1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

2 recalls, 237 complaints - 15 TSBs

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

Defect Description

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH INSUFFICIENT RETENTION OF THE HORN PAD.

Consequence

THE HORN PAD CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL FALLING BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES. THE HORN PAD COULD BECOME JAMMED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES AND THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, HORN PAD, AND HORN WIRING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE HORN PAD RETENTION CLIPS, INSTALL HORN PAD RETENTION BRACKETS TO THE STEERING WHEEL, REINSTALL THE HORN PAD AND ASSURE THAT THE HORN PAD IS PROPERLY RETAINED.

417,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Defect Description

THE BRAKE HOSES WERE MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY, AND DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 106, "BRAKE HOSES."

Consequence

THE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED BRAKE HOSES CAN CAUSEREDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND/OR UNEVEN BRAKING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

Remedy

REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLY ON CIERA AND CENTURY MODELS, AND BOTH REAR BRAKE HOSES ON CAVALIER AND SUNBIRD MODELS.

2,848 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

237 total complaints 13 crashes 11 fires 15 injuries 1 deaths

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN	10
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	9
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY	6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE	5
SEATS	4

Incident date: Jan 25, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Incident date: Mar 13, 2013

IGNITION SWITCH SHUTS OFF WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN IT HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

Incident date: Mar 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ROLLING DOWN THE MANUAL WINDOW, IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Incident date: Aug 8, 2004

WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO D INDICATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM COLLAPSED AND WAS LOSING BRAKE FLUID. CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2004

VARIOUS PROBLEMS REGARDING 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER..ONE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED ON NUMEROUS MVOQ FORMS. *MR CONSUMER LOST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER DISCOVERED THAT BRAKE FLUID LINE FAILED. FUEL LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. BOTH HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WERE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 14, 2004

Incident date: May 1, 2004

SIDEWALL TIRE SEPARATION. UNIROYAL P185/70R14. *AK

Incident date: Nov 15, 2003

MAJOR FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S WATER-RESISTANT ENVELOPE: SERIOUS WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FIREWALL, RESULTING IN RUST AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO CARPET, MOLD AND MILDEW IN CARPET AND UNDERLAY, AND UNPLEASANT ODOURS

Incident date: Nov 15, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLETO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE PRESSURE REGULATOR. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 2003

NOT A COMPLAINT, EXACTLY, AN INQUIRY: HAS ANYONE LOOKED AT RIGHT KNEE INJURIES, SINCE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS BECAME MANDATORY? I NOTE THAT IT FEELS AS IF, IN AN 'IMPACT', MY KNEE WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THE KEYS.... (OR VICE VERSA) THIS INQUIRY APPLIES TO ANY VEHICLE TYPE/MODEL, THOUGH INTERNAL E... Read more

Incident date: Oct 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A ACCIDENT. MR

Crash

Incident date: Jan 1, 1998

HEAD GASKET HAS LEAKED FOR MANY YEARS. I EXPLAINED TO A MECHANIC THAT THE GASKET WAS LEAKING AND BEFORE I COULD TELL HIM WHERE HE KNEW EXACTLY THE LOCATION OF THE LEAK. HE SAID THAT IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH MY TYPE OF CAR. *AK

Incident date: Jun 27, 2002

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, THEIR WAS A GAS SMELL AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF.CONTACTED DEALER. FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING. REPLACED PART, PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK

WHEN STOPPING WITH ABS FROM HIGHER SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BUCKS, MISSES, AND STALLS OUT, VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY START UP, BUT WHEN PUT IN DRIVE IT WOULD STALL OUT FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES, CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER SENSOR. *SLC

Incident date: Apr 10, 2002

VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE DUE TO WIRES UNDERNEATH VEHICLE HOOD SHORTING OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Jan 15, 2001

A CRACKED HEAD ON A 2.2L ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 2000

ENTIRE FLOOR OF MY CAR HAS ABOUT 1 INCH OF WATER EACH TIMES IT RAINS OR SNOWS. *AK

Incident date: Jan 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, AND REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR AND IT WAS REPLACED. *YH

Incident date: Jan 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN, AND REAR BRAKES LOCK UP WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A SENSOR AND IT WAS REPLACED. *YH

Incident date: Apr 21, 2001

VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON BY MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35-40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER WAS BADLY INJURED. *AK

Crash 1 injured

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Crash Fire 5 injured

Incident date: Mar 22, 2001

WHILE BRAKING AT A SLOW SPEED, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION. CONSUMER HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER INSURANCE AGENT CLAIMED REAR BRAKE HOSE WAS AT FAULT, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Feb 17, 2001

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A "TOTE THE NOTE" LOT, AND COMPLAINED TO THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS 2 DAYS AND ONLY 11 MILES. AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR VIBRATION, AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. WHEN I CALLED IN, TH... Read more

Incident date: Feb 17, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ROUGH VIBRATION/ SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE, ABS LIGHT STAYS ON. THESE THINGS WERE WORKING WHEN TEST DRIVEN. DEALER IS NOT ASSITING CONSUMER WITH PROBLEM.*AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER DRIVING 5-6 MILES. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. WHILE SL... Read more

Incident date: Feb 17, 2001

MUFFLER FAILED. NLM

ABS SYSTEM WILL FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Incident date: Apr 13, 1999

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED HEAD GASKET 2 TIMES ON 2.2LT ENGINE. EACH HEAD GASKET WILL ONLY LAST ABOUT 8 MONTHS. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK BRAKES, CALIPERS AND ROTORS FAIL EVERY YEAR. *YH

Showing 50 of 237 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy, 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	21.0	28.0	23.0	Regular	$2,650
2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	22.0	33.0	26.0	Regular	$2,350
3.1L 6-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	18.0	26.0	21.0	Regular	$2,950
3.1L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	17.0	26.0	20.0	Regular	$3,100

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Subcompact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1993 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

15 manufacturer communications from 15 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	3
046300 SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR	2
106000 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY	2
010000 STEERING	1
034510 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER	1
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	1
105000 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE	1
021000 SUSPENSION:FRONT	1

046300 SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

ABS FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

046300 SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) FRONT WHEEL SPEED CODES - JUMPER HARNESS. *TT

106000 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING

034000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR

106000 POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60 OR 4T60-E TRANSXALES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN IN PARK ON INCLINE. *TT

061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT RE

061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLATTERING NOISE AT IDLE SPEED ORIGINATING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND FRONT COVER AREA. *YC

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMPLAINTS THAT THE ABS INDICATOR LAMP IS "ON". *YC

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC

021000 SUSPENSION:FRONT

SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA (INSTALL ULTRA HIGH MOLECULAR TAPE). *TW

105000 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

GRINDING AND/OR GROWLING NOISE IN PARK ON INCLINE.*SD

034510 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

UNKNOWN

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

UNKNOWN

162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

UNKNOWN

010000 STEERING

CRUNCH NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE DASH AREA WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, CHEVROLET CAVALIER

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2003

ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE

ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE STALLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INC... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2003

FUEL PUMP FAILURE

AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATED MOTOR BRUSH WEAR IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 CHEVROLET V... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2003

TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION

ON MAY 14, 2004 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-043) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE BRAKE/TAIL TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, OR WHEN THE TURN SIGN... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2003

TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTION

COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND DO NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF A CRASH WHERE THE COMPLAINANT BRAKED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IMPACTED THE COMPLAINANT'S VEHICLE IN THE DRI... Read more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 1996

UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCELERATION

ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2003, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 FROM MR. DONALD FRIEDMAN, PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO OPEN A DEFECT INVESTIGATION INTO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INVOLVING [MODEL YEAR] 1996 AND 1997 GENERAL MOTORS J-CARS.IN SUPPO... Read more

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2000

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AG... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2000

ENGINE STALL DUE TO FUEL STARVATION

ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTI... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1995

FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA

SQ, Closed , Model Year: 2000

ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE