NHTSA Complaint #10133247 — 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY MY CALL RESULTING IN ODI NUMBER 10133041. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, PRIOR TO THE BELT BREAKING, MY CAR'S ALTERNATOR HAD A "HARD SPOT". THIS MEANS THAT IT WOULD SEIZE AND LET GO. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE ALTERNATOR SHOULD NOT SEIZE UNLESS THERE IS A COLLISION WHICH IN TURN STOPS THE ENGINE. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THIS RANDOM SEIZING, I BELIEVE, IS WHAT CAUSED MY "UNDIPLOMATIC", STEERING AND BRAKING PROBLEMS - WITH LOSS OF CONTROL RANGING FROM 1/2 SECOND TO 2 SECONDS AT A TIME. ON THE REPORT ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALTERNATOR REPAIR, I AGAIN REPORTED BRAKING PROBLEMS (NOT JUST THE DOCUMENTED NOISE), AND THE ODDBALL SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. BOTH LINES OF COMPLAINT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO THE SEIZING UP OF THE ALTERNATOR. TO ME, THIS MEANS THAT MY LIFE, AND THE LIFE OF ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD WITH ME - WAS AND STILL IS STILL AT THE MERCY OF A WEIRD ALTERNATOR, WHOSE INTERMITTENT FAILURES RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE STEERING PUMP, AND THE BRAKES - RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR UNTIL THE BACKUP KICKS IN - WHICH TAKES FROM 1/2 SECOND TO 2 SECONDS. I WISH TO MAKE VERY CLEAR - I DO NOT BLAME THE DEALER FOR LACK OF ABILITY TO ADEQUATELY REPAIR WHAT IS AN INHERENT DESIGN FLAW. IN ADDITION, IN THE COURSE OF RESEARCH, I HAVE LEARNED THAT MOST ALL NEW CARS REGARDLESS OF MANUFACTURER ARE DESIGNED THE SAME WAY. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD, AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON AN INDUSTRY WIDE SCALE. AT THIS STAGE, STEERING, ACCELERATION, AND BRAKING ARE ALL ERRATIC. SOUND IN THE FRONT TIRES IS LIKE A CLIP-CLOP. I AM NOT A MECHANIC, BUT IN READING THE DESCRIPTIONS PLACED HERE, I MUST ALSO WONDER IF THE CRASHES AND AIRBAG FAILED DEPLOYMENTS IN SEVERAL POSTS WERE ALSO DUE TO A SEIZING ALTERNATOR PRIOR TO THE MVA.*AK