Defect recall campaign # 02 v286 000 steering: gear: rack and pinion noise and looseness in steering. Received recall notice from manufacturer. Sc
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier steering complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 83, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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, described to them the problem with the car, which I had to have towed to my house. I gave them my VIN # and the reply I got was that I am not involved in the recall. I have recalls for minor repairs but I am not on this recall list. I am a bit disturbed with this reply. My vehicle was built within the time frame of which was described. Due to this problem I was nearly in a fatal accident. I was told to have the repairs done and then if my car fell under the recall I could fight to be reimbursed. So what their trying to tell me is drive the car, which cannot be driven at this point, get in an accident then they don't have to put me the recall list because the car has been totaled. This is a very poor way of taking care of a person's life when they know there is something wrong with the car. Meanwhile we have no means of transportation for work. I first heard about this recall on the news on tv back in november 2002. Can you help? Please!!!!!!
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
When you drive it the steering wheel wobbles and you can feel it in your feet like front end is loose
Consumer feels that the steering column is bad. When consumer was making a right turn into the driveway, there was a noise in the steering wheel and it also locked up. Please provide more details. Mr
When turn steering wheel to left there is a crancking noise. Personal auto machanic has said problem is in power rack and pinion bearings. Dt
Vehicle made a loud noise while consumer was making a left turn. The cause was determined to be a broken steering system.
Suddenly and without warning the power steering went out on my 1997 chevrolet cavalier making it impossible to make a left hand turn. The further I drove the car the worse it got, affecting the right side as well and making a horrible clunking noise when I turned the wheel. I nearly lost control of the vehicle and was unable to steer it. I took it in for service and was told the entire rack had gone out.
The consumer stated that while at an intersection making a left turn, there was loud sound and making the turn was not possible. It had taken several hundred dollars to repair the steering system. The consumer requested reimbursement due to the fact that the system should'nt have failed. *mj
I was pulling out of a driveway and had great difficulty trying to turn the steering wheel of the car. This continued as I made 3 more turns. It finally went back to normal after driving 5 miles. The next day it resumed being very difficult to steer. I have now been informed by my personal mechanic of 30 years that the rack and pinion needs to be replaced. The vehicle only has 24,000 miles on it. This is a very dangerous defect and also quite expensive. Almost $900.00.
While driving at 25-30 MPH steering wheel locked up and would not allow consumer to make a left turn. Contacted dealer ,and dealer was not willing to do anything.
While driving through a parking lot I turned the wheel to go left and the steering wheel locked up and began pulling right almost causing me to run into another vehicle. Had I been going any faster I would have crashed and died. On the way home the wheel locked up again turning left onto our road and I almost drove off the road. I've parked the car and haven't driven it since with concern that this life threatening problem will cause a serious accident. Many other gm vehicles have reports of this steering problem with 97 vehicles which can be seen in a report by guy cramer at http://www.yfiles.com/gm-steering-problem.htm.
Power steering goes out when turning to the left. The dealer states the no problem can be found. Our power steering goes out intermittenly every since we got this cavalier. The dealer has said that they could never duplicate the problem and hence could not fix the problem. The loss of steering has become so bad that I will not allow my wife to use this car. I will not let anyone use this car until the steering( a safety issue) is resolved.
When traveling at low speeds there is a cling noise in the steering. Took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced intermediate shaft. *ak
On 12/2/98 at 26,332 miles I reported a grinding and thud noise when turning. I was told the car was too dangerous to drive because the steering could go out at any time. I was given a loaner car and the rack was replaced under warranty. On 6/29/99 at 34, 556 miles, I again reported the same grinding and thud noise upon turning. Again I was told the car was too dangerous to drive and given a loaner car. Again the rack was replaced under warrenty. On 11/15/00, at 60,152 miles I again reported the exact same grinding and thud noise upon turning. This time however, I was told there was nothing wrong with the car. On 2/15/01 at 64,434 miles I again reported the grinding and thud upon turning and asked that the car be checked. No problem was found so I continued to drive with the grinding and thud noise in the steering since I was told there was nothing wrong even though it was the exact same noise as the prior two times that there was a problem. On 11/21/01, at 81,218 miles, I again reported the grinding and thud noise upon turning, as it was getting worse and continued to make me very uneasy as to the cars safety. This time I was told that yes, now the rack again needed replaced, however I would have to pay for it as it was no longer under warranty.
When making a left turn vehicle will pull strongly to right, also hard to make a right hand turn, consumer was informed by mechanic, that rack and pinion needed to be replaced.*ak
Was informed by independent mechanic that seal around crossmember was missing due to manufacturer's defect/neglect. This caused the rack and pinion to fail. Dealer was notified. Feel free to provide any further information on this matter.
Mid-way through a left turn from a stop sign, the steering locked up and began pulling to the right. Initially the car steered freely to the right and only locked left; then both right and left locked up. Mechanic says the steering gear on the power assist rack & pinion failed creating a safety issue.
Steering gear cable broke while getting out of a parked spot. Vehicle was not able to move from the spot where it had stopped.
When I turn left the steering wheel will lock almost every single time.I questioned the dealership as to how many times they have this problem with this car the guy told me they've seen this problem before.when I was making a left hand turn at 30mph the sterring wheel would not turn and the whole car skidded forward.I hope you will take some time to review this problem and compare it with other cars.I hope the federal safety agency makes dealerships report to the federal safety agency when a life threating problem like this one hapens.
While driving pins came out of tilt mechanism of steering wheel, causing steering wheel to drop down. Contact dealer, and dealer stated never heard of this.
Intermittently when making a turn steering wheel will lock up. Dealer is inspecting vehicle.
Consumer had just gotten home and parked vehicle. 5-10 minutes later, horn was blowing. Consumer looked outside front end of vehicle was on fire. Dashboard and steering column were completely destroyed. Chevrolet dealer said they couldn't find anything wrong. Therefore, they wouldn't be liable. Allstate insurance adjuster took one look,and could tell it was an electrical fire. Chevrolet dealer was not responding to insurance adjuster. Vehicle was under extended warranty when it caught on fire.*ak engine light illuminated, dealer had replaced the oil pump, solenoid, and exhaust however light still illuminated. Battery light illuminated. Windshield wiper skips and chatters across windshield, dealer replaced blade. Trunk would not open from inside lever, compartment lid release broke. Clicking noise was heard when turning steering wheel, dealer could not find problem.
Defect 1: ABS light would come on when making a left hand turn. Abs would no longer activate while light was on. Defect 2: alternator--went out while driving in city traffic, rush hour. Had previously asked dealer to check, but they claimed it was functioning properly. Defect 3: rack and pinion steering assembly--went out shortly after alternator, while driving in the dealership parking lot. Defect 4: timing chain tensioner--technician said this caused major engine damage--gears, head, etc. Defect 5: horn--has worked sporadically, at best, for the last year and a half. Seemed like a short.
Ms. Welch's was driving on an interstate when she lost the ability to control the steering, causing the car to veer back and forth and causing her to lose control. Then, before any crash both airbags prematurely deployed. She has suffered serious injuries and is unable to work. Peter ong of the usdot was contacted concerning this crash.
Erratic popping noise and excessive play in the steering wheel. Dealer notified. *ak rack and pinion housing was popping and freezing up, dealer is going to replace it.
While driving all signal lights came on, and engine lost power. There was no steering, and finally vehicle had to be towed. Vehicle had been repaired for the same problem onc ebefore.
We have had a problem with losing the power steering for over two years. At first, I thought the car stalled and then regained the motor as the power steering came back on. This problems has happened to four members of my family and we never put it together until recently we had our local dealer inspect the system and was told " it couldn't happen " when I found the federal safety agency on line, I now believe that the dealer was not being honest.
Power steering pump and related high pressure line failure, caused loss of steering control.
Rack and pinion and steering went malfunctioned, causing the wheels to lock up. Vehicle has been repaired.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history