1997 Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
347 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
84,101 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 347 complaints (9.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 73 | 21.0% |
| Braking behavior | 43 | 12.4% |
| Engine operation | 27 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 32 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 21 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 19 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 16 |
Steering:Rack And Pinion: 32; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 21; Electrical System:Ignition: 19; Air Bags:Frontal: 18; Unknown Or Other: 18; Air Bags: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 22 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 259 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 53 |
| 2001 | 52 |
| 2002 | 69 |
| 2003 | 81 |
| 2004 | 26 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
2000: 53; 2001: 52; 2002: 69; 2003: 81; 2004: 26; 2005: 19; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 9; 2009: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 2; 2016: 3
Pattern summary
Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 43 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000231 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR FEET LIKE FRONT END IS LOOSE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002202 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RACK OPINION HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005609 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHY ABS BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. THEY FOUND THE BEARINGS HAD FALLEN OUT OF ABS BOX. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A SEALED UNIT AND HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE BEARINGS FELL OUT. ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006618 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)
FRONT BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR HAS BEEN CHANGED FOUR TIMES. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002699 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
I HAVE 1997 CHEVROLET, CAVALIER WHICH I TOOK DELIVERY ON JULY 28, 1997. THE CAR IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE. I WENT ON LINE TO THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL LIST AND LOCATED A RECALL FOR CARS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, AND OCTOBER 31, 1997. THE RECALL INVOLVES THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING GEAR MAY SEPARATE, PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF THE PINION SHAFT. REPORT INDICATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE HAVE BEEN 15 REPORT OF CRASHES AND THREE INJURIES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE CONDITION, BUT NO FATAL INJURIES. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, DESCRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002699 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004003 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD IT TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. WHEN VEHICLE DOES FINALLY START IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY STALL. IF STARTED SUCCESSFULLY VEHICLE HAS AN EXCESSIVELY ROUGH IDLE. PH THE VEHICLE DID NOT START IN COLD WEATHER, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD DIDN'T LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS COLD START FOLLOWED BY A HARD RESTARTING AND HIGH OIL PRESSURE RELATED TO THE OIL PRESSURE PUMP IN THE ENGINE. TSB#7761-09B. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001881 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT ON WHEN THIS HAPPENED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CALL THE CONSUMER BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007326 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
ELECTRICAL WIRES HAD BLOWN UNDER THE DASH BOARD. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IT RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL RECALL. WARNING LIGHTS ON SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. IT TOOK THREE TRIPS TO DEALER BEFORE DEALER FOUND SHORT UNDER DASH. A FEW WEEKS LATER VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR ELECTRICAL IGNITION. WHEN AIR CONDITIONER WAS SERVICED, MECHANIC FOUND CIRCUITS SUPPLYING POWER TO THE COMPRESSOR HAD BLOWN. MECHANIC TRACED WIRES UNDER DASH AND FOUND WIRES HAD MELTED AND SHORTENED OUT. HE REPAIRED WHAT HE COULD AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038534 · 2003-09-09 (September 9, 2003)
O-RING INJECTOR LEAKED GAS, AND GAS FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE O-RINGS SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049236 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)
CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS ALL THE TIME. WAS TOLD HAVE TWO LEAKS IN FUEL INJECTOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009896 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND STALLED. THE SPARK PLUGS MELTED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE HEAD WARPED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE INTERNAL EXHAUST HEAT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY SWITCH, REMOVED THE HEAD AND RESURFACED. THE ELECTRIC FANS DON'T TURN ON. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FAN RELAY, ECT SENSOR, AND FUSIBLE LINK SHORTED(REMOVED REPLACED). THE VEHICLE HAD SURGED AND DIED OUT. THE SENSOR CONNECTOR CLIP BROKEN AND WAS REPLACED. THE CONSOLE UNDER THE RADIO HAD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, DUE TO MULTIPLE DTC PLUGS FOULED. THE VACUUM LIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172770 · 2006-11-06 (November 6, 2006)
1997 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS MOVED AND PARK NEXT TO ANOTHER CAR. IT WAS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKES AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. AS THE DRIVER WAS GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, THE CAR START MOVING FORWARD, ROLLED DOWN A HILL A CRASHED INTO TREES, TOTALING THE CAR. THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION LEVEL WAS STILL IN PARK. THE DRIVER WAS SLIGHT INJURED ON THE ARM AS THE CAR HIT HIM WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172770 at NHTSA ↗