Engine Problems of Chevrolet Cavalier

In weeks prior, a clunk was heard upon low speed manuvering, later a rattle @ 2000-3300 rpm. I have not driven it since, save to get $3,000 estimate and several opinions, that a connecting rod is defective, making the engine valuless, which all concur this is common for this engine, and gm may have known of this problem for years, and done nothing.

See all problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Head gasket broke. Looking at $2,600 to fix, even though low miles.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

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).

I was informed by a customer service rep at Chevrolet on 9/5/03 that my vehicle was covered for head gasket repair under a "special policy" recall. At the urging of this customer service rep from Chevrolet, bruce mitchell, I took my vehicle to the dealer for repair. I was notified by their service dept. That this "special policy" expired 7/03 and that it would cost over $1,400 to fix all of the damages including the head gasket. I told the dealership not to fix the problems. I called Chevrolet and spoke with the same customer service representative as I had earlier. He apologized and informed me that he was incorrect in telling me that the head gasket would be covered at no cost. I purchased this vechicle from a private sale in 2/03. I was never informed by anyone that any recalls were available to me. My vehicle started having problems a couple of weeks ago, so I looked on Chevrolet's website to see if perhaps there were any recalls out for my car and there were 2 and this other "special policy". I asked the company how I was supposed to know that this policy had an expiration date if I never knew about it in the first place. They told me that they did all that they can do and that they cannot help me. I cannot afford to get my vehicle fixed so therefore it is undrivable to me. I think that this is ridiculous. I missed the expiration date by 2 months because of an expired policy that I never knew about, or would have known about if I didn't take it upon myself to conduct some research on the Chevrolet website and take the initiative to call their company. I'm frustrated and angry that a customer service representative got this information so wrong. Now I'm stuck. . . . . I would not have taken this vehicle to the dealership for repair if I would have not been misinformed.

See all problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

When attempting to shut off vehicle continued to run.

While driving at any speed and whenever the consumer depressed the brake pedal vehicle lost power. Also, intermittently cruise control engaged on its own. Vehicle would have to be turned off to disengage it. Vehicle was taken to dealer several times, and the dealer could not find the causes of the problems.

While driving at 55 mph, the engine died. There was no power steering or brakes and the consumer was to pull over. The dealer inspected the vehicle and could not duplicate or correct the problem. The service dealer could not duplicate the problem.

See all problems of the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Engine and vehicle speed sometimes, but intermittently, do not respond to driver control - vehicle accelerates on its own. When that happens, had to ride brakes to control speed. This happened five times with increasing severity over a period of time - on the sixth time the vehicle reached 60mph without the accelerator being touched. Review of odi compliants shows an increasing number of similar related complaints on this model with age. Had purchased car to give to my newly licensed daughter, who, due to lack of experience, was initially unsure if the problem was with her or the car. The last time scared her, and the dealer's rep said "it was an accident waiting to happen". Dealer did a good job in persisting with the problem, which was finally (after two days) traced to the accelerator control cable dust cover coming loose and wedging itself between the cable an actuator in a difficult to detect location.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

I have a 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier. It only had less then eighty five thousand miles on it and the engine blew up . I was told the reason why was because it had a defective rod in it. I have all the parts ect you can see there's a defect in the metal it goes all the way threw the rod. I find it hard to believe that such a new car would blow up . I took very good care of that car I had to fix some things the Chevrolet dealership is a joke out here they are worthless thy mistreated me too. I just want to know if there is anything I can do or someone can do about this? thank you very much denise boozer p. S. That's appr date when it happened.

Car surges when cold, under slow acceleration. Gives a feeling of holding back, under slow acceleration. Runs fine when warm. First 3 minutes then clears up.

The engine stopped running while driving on the interstate, which caused the vehicle to have no power.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Upon starting vehicle, consumer states that the water temperature gauge goes hot, smoke comes out of reservoir, and the anti-freeeze indicater goes down about a gallon. But anti-freeze is not leaking out side vehicle its internal. Please provide any further information. Mr.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Consumer states that while driving the vehicle will heavily vibrate if the vehicle go over 60mph causing it to be hard to control. Dealer notified. Ts.

Car cuts off at any given time. Can be running at 60 mph or sitting at a stop light, just completely cuts off. Will not restart, have to park it and let it sit, could only take 10 minutes or could take a few hours before it will run again.

While driving at highway speed of 55-60 mph vehicle started to run rough and cut off. Dealer contacted, and informed of a blown head gasket on the 2. 4l engine. Feel free to provide any further information.

The consumer stated he experienced 3 blown head gaskets; one day it will start and another day it would not start.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Timing chain had to be replaced because vehicle was becoming inoperable. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything. Mj.

Engine has 2 cracked pistons and 3 cracked valves that need to be replaced, as well as other parts of the engine. Consumer stated that vehicle was undriveable. Aluminum head will have to be machined before reuse.

Mechanic at dealership said that they had received letters that this was occuring on these vehicles due to small hole for oil to chain clogging but I had no recalls or warnings of this. This car has relatively few miles on it and at the time this happened, I had just stopped to turn into a parking lot. There could have been a serious accident if it had happened during the turn or if I had been driving down the road as the car lost power immediately. If the dealerships are receiving letters, why aren't the owners. I realize that there can be failure of this part, but if the failure is due to the clogging of the area that keeps the chain oiled, then this is a defect in the car not the wear of the part.

I have talked to many people about this car and they all say it is common for this car to blow head gaskets. I paid $7000for this car it shouldn't have cost another $801to keap it on the road at 56. 5k miles. If it is this common there should be a rembersment (recall )on it. . I also have a ti.

I have researched on this site, consumer reports, consumer corner, etc. And have found a number of 1996 Chevrolet Cavaliers have had cylinder head gasket problems. My extended warranty lasted through 100,000 miles. If I had known that this was a reoccurring problem, I might have been able to keep it from occurring. Gm/Chevrolet has asked the dealership to give me a discount. The dealership has refused due to the mileage on my vehicle being approximately 500 miles over the required 100,000 miles. Six (6) days after the incident I received a letter from Chevrolet stating that my vehicle experiences this problem and that they would pay for the repairs up to seven (7) years and 100,000 miles. I think this is very convenient. The letter is dated may, 2000. Two weeks earlier I was still within the 100,000 mile limit. I have given the dealership permission to fix my vehicle, but I am afraid to pay for the repairs before some type of agreement is reached. Unfortunately, gm/Chevrolet is not interested in helping me.

Loud knocking coming from engine. Took it in to dealer and was told that piston is rocking in cylinder, and that gm cannot do anything about it and that extra warranty wont cover.

Vehicle was taken to dealer shop for a manufacturer's recall repairs, and was informed of a blown engine head gasket.

While driving struck a deer on the road. Then checked under hood, where anti-freeze was leaking from engine head gasket without prior warning.

S while driving on the road vehicle died out, causing the consumer to almost become involved in an auto collision.

Consumer had head gasket repair on the vehicle prior to receiving the manufacturer's recall, consumer is requesting full reimbursement, Chevrolet will not reimburse her fully due to the repair work not being done at a dealer.

Transmisson slips sometimes and no one can till me what is wrong. The motor mounts broke and there is only 29,917 miles on it. The car vibrates really bad when you are just setting in it with the car running like when you are at a red light or a stop sign. You just start the car up and it clunks you turn the car off and it clunks.

Car was taken in to dealer twice for a water leak. They did nothing. We gave up and about 38000 mile later, we had a blown engine head gasket.

Vehicle completely cuts off in the rain while driving at any speed. Dealer was contacted, and states it is a faulty design of the vehicle.

Accelerated pad wiggles all the time, and the motor mounts are not tight which makes the pad move all the time.

Pistons replaced after much debating, noise is occorring again.

Engine check light stayed on. When driving lights turned off then flickered. Also, windshield wipers and automatic locks operated poorly. Vehicle was taken to dealership on several occasions for the same problems. On for occasions consumer was driving when vehicle headlights went out. Another problem consumer is experiencing is the windshield wipers come to a complete stop while in use. There is also a problem with the door locks. Vehicle has been serviced on various occasions for electrical problems. During one service visit the body control module was replaced and the theft deterrent system was programmed. Even after several service visits vehicle still experiencing problems with windshield wipers, door locks, turn signals, and hazard lights.