Chevrolet Cavalier won't start problems

Filed Dec 13, 2020 · Transmission · 85,509 miles · FL

In the parking lot where I work my car would not start. When moving the automatic transmission lever it did not catch on to anything. The car just rolled backwards and I had to immediately press on the brakes preventing an accident. My car had to be towed to the auto shop. Diagnosis: shifter cable was detached from transmission. Previously on 09/13/2011 the same thing happened to my car. The shifter cable broke and I had to be towed to lou bachrodt chevrolet both times. The 2nd time invoice no. Cwcs692729 $502.24 and $477.55 invoice no.cwcs149491 the first time. This car should be recalled. Two times is too many.

Filed Aug 31, 2016 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 59,925 miles · PA

I was one block from home and my car stalled it wouldn't start back up. I found my self at the intersection. The mechanic said it is a bad fuel pump. The car only has 60,000 miles. This happened about this time last year . Also last year my gauge to my engine temperature went out of control. I can't tell the engine temp. Anymore.

Filed Jan 19, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 115,000 miles · OH

I had been reading about recent recalls with gm, especially ignition switches. I have a 2003 chevy cavalier and it was diagnosed with a bad ignition switch. I first noticed when I went to start the car in the morning, a day after coming home from work. Good thing it happened then because I would have been stranded off site. I went to start the car, nothing happened except wipers and radio did not work as well which I thought was strange. Finally the radio at least came on at some point, but car still would not start. After it was fixed they said the ignition switch was bad and the mechanic asked if I had looked for the recall on it. I searched online but did not find it. I know my car is older, however of all the cars I ever owned and I had many, I never had any issues with ignition switches! I think I had one of the defective switches and would like to look into this matter. Unfortunately I probably can't go back to get the physical ignition switch at this point, too late. I have the proper paperwork for it however. Also on another note, my rear driver side signal keeps going out, no matter how many times I replace it. That might be something gm should look into as well.

Filed Nov 11, 2014 · Fuel system · 138,000 miles · PA

Car would not start. Later car would stall out, not getting fuel. Car has same engine as my former 05 cobalt. I believe problem is in ignition wires, always had lights on in interior after starting engine. Now car must be sold for parts.

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · TX

Car will not start consistently. Have to wait a couple of days, then it may start or not. But if it starts, it will not start again until days go by............ Ignition shut off on one occasion when operating on a public road. Loss of power, engine and power brakes.steering wheel did not lock but coasted vehicle off the road.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 90,000 miles · WY

Went to start car to go to store and it would not start. Luckily it was at home when it decided to stop working. Towed to garage and they said it was the fuel pump. The garage replaced the fuel pump and it fixed the no start issue. I had no idea that this was the process to start a recall investigation or I would have said long ago. There has been lots of recalls lately on gm and this same cavalier decided not to start twice after the fuel pump, once in 2011 was the timing chain then again december 2012 that I still have to diagnose which LED me to research recalls. Each time the car stopped working luckily it was in my driveway each and every time. The timing chain there was some warning, it would sometimes buck, other times it was fussy on starting and it would stall at stop lights. I will report a new issue if I can find out the 3rd unknown 2012 issue.

Filed Mar 24, 2014 · Electrical · 72,004 miles · MI

As I was driving down the road the vehicle stopped running and I had to pull over to the side of the road. I then tried to start the car again but it did not start. So I tried again a few more time. The vehicle did start so I took the car in for repairs the next week which was my first attempt. It took 2 more visits to get the car fixed correctly. It turned out to be the ignition switch sensor. Just like the recall by gm. But my model is not included, I hope it will be added in the future.

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 Feb 18, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 119 miles · CA

As I was going to turn the switch on to turn on my car it didn't want to start. I had some one fix it but could not find a way to fix it. They had to add a button under the steering wheel to start the car as I turn the switch on. There was couple a of times where the car would go on passlock by itself and wouldn't start until a long period of waiting. The external headlights burn constantly and I would buy new bulbs for the back lights. One time our neighbor said he heard noise like fireworks on our property and he said that he seen our car was sparking light out of the steering wheel. That morning of that day he told us and as we were checking the car I could smell something burned. As a result of that the car didn't want to start . The auto repair people had to come to our house to figure out what was wrong with it. They had told me that some wires inside the steering wheel had burned but mostly I have been fixing more of electrical switches and burned wires. I appreciate for taking your time to read this and I'm looking forward to hear from you.

Filed Nov 7, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 70,000 miles · AL

Was at a stop light and car just konked out and would not start again. I tried and tried but to no avail. Had to push it into a gas station about 100 yards, not easy as a 50 year old female (no one stopped to help me, just sped by). I have seen hundreds of complaints on-line that this has been an habitual problem with this make and model. It only has 71,000 miles on it and I just purchased the first part of 2012???? What is up? This many problems should have involved a recall!