1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF ALL THE DETAILS INVOLVING THE REPAIR AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

1997 CHEVY CAVALIER STEERING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MARCH 10, 2011. CAR HAD NO MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THE FIRE. CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION. CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AFTER BEING USED FOR A SHORT DRIVE. THE CAVALIER WAS PARKED OUTSIDE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE FROM THE CAR. NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME RESISTANT AND LOCKED. WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR THE FAILURE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT DUE TO ANY TYPE OF DEFECT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 05/04/11 *BF UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

RACK AND PINION STEERING WENT OUT- WAS LATER A RECALL. HEAD GASKET CRACKED LEAKING OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. AIRBAG RECALL.

IN FEBRUARY, I HAD TAKEN MY 1997 CHEVY CAVALIER TO THE DEALER FOR THE BEARING RECALL IN FEB OF 2003, AFTER THAT I HAD PROBLEMS WHEN TURNING LEFT MY STEERING GETS HARD AND HAVE NO CONTROL, I HAD THE RACK CHANGED, IN JULY OF 2003 IT WORKED FINE UP TILL SAT. JAN 10, 2004 I HAD NO CONTROL WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AND IT STILL DOES IT, AND IM AFRAID THAT IT COULD INJURE MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. I SAW THE RECALL THAT GM WAS DOING AND THOUGHT THAT THIS COULD BE MY PROBLEM AS WELL. *LA

THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO STEER. HAD THE RACK AND PINION STEERING BEARING REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE, BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, HOWEVER THE WHEELS DID NOT TURN LEFT, BUT VEERED TOWARD THE RIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM CONCERNING STEERING.

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT.*JB

DEFECT RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02 V286 000 STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION NOISE AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. SC

WHEN YOU DRIVE IT THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLES AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR FEET LIKE FRONT END IS LOOSE

VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BROKEN STEERING SYSTEM. *YH

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN, THERE WAS LOUD SOUND AND MAKING THE TURN WAS NOT POSSIBLE. IT HAD TAKEN SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SYSTEM SHOULD'NT HAVE FAILED. *MJ *SCC

WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A CLING NOISE IN THE STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. *AK *YD

THIS IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFCIAL INVESTIGATION. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH AND HIT A LARGE FENCE AND CEMENT STRUCTURE WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND SUSTAIN FRONTAL IMPACT DAMAGES. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE ENGINE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND THE STEERING GOES OUT WITH IT. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT/ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE MAKING A TURN AT A LOW SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND/DUPLICATED AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK