Chevrolet Cavalier steering lock-up problems

Filed Aug 8, 2009 · Fuel system · 110,000 miles · GA · crash · 3 injuries

My 2004 chevy cavalier 2.2l base/sedan is well maintained. Three months after the purchase the fuel pump stopped working. Replaced by dealership under warranty. A year later the fuel pump was replaced again. Warranty period over. Cost me $896. Recently the fuel pump stopped working while I was driving. I was making a left turn at the intersection and proceeded to make the left and all of a sudden the engine stalled and steering froze forcing me into the light post after the turn. This caused two other vehicles to collide to avoid hitting me. The service garage diagnosed the problem to be the fuel pump. Cost me $750 and $1900 for front end damage. I contacted the dealership head office and the declined comment. Instead they blamed be for not replacing the fuel filter. Again, this vehicle has always been maintained and serviced at the dealership, as well as the filter/fuel pump. My friend had a similar experience 2 yrs ago and gave me this website to file a complaint. 2 yrs and nothing yet? Thank you for allowing the manufacturers and all involved to get away with this! After doing research, this vehicle is known for this problem. I will not sell this vehicle and will not drive this vehicle to protect the public from fatalities. This vehicle is going straight to the junkyard. God bless america.

Filed Jan 31, 2009 · Engine, Steering · 2,000 miles · OH

Ever since I bought my car brand new, I have had issues with the engine stalling on hills or inclines. My car will start to feel as if it's going to stall, and the RPM's jump up as if I am accelerating the gas, but since this normally only happens on hills, when I apply the brakes, my car will not stop, b/c the RPM's are still high, then that's when the car stalls, and of course my steering wheel locks, and I cannot stop without using the e-brake, or put it back into neutral and restart it. I have no warranty left since it has expired, however, I had taken my vehicle to the dealership and they always said nothing was wrong. I have small children, and it's not fair that this defect has "slipped" through the cracks for this long. Something must be done before owners of this car get injured or killed! I am also having a rack and pinion problem, but gmac said that my car didn't come from the plant with the defective parts! Well, I think it did. My car has been unreliable more often than not. Every time I have drive down a hill, I say a prayer. This happens about 2-3 times/week. My steering is so bad from the defective rack and pinion, that I can't turn my steering wheel until the car has been running for about 15 mins.(when it's cold out). Gmac has failed to take my concerns serious, it's sad that a company I paid all my hard earned money to, can't even make/or fix an unsafe vehicle! And I also have the recalled dex coolant, but you have to have paid for the damages and repairs in order to get reimbursed! They need to fix all the affected cars, not just the ones people have paid to already have it fixed!

Filed Jul 24, 2007 · Steering, Wheels · 83,656 miles · OK

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 chevrolet cavalier. While driving 10 MPH, the power steering locked and the contact was unable to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic and they stated that the steering rack needed to be replaced. As of july 24, 2007, the vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 83,656. Updated 01/11/08. *lj a broken wheel stud and nut were replaced. Updated

Filed May 24, 2006 · Brakes, Steering · 3,000 miles · MO

Dt*: the contact stated since purchase the brakes have been replaced two times due to the rotors warping and a noise was heard coming from the rear brakes. The first brake replacement was at 3,000 miles on the vehicle. On may 23, 2006 while making turns at 20 MPH, the steering wheel froze. In an attempt to free the steering, the contact pulled the wheel so hard that something broke within the steering column. The vehicle is currently at the dealership therefore, it is uncertain as to what repairs are necessary to correct the problem. There was a noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The dealer replaced the sway bar insulator. Updated 06/16/06.

Filed Apr 6, 2005 · Steering · 8 miles · TX

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.

Filed Apr 29, 2004 · Steering · 39,040 miles · NY

When driving at low speeds steering wheel locked up. Consumer towed the vehicle to dealer for inspection. However, mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. *ak consumer went to a mechanic to have a recall repair on the vehicle (type of recall repair wasn't stated). When the repair was finished, consumer heard a noise in the vehicle. Consumer asked the mechanic where the noise was coming from. The mechanic couldn't figure out the cause of the noise and thought that the noise was coming from the belt for the air conditioner. Consumer decided to have it consulted to a different mechanic. Vehicle was driven to the mechanic by (presumably) a friend of the consumer. As the driver was about to resume coming from a stop sign, steering rack and pinion mechanism fell which also LED to steering lock-up. The steering failure resulted the driver to over turn vehicle into a ditch. Police inspected the vehicle and found that bolt from the fallen mechanism was missing.

Filed Jan 13, 2004 · Steering · 61,199 miles · FL

My 1996 chevy cavalier, steering wheel locked up , while driving 50 MPH on a busy road.I totally lost power and I pulled over, after almost being hit by several other cars. This is another major concern for this vechile.gm, should inquire more about this problem!

Filed Jan 13, 2004 · Electrical · 61,204 miles · FL

Having problems with stalling, placed other complaints recently. Steering locking up and fixed more part in vechile, now might be relating to the ignition switch recall, which my mechanic has found was inproperlly placed in car. Called the dealership and since it has been over 1 year and 12,000 miles, they will charge me a labor fee and also the part fee. Could this become any worse gm??????

Filed Jan 5, 2004 · Brakes, Steering · 7,153 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

I have a major problem with a vehicle that I recently purchased. I bought a 2003 cavalier and there was a problem with it last week. I need to know exactly who to talk to before I take any further actions. My car is supposed to have an extended warranty on it and I know that I'm supposed to be able to get a rental car. Well, here's the situation last week, I was driving my car and went to make a turn and my steering wheel locked up while I was driving. I was on the way to take it to be looked at and it happpened again, but when I tried to stop, the car just kept going and caused me to crash into another vehicle. When I went to the dealership to speak to someone, they offered no help as far as my rental and warranty. I am angry because this flaw with the car could've resulted in my death. It took over a month to get someone to come take a look at the car and when someone finally came on nov. 2, they said they didn't find anything wrong and that was it. I tried making contact again and got no response. I'm still without my vehicle because even if I pay to have it repaired, there is still the chance that it could happen again.

Filed Nov 10, 2003 · Steering · 10,000 miles · PA

Chevrolet cavlier 1998 - the car is only 5 1/2 years old with 33,000 miles on it. I have had steering issues for more than 3 years with this car. I can not parallel park or make hard turns with out the steering locking up or forcing me to you my entire body weight to ge the wheel to move. When I've taken it to a dealership they simply say this is how the car is designed use the gas and that a recall has not been issued although according to this web page there has been. Apparantly according to gm my VIN number is not included in the nov/2002 recall for steering rack/pinion which sounds as if it is exactly what the problem is and that there are no recalls scheduled in the future.