1998 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls

RECALL CAMPAIGN: STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION (RECALL NUMBER 02V286000). THE VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001271 at NHTSA ↗

CATALITIC CONVERTER WENT BAD IN MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON IN MY TYPE OF VEHICLE AT THE MILEAE THAT I HAVE. I HAVE APPROX. 83K MILES ON MY CAR. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS ANY INFORMATION ON THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH MY CAR TYPE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002674 at NHTSA ↗

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT GO ON, (HIGH OR LOW BEAM) RESULTS IN UNABLE TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK AT NIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003523 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT FEELS LIKE REAR WHEELS ARE GRABBING. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPLACED REAR HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004753 at NHTSA ↗

CLUTCH WENT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. TRANMISSION SYNCHRONIZERS ALSO WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER REFUSED TO RECTIFY PROBLEM UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAVE DOES NOT COVER TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY CHOICES WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS JUST ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAVE USED 1 TIME FOR A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MEANWHILE, I HAVE HAD A NEW CLUTCH PUT IN ($650), BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION R…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005148 at NHTSA ↗

NHTSA#02-V-286-000: LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDE DUE TO THE VIN#. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005940 at NHTSA ↗

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006839 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER LOSS STEERING CONTROL, WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A CURVE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007198 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-02-28 (February 28, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BI-FUEL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES. THE CNG FUEL LINE AND THE CNG HIGH PRESSURE REGULATOR COOLANT LINES CAN CONTACT OTHER FUEL (GASOLINE) AND BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE. ABRASION FROM CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LEAK IN THE BRAKE PIPE, FUEL PIPE, OR BOTH.

Consequence: ABRASION FROM CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LEAK IN THE BRAKE PIPE, FUEL PIPE, OR BOTH. A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD DISABLE A PORTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM A FUEL PIPE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPOSITION THE CNG FUEL AND COOLANT PIPES AND REPOSITION/REPAIR ANY DAMAGED FUEL OR BRAKE PIPES AS NECESSARY.

Reported: 2002-11-04 (November 4, 2002)

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.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

Reported: 1997-11-24 (November 24, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.

Consequence: THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF ALL WHEEL NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN ANY THAT MAY BE BELOW REQUIRED TORQUE.