1996 Chevrolet Cavalier: won't start

11 of the 503 complaints about the 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier describe won't start.

owner complaints: 11
of this car's complaints: 2%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 16 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Won't start by model year

2005
1
2004
5
2003
72
2001
7
2000
16
1999
3
1998
7
1997
18
1996
11
1995
8
1994
1
1993
1
1991
1

What owners say

Filed Mar 8, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · KY

This car shuts off while driving like the gm cars being mentioned in the news today. Started in 2005 and was evaluated by multiple mechanics including a chevrolet dealership that kept it over a month. It doesn't show a code when it happens. It randomly shuts off while you are driving (varied speeds). It also randomly won't start. Totally unpredictable when it will quit on you or not start.resetting did not help.car was purchased for daughter (new driver) to drive, but was too unsafe.

Filed Oct 19, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · IL

Yes car will turn over but won't start it does this at time or u can press the gas to try and start interior light don't work.

Filed Dec 21, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · MI

The vehicle stalled causing the driver to pull off the road. *ak the trunk would lock without the remote entry, the check engine light flickered and the vehicle would not start. *sc

Filed Apr 27, 2004 · Electrical · AZ

Theft system light started flashing and car wouldnt start. Tried to start several times with no success. Disconnected /reconnected battery attempted to start again with no success. Tried to start again several hours later and car started just fine. This has happened approximately 5 times since the first incident occured.nothing out of the ordinary seemed wrong car drove just fine. There is no link between this happening wether we just drove it or it sat all night it has occured either way. We purchased the car used from a dealer and was never aware of any theft system at all. As far as we know there isnt one in this vehicle.

Filed Jan 31, 2003 · Fuel system · NC

When car fuel tank is reading below 1/4 tank, car will not start. Car backfires, while trying to start and check engine light comes on. I have been fighting with this since I [urchased the car in 1997. Everytime that I take the car in, I am being told it is always something different. This item definately needs to be looked at cuase I have been told by numerous chevy cavelier owners are having this same problem.

Filed May 7, 2002 · Electrical · TX

Upon receiving the federal safety agency recall letter 02v070000/ manufacturer's recalll 14779. Consumer took vehicle in for repairs. Consumer called to pick vehicle up from dealer, but dealer stated that vehicle would not start. Upon taking vehicle in for repairs vehicle was smoking very badly. Dealer stated that they were not responsible. Please provide any further information.

Filed Apr 30, 2001 · Electrical · MD

It all began the summer of 1999, the starter broke and kept being replaced because the car would chew it up and spit it out like a bad organ. My attempts to fix it were with firestone and shell. Then I took it to the dealer where they discovered there was a chipped flywheel. The car was fine up until recently it wouldn't start on 3/10/01 so the dealer replaced the ignition. On 3/15/2001 it had poor acceleration so the dealer replaced the ignition wires. On 4/25/01 car wouldn't start again so the dealer replaced the ignition module. I've paid over $4000.00 in repairs since 1999 for the issue of the car not starting.I have been using jerrys chevrolet and heritage chevrolet.

Filed Nov 27, 2000 · Electrical · GA

The car shuts off and/or will not crank .

Filed May 30, 2000 · Electrical · MI

Well, I am not exactly sure of what is wrong, my car stalled out after four turns of the ignition to start it up and then it wouldn't start up again. A few hours later, it started up and it didn't sound normal, it sounded terrible. As soon as someone could contact me, that would be great for I am without a car right now. Thank you. Casey six

Filed Feb 10, 1999 · Engine · TN

While driving, the vehicle stops running without warning and will not start back up for a period of time. Has had numerous component replaced but none corrected the problem.

Filed Dec 14, 1998 · Electrical · FL

The problem is that when your driving at night there is a power drain on the electrical system. Whenever you apply the brakes the headlights will dim, the A/C will slow down, and the instrument dash lights will dim.the chevy dealer in inverness first worked on this problem on 1-23-98 and stated that this is normal for this vehicle. The problem continued to get worse so I took the vehicle in again on 2-23-98. Again they couldn't find anything wrong but they said the battery was drained so they went ahead and replaced the battery.this solved the problem for a while but after about two months the problem started again and I returned back to the dealer for repair. Again they said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle but they went ahead and replaced the altenator and recharged the battery. This has not solved the problem and just this last week 12-7-98 I retuned the vehicle to the dealer again. They kept the vehicle for four days and said that they could find nothing wrong but that the battery was drained again so they charged it and that there was nothing else they were going to do. My concern is that my family will be out at night and the vehicle will not start