NHTSA Complaint #10630431 — 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ON-RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I WAS USING MY MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICE (SIGNALING MY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THEN ONCE AT 65MPH SETTING CRUISE CONTROL) WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKED. I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COASTED/BRAKED MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TRIED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT WAS ON A SATURDAY. ON MONDAY WHEN THE SHOP WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THEY TRIED THE CAR AND IT STARTED/RAN JUST FINE. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE TOW ONLY. PREVIOUSLY, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. SIMILARLY DEAD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION - REPLACED THAT TWICE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP - REPLACED THAT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH-REPLACED THAT THREE TIMES. WINTER 2013 THE CAR STARTED FINE AND THEN A BLOCK FROM HOME ALL POWER WENT OUT AND ENGINE FAILED TO START UP AGAIN. TOWED CAR TO ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RUSTED OUT WIRE. REPLACED THE WIRE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. THEY REPLACED ANOTHER WIRE. I'VE NOTICE THE CAR WILL THINK A BLINKER IS OUT BEFORE THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST FAILS. *TR