. TURNS OUT A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH STEERING, WHILE COMING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, THEY COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL, THEY EVENTUALLY HAD TOO CHANGE THE STEERING CASE IN THE CAR. WHAT HAPPENS IF A PERSON IS ON THE HIGHWAY AND NO LONGER CAN STEER THE CAR, THE RESULTS WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *LA

Mileage: 37,000

RACK AND PINION UNIT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAVALIERS IN GENERAL SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING UNITS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO WHY THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON-GOING FOR YEARS. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM 1992 TO TODAY LIST A HISTORY OF STEERING UNIT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL.

Mileage: 45,000

WHILE SITTING STILL, VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. AS A RESULT OF COLLISION POWER STEERING BELT FLEW OFF. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK JLG

BRAND NEW CAR, 2 RACK AND PINION STEERING PUT IN IT WITHIN A YEARS TIME, POPPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END, MAYBE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK

CONSTANT NOISE IS COMING FROM FRONT TIRES. MECHANIC STATS CAUSE OF NOISE IS STEERING ROD FAILURE. *AK

THE STEERING MAKES LOTS OF NOISES. MAJOR STEERING COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, YET THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. MY 4TH ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, RESULTED IN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISING ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE STEERING GETS WORSE. HE CLAIMED THE NOISES ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH, NOR FREQUENT ENOUGH TO BE REPAIRED. I SAY IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO HEAR SUCH NOISES WHEN STEERING THE CAR, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS (45+). I NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT IS PARKED AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL I AM ASSURED THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK

I HAVE RETURNED MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR A REPEAT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUE TO HEAR, AFTER EACH REPAIR IS TRIED, GRINDING IN THE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO GOES DOWN WHILE TURNING IT UP. BOTH MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE HEARD CREAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THESE ARE ALL CONTIUAL PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR OR EVEN NOTICE.*AK

A NOISE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD DURING NORMAL OPERATION. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. ON THE FOURTH EXAMINATION,DEALERSHIP REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX WHICH CORRECTED THE NOISE PROBLEM. *AK

I KEEP TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT HELP; I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A SQUELING NOISE IN MY TIRES, AND MY STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN MAKES A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE; MY DRIVERS WINDOW HAS LOCKED UP ON ME TWICE; WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED FOR MY TIRES THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURE DID NOT INSTALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS CORRECTLY AND THE SAME WITH MY STEERING COLUMN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!!! ; I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY 3-4 WEEKS NOW; THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR THE KEPT IT ALL DAY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. PLEASE WARN PEOPLE ABOUT THESE CARS I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS; EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALMOST THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAS ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM I HAVE.

AFTER 500 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER LATER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IDLE ARM. VEHICLE CONTINUED GRINDING NOISE, AND DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALER WILL NOT PROCESS FURTHER REPAIRS. *AK

RACK & PINION STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO JERK LEFT. THIS WAS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY, BUT HAS REAPPEARED AGAIN. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*AK