1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier most often describe coolant leaks and repeated cooling-system repairs, power steering that fails or binds when turning left, and dashboard or ignition-switch electrical trouble. Complaints typically come in between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and many describe problems that returned after a repair or a recall remedy.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering fails or binds, mostly on left turns

   • 79 complaints (15%)
   • median 84,154 mi at 8.0 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2015

   Complaints describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn or locking, usually while making a left turn, with normal steering to the right. Several owners say the rack and pinion recall was performed on their car but the difficulty returned, and some were told their vehicle was not covered by the campaign. Mostly reported between about 56,000 and 137,000 miles.

   Recall 02V2860002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 02V286000 was completed and whether the rack has been replaced since; turn the wheel through full left and right arcs at low speed and listen or feel for binding and clunking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rack and pinion steering failure. Car fails to steer left and almost causes a crash due to lack of being able to steer. Ability to steer to the right is fine. Making left hand turns now worries me when driving. During my commute I am constantly worried whether or not I can make a left-hand turn. This has almost caused three accidents. Why wasn't this recalled considering all the the problems with this listed with the NHTSA? Plenty of GM models have had this problem. Why should consumers take the fall when it stems back to the manufacturer?”

   NHTSA complaint #10130116, filed 2005-07, 125,000 miles

   “Nar 3-11-03 the consumer received a recall notice from Chevrolet about the rack and pinion steering gear assembly. Upon arrival the consumer found repairs made on the vehicle that were included in the recall and is now asking to be reimbursed by Chevrolet.”

   NHTSA complaint #10011714, filed 2003-03, 84,304 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks, repeated water pump and head gasket work

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe coolant that keeps disappearing, overheating gauges that climb during idling or while stopped, and repairs that do not last. Complaints mention water pumps, thermostats, heater cores and head gaskets replaced more than once, and dealers or shops often unable to locate where the coolant is going. Largely reported between about 40,000 and 90,000 miles, though some appear much earlier.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue around the water pump, thermostat housing and head gasket area, and ask for receipts showing how often cooling parts have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The temperature gauge in car rises to very hot. There is no steam or anything coming from car, but you must still stop on the highway and wait for the gauge to read cool before you can continue on. This also happens if you are on a line for any amount of time. Because of this problem I own a car that I drive only around the neighborhood.”

   NHTSA complaint #10110192, filed 2005-02, 4,500 miles

   “There is a clunking noise in the steering wheel and front left wheel when maneuvering a turn. Also my water pump has had to be replaced twice in the past year. My final complaint is that when I try and start my vehicle it doesn't always start when holding it in the start position.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021510, filed 2003-06, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and anti-theft system starting problems

   • 40 complaints (7%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners describe the engine failing to start with the key held in start, and some report melted or burned internal switch parts. Others describe the anti-theft (Passlock) system engaging on its own while driving or preventing a restart, with repairs at the dealer quoted and the problem sometimes returning. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low miles up to about 120,000.

   Recall 02V0700001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 02V070000 was completed and whether the ignition switch was replaced rather than only tested; confirm the car starts reliably from cold and that the security light does not stay on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been having trouble starting my chevy Cavalier. The problem is the theft system. I am a single mother and the chevy place said it would be 400 dollars to fix. I have read that alot of chevy owners have the same problem. Please have this recall. I beg you thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #10230032, filed 2008-06, 75,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10564734, filed 2014-02, 119 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag deploys without a crash or fails to deploy

   • 70 complaints (13%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 49 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2016

   Complaints describe airbags deploying in low-speed impacts, after coming to a stop, or while parked, sometimes with burns and dash damage. Other owners report airbags that did not deploy in a collision; several say they were told their vehicle was excluded from the airbag recall. Reported from near-new mileage up to about 110,000 miles.

   Recall 98V146000

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag sensing module recall 98V146000 applies to the specific VIN and was completed, and confirm the airbag warning light behaves normally at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at 55mph the passenger side airbag deployed. When the airbag deployed it ripped apart the dash and busted the windshield. Luckily my son was not injured and managed to keep the car under control to get it off the highway without having an accident. When GM was contacted they said sorry this car was not affected by the recall for the airbags.”

   NHTSA complaint #10289883, filed 2009-10, 135,000 miles

   “Air bags deflated september 9, 2012 while in motion turning a 90 degree bend then braking into road bank on a the side of a country dirt road. An early inspection was handed down from the commonwealth state of pennsylvania on july, 01, 2016. Shortly after the vehicle was involved in auto accident while parked stationary in a parking lot. The Chevrolet Cavalier failed the enhanced state inspection thence after due to air bag safety feature. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10904595, filed 2016-09, 130,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Fuel odor in the cabin from leaking lines or injectors

   • 46 complaints (9%)
   • median 51,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell entering through the vents, often in warm weather, traced in some cases to leaking injector O-rings or fuel lines. Complaints mention repeat dealer visits with parts replaced but the smell returning, and fuel pumps that became noisy before failing. Mostly reported under 90,000 miles, frequently during warm or hot weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Smell for fuel around the engine bay and under the hood after a drive, check the injector area and fuel lines for weeping, and ask whether injector seals or fuel lines have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel pump overheats when idling and it went out. (noisily, it sounded like a dentist's drill) before going out I took it in for a diagnostic because the car was pumping gas fumes into the cab and they found nothing wrong. Because it is in the gas tank it cost me over $700 to replace.”

   NHTSA complaint #10070754, filed 2004-01, 48,000 miles

   “After having my 97 Chevrolet Cavalier fixed as per the recall I got it back and smelled gas when driving it home,took it back to the dealership service dept. Who did the work and they looked at it and said one of the fuel injectors was leaking,and that it wasn't due to the recent repair work they did,the head mechanic shawn said it was the main problem with the cavaliers,if it is common to this type of car should they have tried to fix this problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10018799, filed 2003-05, 84,197 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection pay attention to cooling-system leaks, steering bind on left turns, and starting behavior, and confirm which of the open recalls for this year were actually completed on the specific VIN.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.