2002 Chevrolet Cavalier: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Jun 22, 2005 · Brakes · 3,550 miles · TX · crash

Aug 31 2002, purchased vehicle. December 5, 2002: ABS activated - lost brake power, sailed through red light. Abs activated on dry pavement in garage, no deceleration, used emergency brake to prevent collision with back wall of garage. December 9, 2002: took the vehicle to the dealership/ mechanic and manager drove the vehicle. Said ABS was functioning properly. January 21, 2003: brakes failed causing rear-end colllision. Airbags didnt deploy $5,000 worth of damage to front end - less that 4000 miles on veh. Contacted gmc, explained events . Gmc investigator downloaded data from ABS/air bag device. From that information alone, gmc determined nothing wrong with brakes without driving it -undrivable damage. I received a copy of this print out. Immediately upon getting my vehicle back from the repair shop, I notice vehicle shakes violently when brakes are applied. Repair mech states he didnt touch the brakes - wasnt accident related. Dealership blamed the brake problems on the accident even after repair mech told them directly it wasnt. Dealer turned my rotors and replaced the left wheel bearing which was broken. I still have consistant problems with the ABS -activates for no reason/doesnt activate when it is supposed to/when activated it doesnt slow the car down/when activates -all brake power is gone. The left front tire locks up and skids regularly when braking but ABS doesnt activate. An independant mech pointed out the dealership had turned my rotors to a point beyond the "machine to" and they failed to sand the rotors which was causing the horrible grinding. I spoke with the dealership general and maintenance managers. We all observed remeasuring of the rotors then they replaced them *too thin*. Managers stated they didnt know anything about "machine to" specifications and they told me they dont sand rotors after turning them. Untrue: the second time they turned them, they did sand them .

Filed Jan 28, 2005 · Steering · IN

When turning steering wheel could hear grinding noise. Dealer greased the problem which went away for awhile. When the noise came back the dealer said the steering gear needed to be replaced. This car has 58000 miles . The steering has become extremely dangerous and saftey hazard.

Filed Dec 6, 2004 · Brakes · 6,000 miles · VI

When braking consumer heard a grinding noise coming from the rear brakes. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Steering · 9,677 miles · MA

Bought the car on 5/27/02. Since then the rack and pinion failed in march 2003, the dealership realized it was a problem only in may 2003. The steering grinds metal on metal when driving----the horn died 2 times, their was and still is a pulsation in the brakes--a rattling in the suspension. Gm put out a pi (product investigation out on it)--said their is no fix, but steering problems are not dangerous, and they will not do anything, I have filed complaints here, w/ the bbb auto-line, and the federal safety agency as well as hired my own personal lawyer as I heard gm fights people tooth and nail.

Filed Dec 13, 2003 · Brakes, Fuel system · 10,000 miles · MD

Front rotors warped prematurely, about every 10000 miles. Grinding noise heard at low speeds, whether in gear or coasting & not brake related. Premature fuel pump failure, causing engine to shut off.

Filed Aug 9, 2003 · Electrical, Steering · 9,677 miles · MA

Bought my 2002 chevrolet ls sport cavailer on 5/27/02. Since then the rack and pinion went in march 2003--which they did not discover until may, and when driving I get a loud grinding noise still which is metal on metal. I asked another mechanic not affiliated w/ the authorized dealership (that told me after 5 attempts this can not be fixed-and that they have a pi out on it), if this could pose a problem. He said the continuous grinding w/ metal on metal when steering, can cause too much friction and heat up and potentially cause a fire, etc. I am having my husband drive this vehicle that only has 13,300 miles now. I am scared to drive it, and the dealership, nor gm can tell me or sign off in in writing that this won't cause a problem. They (gm) believe steering problems, and noises you hear when steering like metal on metal are not dangerous. I was told that gm knows this is a defect by the dealership and gm now itself called me and told me, but they won't do anything about it. Why doesn't the regional mgr for gm drive my car then, and tell me that--since she makes all decisions that this is not a problem that could be dangerous, and hence won't do a thing about it. Seems like the dealership and gm says it's a problem, but I have to keep paying on a car that I won't drive. Besides the continual grinding in my steering, and the failure of the rack and pinion that they fixed, the horn died 2 times as well.

Filed Jan 29, 2003 · Electrical, Fuel system · MD

Transmission noise/idle problem. I have two major complaints about my cavalier first: the 5sp manual transmission. I've complained about the transmission 5 times, and the idel 4 times. When I bought the car it had a high pitched noise in 1st and 2nd gear. I took the car back the first weekend I owned it to have it checked. Dealer couldn't diagnose. I took the car back a couple of months later. They heard the noise and said it was the exhaust. They put a new exhaust system on it. Needless to say it did not fix it. I took the car back again a few months later, they said it was synchronizers. Tsb 02-07-29-001 serviced. Again, the car was not fixed. But this time chevy told me it was supposed to do that. (why on earth would they replace parts, and do the tsb if it was supposed to do that) they told me I could get a second opinion, but I would have to pay the servicing dealership out of pocket. Second: I've complained about this 4 times. When driving in bumper to bumper traffic. I have to slightly rev the gas to let the clutch out to make the car move. The idle will stick. I've had it stick anywhere from 2500rpm - 4000rpm. (the linkage/pedel dosen't stick but something within the computer, or fi is not right. Dealers diagnosis "computer controls the idle" "no codes" "no problem". Nothing further was done. This problem has caused me to almost rear end other cars on multiple occassions now other than these problems I've also had to complain about the starter. It works 99% of the time correctly. Other times it grinds, sometimes disengages, turns off, and sounds like a dead battery. The dealer also can't find this problem either.

Filed Jan 21, 2003 · Brakes · MO

When the brakes are applied, there is a grinding and a flapping noise. Cause is unknown. The dealer has been contacted. Ph

Filed Jan 10, 2003 · Brakes · MO

When applying brakes at any speed rear brakes squeal. Dealer has been notified on several occasions, and could not duplicate or correct the problem. Please provide further information.*jb...

Filed Aug 21, 2002 · Suspension, Tires · WV

Consumer complains of the transmission making a terrible grinding noise when in first and second gear.