Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. The contact also stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was repaired. The contact was not aware of all the details involving the repair and the cause of the failure was not disclosed to the contact. The contact was notified of the federal safety agency campaign number: 02v286000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems
83 complaints (15% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 84,005. 15 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 83
- of this car's complaints
- 15%
- typical mileage
- 84,005
- crashes
- 15
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Rack and pinion35
- Steering wheel/handle bar8
- Hydraulic power assist system7
- Column4
- Rack and pinion: rack3
- Hydraulic power assist: pump3
- Gear box (other than rack and pinion)3
- Hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Steering: rack and pinion
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 02V286000 · Recall details
What 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
1997 chevy cavalier steering column and dashboard caught on fire on march 10, 2011. Car had no mechanical or electrical issues prior to the fire. Car was in excellent working condition. Car had been parked for approximately one hour after being used for a short drive. The cavalier was parked outside in front of the house no one was in the vehicle. Fire department had to be called to extinguish the fire from the car. No prior knowledge of the recall for the electrical system ignition switch defect.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet cavalier. The contact was driving 10 MPH when the steering wheel became resistant and locked. Without steering capability, the contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into a building. The contact sustained head injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer sent an investigator to inspect the vehicle for the failure and concluded that the crash was not due to any type of defect. The dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 116,000. Updated 05/04/11 *bf updated 1/5/12
1997 chevrolet cavalier with a steering column recall. Consumer states that they never received the first recall and by the time they received the second one their daughter had died in that vehicle due to an accident.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet cavalier. While attempting to make a left turn from a stop, the power steering failed. The power steering works when driving forward and making a right turn, but fails only when turning left. Gmc stated that his vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v286000 (steering:rack and pinion). The vehicle is currently at a chevrolet dealer awaiting repair. The current and failure mileages were 61,000. * updated 12/12/07 *bf updated 12/12/07
Dt*: the contact stated the power steering was not working properly making the vehicle very difficult to steer. A the federal safety agency recall, # 02v286000 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the steering:rack and pinion however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair under the recall.
Dt*: the contact stated while turning at various speeds the power steering failed intermittently. The vehicle has not been seen by a mechanic. There is a the federal safety agency recall, # 02v286000, regarding the rack and pinion; however, it is not included in the recall due to the VIN.
The steering column in the consumer's 1997 chevrolet cavalier locked up. The power steering pump had to be replaced. *ts the consumer received a recall for the problem in january 2003.
Rack and pinion steering failure. Car fails to steer left and almost causes a crash due to lack of being able to steer. Ability to steer to the right is fine. Making left hand turns now worries me when driving. During my commute I am constantly worried whether or not I can make a left-hand turn. This has almost caused three accidents. Why wasn't this recalled considering all the the problems with this listed with the federal safety agency? Plenty of gm models have had this problem. Why should consumers take the fall when it stems back to the manufacturer?
Taking a left turn in a 1997 chevrolet cavalier, the steering wheel locked, causing the car to veer left without ability to correct until explicit force was applied. The incidents left the steering wheel with sluggish control and therefore unsafe for driving. The car was taken to the dealership which asked for 800$ for the repair of the steering wheel. Information about this defect in gm cars has been seen throughout the internet, and a complaint is more than necessary.
Questions about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier have steering problems?
Owners have filed 83 complaints about the steering of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 15% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 84,005 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering?
Yes, 1 recall: 02V286000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Cavalier have bad steering?
The Chevrolet Cavalier model years with the most steering complaints are 1997 (83 complaints), 1998 (54 complaints) and 1996 (49 complaints).
Other 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Engine 110Electrical 107Airbags 78Brakes 64Visibility 40Suspension 27Transmission 26Fuel system 23Body 20Acceleration 18Lights 16Seat belts 13Seats 11Tires 8Locks 4Wheels 1
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