Wiring Problems of Chevrolet Cavalier - part 1

The instrument cluster board has stopped, working and appears to be an ongoing issue with gm on several models (car and truck) between 1998-2009. Also the abs, traction control, service engine lights will not go off. Window doors are not working and appears to all related to the cluster panel. I have replaced all abs sensors, new brakes pads, rotors, and even front bearings. The engine itself works great and is fine and appears that gm has done a great job in this part. The cluster panel and wiring is a serious safety issue and needs to be reviewed in these models. Poor ground wiring an cluster panels can cause consumers to spend thousands of dollars in repairs and still resulting in the same problem. Cluster panel replacement can be from $300 to $800 depending on your local mechanic. This is a serious issue since abs and traction control are not working due to the long list of issues. I recommend a recall on cluster panels for all Cavaliers and modules, wiring as well.

See all problems of the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Low and high-beam headlights appear dim when turned on compared to other cars. May be due to corroded/defective wiring. Appears to be a very common problem with this Chevrolet model. Looking for recall information related to this issue.

My 2002 Cavalier had the fuel pump go. When the garage fixed it they said the cluster doesn't work. They kept trying to imply that it was already broke but it wasn't. I had 2 light bulbs gone but that's it. They replaced it and within a week the same 2 light bulbs are burnt out and the odometer numbers now flicker constantly. There must be a wiring problem. Seeing fires starting in a couple Cavaliers makes me really concerned. For a few years now, the radio changes everytime I turn the car on and the light by the heater control doesn't work unless you tap on it. Somethings not right and I'm trying to find a solution. I can't afford to pay a garage to tear my car apart.

See all problems of the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

The defrost wouldn't work when really rainy or cold and this started in winter of 2009. In summer of 2010 the ac worked only when fan was on med or high, but finally only on high. These were electrical wiring problems: ac due to blower resistor burned out and defrost caused by a resistor burned out. Ac started to smell like something electrical was burning. If this wasn't fixed any sooner could have caused fire I'm sure. Now I have to see what needs to be fixed now that I have service engine check light on. With these electrical issues had no service engine check light come on. O2 sensor replaced @ 68,000 and catalytic converter changed @ 56,000 and the recall for this vehicle replaced.

See all problems of the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

This does not involve a crash related complaint, it may be considered a minor defect related issue. I am a repair facility, we have a transmission removed from a 2003 chevy Cavalier for repair, the warranty company that I am working with needed to verify miles, so we hooked up the battery with the transmission out of the car, the odometer moved forward 17 miles. Every time I hook up the battery and disconnect it, the odometer moves forward 17 miles. I thought maybe it was an isolated issue to this car, so I disconnected the transmission wiring harness to a 2005 chevy Cavalier, then connected and reconnected the battery, it also rolled the odometer forward with each connection at a rate of 8 miles. No one at gm has ever heard of this, I will continue to test other products to see what happens.

See all problems of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

The contact owns a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving at various speeds, the headlights would sporadically fail and cause poor visibility. She took the vehicle to a mechanic and they stated that the wiring harness was corroded in the plastic sleeves, which caused the headlights to fail. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The failure and current mileages were 131,000.

Electrical fire in a 2004 chevy Cavalier. Always had electrical problems, check engine light has come on and speedometer sticks everytime it rains. The air bag light had come on and we were afraid that it was going to deploy and if it did we would have gotten into an accident. When it was continued to drive, all that was smelled was smoke and all of a sudden the interior lights all went out and the smoke became heavier and all the wires were dangling down and melted. The car was towed and needs to be rewired and that will cost about $1100. 00. Good thing no one was hurt and it didn't all the way catch fire. I now don't have a vehicle and I am afraid to drive it when it gets fixed because I don't want it to happen again. I have heard from others that they have problems with the same car and how the speedometer sticks and other electrical problems.

Bought a 2002 chevy Cavalier oct. 2007, have had the car in for repairs to the transmission a total of 7 weeks. The problem seems to be electrical and cannot be fixed. Each time I get it back it works for some time then fails and is taken back. It is currently at the henna chevy olds dealership in aiken, SC.

Defective instrument panel the instrument panel operated correctly until 2007. The speedometer began to operate incorrectly at random times. The needle would indicate high speed when stopped or when moving at slow speeds. The needle would continue to indicate an incorrect speed until the vehicle had been turned off. This continued to happen more often from 2007 until 2009. In 2009, the speedometer needle no longer indicated a correct speed at any time. The temperature gauge then began to indicate engine temperature to be above 300 degrees while driving. The temperature gauge continued to operate incorrectly. As a consequence, the speed of the car cannot be properly estimated. Any problem with the radiator would not be easy to identify for lack of knowing engine temperature. Attempts to fix: the instrument panel has been electrically disconnected and checked for a faulty connection. No faulty wiring has been found.

The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle shut off in the middle of the road without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the fuel pump failed and made the replacement. A few days after the repair, the headlights stopped working and the electrical system was rewired. Recently, the engine failed and the vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact does not yet know the cause of the failure and the vehicle is still at the dealer for repair. The failure mileage was 73,000. Updated 06/16/08.

The contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 65 mph in cold weather, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle coasted to the side of the road and restarted after five minutes. In warm weather, the vehicle would take 30 minutes to restart. The wire harness that connects to the fuel pump shorted out and caused the failure. The wire harness was replaced; however, the failure recurred 4,000 miles later. The failure mileage was 90,000 and current mileage was 118,000.

See all problems of the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

The car has a major wiring or electrical problem, but its not detected by mechanics. I have a temp gauge that is all over the place, sometimes it even touches the far bottom right side of the control panel. The speedometer is no longer working, driving or parked I am going -3 miles an hour. The rpms work when they feel like it which is rarely. The only gauge working is the gas. In addition to this, the car cuts off while driving. All of this has been for the last year and a half and continues to date. I have been in mid-left turn on major intersections of los angeles and it just died. I commute on the 110 fwy and it has just died, always while I am accelerating never parked. Then in a few seconds you crank the key and your off and running again. It is so scary because it is so unpredictable. I have received speeding tickets not knowing my speed and mechanic cant find the problem. What do I do???.

A fire in my 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier began in the center console apparently the result of electrical problems with the power window control wirings. No one was in the parked and locked car at the time of occurrence. The damage resulted in my insurance company totaling the vehicle.

My speedometer is not reading correctly at times that are not predictable. Today for instance it has lost speed by reading at 5 mph when I am driving at 40 mph! it has even read at 85 mph when I was only driving at 50 mph! I have taken this problem to dealership and still no result. Now my temperature dial is going bonkers. I have seen several post on sites about the dashboard/car electrical problems! I now have my first speeding ticket due to the result of this!.

2003 Cavalier engine stall on red lights/ coming to stop/ turning corners at low idle speeds causing a loss in power steering and abs. Check engine light active, immediate restart is available, however while turning has nearly caused accidents. Believed to be caused due to faulty wiring to intake temp sensor.

I had test drove my vehicle and it was perfect, the seat didn't move and the seats weren't electric. I went home returned to pickup vehicle and on the way the seats moved and became hot as though there was a heater in them. I mentioned it to the dealer a few days later and all he said, "we did not add anything to your vehicle". Someone did, and I would like that which was installed removed whatever it is.

See all problems of the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

I can't tell you the exact date of incident. It was about 2 yrs. Ago. The head lights would not stay on. They would go off and on when driving at night. It was only the dim lights. We got a switch and had mechanic put it in. Plus a relay. It didn't do any good. I took it to the chevy garage recently. They told me it is the wiring harness. They said a lot of people are having this problem with these cars. It will be expensive to fix. I was wondering if you are aware of this at all. The consequences are driving at night with no lights. Please respond. Thank you.

While at a stop, a fire started from the steering column and pedal area. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

The high beams and day time running lights fail intermittenly. The wires rubbed underneath the battery tray. (found corroded splices in the harness under the battery tray) the running light indicator on the dashboard was off again and the high beam indicator was always on when the headlight switch was in either position. The problem with the running lights was yet another corroded and shorted out a wire form the electrical harness. (found wiring c101 corroded and circuit 1200 at c101 was repaired) the check engine light was not caused by a bad sensor, but another bad wire leading to a sensor. (found wiring to the vent solenoid bad) there was a loud clunk noise in the rear when hitting large bumps due to worn rear strut mounts.

See all problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

The drivers side headlight was dim and it made it very hard to see at night. The has received numerous tickets about this problem. The consumer has noticed this on two or three vehicles a week on Cavalier's and sunfire's. The consumer called the dealer and they said they had been having problems with the wire harness in this type of vehicle.

See all problems of the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

While driving at any speed heater did not work. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and heater was replaced. Also, on two different occasions dealer replaced wiring harness and connection wires. On another occasion entire brake light assembly was replaced along with the sockets. In all, vehicle had been to the dealer six times in seven months.

The consumer was complaining about electrical problems for 3 years. The car has been to the dealer once and to a repair shop 4 or 5 times for electrical problems. The dealership installed a wiring harness kit, and that did not correct the problem. The consumer called the manufacturer, and they would not refund her any money. The consumer received NHTSA recall 04v036000 concerning electrical switch. The consumer has had the recall work done. The vehicle is a 1999, Chevrolet Cavalier. Speed was not a factor in the vehicle. Updated 01/04/06. Updated.

Defective battery caused leaking on electrical wiring harness causing burning and damage. Gm mechanic stated common problem with factory batteries. Gm hq will not agree to replace nor compensate for damages or repairs.

Nov. 7,2002 car won't start. Dec. 11,2002 won't start. Took car to potamkin chevorlet Dec. 19,2002. I was told there's was nothing wrong with the car and they would not replace battery. Jan. 13,2003 car won't start. Car was towed to liberty chevorlet. Was told car needed battery and starter. Also told if proper test was done, potamkin should have picked up the problem. Currently having problems with car. Car stops while driving. Liberty unable to find problem. Also since I purchased the car,new, my interior lights flash on and off when I brake hard or go over bumps in road. Either dealer unable to find out why.

Headlight failure, not bulb. Called dealer, they said it was wiring harness problem, that it is very common on 1999 chevy Cavaliers (what I have), but refused to warranty it. If it is so common that the harness fails why does chevy not recall it?.

Headlight wiring harness failure. Unable to use high-beams. When attempting to activate the high-beams, the drl activate due to not having full power getting to headlights.

While starting vehicle, the fuse would short out, vehicle was serviced, technician notice electrical system wiring problem.

See all problems of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Ignition wiring overheated.

Wires from the ignition are rubbing against bolts on engine, and is causing electrical problems because of exposure. Consumer is concerned of vehicle catching on fire. Dealership is aware of it.

Smell of burning wires when driving.

Abs brake light comes on when the car is in idle. Turn the car off and it will go off. Problem could not be duplicated,. Dealer states the harness wires are defective, hazardous to drive vehicle.

Consumer states that the dashboard is not secured by anything, that it can be lifted out by hand, the consumer has been experiencing electrical problems with the wiring and possibly this could be one of the reasons with, the alternator has been replaced and is still not working correctly.

Odometer trips, cluster replaced, engine burning gasket replaced, electrical electrical radio cassette plays sides a/b simutaneously and station are staticky, radio replaced once problem still exist but can not be duplicated, back right passenger door stick and transmission will not change into 3rd gear.

The wiring harness has rotted out, causing the lighting to be inoperative. The dealer has repaired the vehicle.

See all problems of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier 🔎.

Vehicle was taken to dealer for recall repairs on the wiring harness. Consumer noticed that while driving vehicle was running very rough.