Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
461510023171Abs pump running when not needed. *nj10/31/2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK - WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
0096601/01/200400966A10007816Anti-lock braking system (abs) front wheel speed codes - jumper harness. *tt07/12/2004
00966B01/01/200410007293Abs front wheel speed codes - jumper harness. *tt06/09/2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
97080173502608/01/199754419Comment that the abs light is on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history. *yc04/07/1998
9709015015A09/01/199754329Complaints that the abs indicator lamp is on. *yc03/30/1998
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
00052400104/01/2000613590Information regarding snow intrusion into rear drum brake assemblies. **mr07/25/2000
73501801/01/1998600221Comments that the rear brakes may drag/heat up or rear of car is squatting due to aggressive rear brake. *yc04/29/1998

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - ANTILOCK
08/01/2096
 No summary. dt
5008/01/1996
 Brakes failure to stop, car slips in gear when pressing on brakes, horn sometimes doesn't work then it starts to work , headlights go dim when brakes are pressed ,noise in rear area
02/01/199612/01/1995
 Abs light always on, complied with owners manual to turn off, back to dealership several times under bumper-to-bumper coverage. not fixed. now,grinds & bumps at engine start, skids after brakes applied.dealership very uncooperated!!
04/01/1997
 While traveling at 65 mph, i encountered merging traffic, so i slowed down to approximately 40 mph, i then heard a pop but did not think much of it because of the construction crews working on the side of the road, i was also listening to the radio. i noticed there was something wrong when the car kept on slowing down at a steady pace,i heard the engine idling loudly and pulled over to the side of the road. i found it kind of odd that the transmission would give out on me since the car was a 1996.
11/03/199812/01/1996
 The abs brake light will come on while accelerating from a stop. when the car is turned off and restarted the light will go out. the brakes seem to preform normally otherwise.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
09/15/2004100000101/01/1996
 When brakes are applied they engage and release which causes extended stopping distance. the vehicle stops when the brake pedal is slammed on, which engages the abs. the dealership has checked the brake rotors , pads, all components in the front suspension and tires. they we fine. the cause of the failure is still unknown. *nm *bf *nm
11/15/200363871
 Driving down the road, motor stops running and i lost all power both steering and electrical. got it to the side of the road. waited 2 minutes and started it back up it was fine. only did this 2 times within a week period. engine idle rough since i purchased it in 1998. took it in and they said they could not find anything. came back several times they essentially said thay could do nothing thats just how they run. motor surges and lags after start up. regardless of temperature. push pedal motor bogs down and then it will take off. replaced almost every sensor under the hood problem is still present. battery took a dump at almost 4 years. engine spun #3 and #4 bearings on a cold start up. they advised me that i needed a water pump at the same time.pass power window was always slow. replaced approx mid 2002 rear suspension clunks and sounds like it has lumber in the trunk. wheel studs snap easily as i have replace approximately 10. rear brakes drag and grab even after replacement. front brakes wear excessively. rubber muffler hanger wears out. replaced 2 times.
03/21/199709/06/1996
 Front brakes failed at 17000 miles and needed replacing.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - ANTILOCK
08/01/2000
 While driving at highway speeds or for extended periods of time four-speed overdrive transmission will automatically shift down to a lower gear, and ets off and check engine lights come on simultaneously. vehicle remains in low gears until lights go off or until vehicle cools down. also , that when this problem occurs vehicle jerks and vibrates as if the abs is kicking in at speeds in excess of 40 mph. please provide any additional information/attachments. *ak
05/02/200105/01/1997
 Two times in the last year, the anti-lock brakes on our 1996 chevrolet cavalier have malfunctioned and caused us to rearend other vehicles. both times after slamming down on the brakes, the car would almost come to a complete stop and then would jut forward 2-3 times and hit the car in front of us. after the first accident, we took the car to a mechanic, and he told us he could not find anything wrong with the anti-lock brakes. we thought that possibly it was just a one time occurrence and maybe there would not be continuing problems with the brakes, but then in the latest accident, our car behaved in the same manner. this time we sustained severe damage and the car was totaled. luckily, no one was injured in either accident, probably because both times the accidents occured at very low speeds. we would like to know if other owners of 1996 chevrolet cavaliers have had similar problems with their anti-lock brakes. thank you. *ak
08/01/1997
 Engine head gasket/struts/starter/transmission/ dome light/ paint/,muffler/seats and abs brakes have all gone badly at least once, and some have been replaced twice and are bad again. dealer was notified several times, but refused to check or replace. no longer doing business with them due to the service. i have been having to pay for all of the services. *ak
06/15/1999406/01/1996
 Rear brake system shakes and lurches...wheels lock up and release...car skids for short periods of time causing car to attempt to run off roadway...this happens most often in wet conditions. car was returned to dealer who cleaned rear brake drums and told us the problem was fixed. last night the car was almost involved in two accidents when daughter was driving in wet conditions at speeds in 35 to 45 mph range when braking system locked up twice causing car to skid. father can cause brakes to lock up in dry conditions duplicating brake lock up in wet conditions. *ak
 Brake pedal went all the way to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. *ak
02/01/1999
 While driving gradually on wet pavement abs brakes malfunctioned, causing the wheels to lock up and skid which may result in a crash. dealer cannot determine the reason,and won't look at the vehicle. please provide further information and vin#.
03/23/19993
 Vehicle bought w/bad water pump which was leaking badly. brakes in rear were making metal to metal noise & were slushy. when vehicle was driven any great distance & then stoppped, it would overheat & then stall out. hard to restart. odometer numbers not even & out of sync. water hose is leaking. *ak
10/28/1998
 Abs brake light comes on when the car is in idle. turn the car off and it will go off. problem could not be duplicated,. dealer states the harness wires are defective, hazardous to drive vehicle. *ak
08/11/199808/01/1997
 Replaced the automatic transmission with a remanufactured one.also the hood release/abs brakes and air conditioner failed. *ak
01/26/19993
 While driving about 15 mph applied brakes to stobut vehicle did not stop until a few feet away. *ak
01/18/1998203/15/1996
 Vehicle spun 360 degrees, crashing into guardrail, when brakes locked up when applied in an emergency.
10/16/1997206/13/1996
 Abs failed because of a electrical short and caused a crash.
 When appyling the abs brakes on dry pavement they intermittently pulsate. also extended stopping distance to occurs cause unknown. please give any further details. *ak
108/09/1996
 Anti lock brakes failed resulting in a vehicle collision.
04/30/19980
 While driving about any mph had been having problems with the abs. when stepping on the brake pedal the vehicle won't stop on time. dealer told consumer that many chevrolet cavaliers had been having the same problem with the abs brakes. *ak
108/21/1996
 Abs brakes failed. also warped rotors, causing brakes to pulsate.
01/18/1998203/15/1996
 Anti lock brakes lock, up causing loss of control a collision on two separate occasions.
406/12/1996
 Brakes made noise and there was severe brake fading, like a pulsing when stopping.
 When applying the brakes the abs catches and vehicle won't stop. dealer says its suppose to. *ak
 When the brakes are applied the pedal goes top the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. the dealer has replaced the caliper on the vehicle. *ak
04/01/1997404/05/1996
 Abs brakes have been changed 4 times in 7 months
06/27/1997305/01/1996
 When the brakes are applied the rear end jumps. the dealer has not been able to correct the problem. *ak gm told consumer that this is normal. *slc
10/16/1997
 When driver applied the brakes the vehicle did not stop, causing the driver to be involved in an accident. *ak
 When applying the brakes the vehicle pulls to the left and the vehicle will start to vibrate, causing the steering wheel to shake. *ak
08/20/19970
 After being involved in an automobile accident, brakes stuck and the accelerator stuck to the floor- driver was unable to stop the automobile. he finally was able to stop automobile by shuting the ignition off. he also states at that time he could not shift gears so he could not disengage the automobile. *ak
112/27/1995
 The anti lock brakes squeak, also cause vehicle to lurch, shake, and jump upon sudden stops.
03/21/199709/06/1996
 Front abs brakes failed/needed to be replaced at 17000 miles. *ak
 Applied brakes at about 2 or 3 mph and did not stop. *ak
05/10/1997103/15/1996
 While driving on interstate about 50 to 55mph, applied brakes, causing the vehicle to spin around facing oncoming traffic, resulting in an accident. *ak
03/26/19971
 Started to stop, abs brakes gave out; kicked in few minutes later. steering wheel w/ strong pulling, hard turning or correcting; hard turning r/l. rpms revved but did not accelerate, gears shifted hard from 2nd to 3rd. *ak
01/01/1997103/22/1996
 Noisy abs brakes, also replaced noisy power steering valve. *ak
10/22/1996112/01/1995
 Antilock brake locked up.
09/06/1996207/30/1996
 Computer failed, causing vehicle to stall; also abs brakes grind/replaced instrument cluster. *ak
01/27/1996
 Abs system failure, total failure of the abs system, abs indicator light came on. *ak
01/12/1996
 Abs brake system locks and unlocks by itself. tt
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
05/07/19982
 Brakes failed on several occasions, resulting in a loss of control.
02/26/1999110/01/1997
 Manufacturer was contacted in all effort to resolve situation and was of no assistance whatsoever. i am a 22 year old college student who has had numerous problems with this car since bought including brake failure and horn failure. in my estimation, this vechicle is a lemon
11/01/1997
 The vehicle had problems with the tail light being inoperative while in use. replaced the wires of the tail light, problem is still occurring. also, problems with the braking system. had to replace all 4 brakes 4 times. dealer cannot determine problem. in addition, consumer experiences problem with the horn. dealer cannot determine problem. *ak
108/01/1996
 Brakes not bolted properly.
1604/06/1996
 Brakes failed.
11/27/1995
 When apply the brake car goes to left side got in accident and the front seat belt didn't restaint . tt
09/25/1995109/21/1995
 While driving, vehicle lurched forward without applying accelerator; applied brake, no effect; vehicle spun around in 360 degree circle; shifted into reverse. the dealership could not duplicate the problem, the only thing they found was that the gas cover was loose and stated that maybe that is why the engine light came on and why the vehicle acted eractically.*jb
09/25/1995
 While driving, vehicle lurched forward without applying accelerator; applied brake, no effect; vehicle spun around in 360 degree circle; shifted into reverse.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC
 Brake pads/ rotors and shoes are prematurely wearing, cause unknown. please give any further details.*ak
310/01/1996
 The car is falling apart, interior is falling apart, example seat belts on the driver's side is not in tact, the passenger chair on the right side frame is broken, air conditioner has gone out and we needed to install a new airconditioner, the brakes have been replaced twice already, i guess every nine months the car needs a new brake change, the chrysler credit corp has never given us a receipt on how much more to pay and when we call them up, they would not tell us how much more to go for the payments, they also know that since we purchased this car from the very first day this vehicle has been in and out of the shop for repairs. then they would change constantly where the payment should go. i just wished they would stop that. it is like a house loan, we have changed mortagager four times and this is getting very stressful. can you please help us with this matter.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - CALIPER
 When the brakes are applied the pedal goes top the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. the dealer has replaced the caliper on the vehicle. *ak
06/29/199606/28/1996
 Vehicle's front abs braking system calipers locked up and would not release after only driving 47 miles, brand new off the lot.smoke was coming from brakes. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR
07/15/200569995106/29/2005
 Dt: the consumer stated he bought a car on 6-29-05 from klick lewis inc. on his way home when he applied the brakes, suddenly the car felt like it was coming apart. he called the dealer where he bought the car and they told him the vehicle needed front rotors. on friday 7-15-05; before he had taken it in to have the rotors put on, he noticed the car was full of smoke. he called the fire dept. and they came out and diffused the fire and told him that it was an electrical problem and the car could have caught on fire. he then called the salesperson that sold him the car and they said they would have someone get back to him. he has made 5 telephone calls to them and no one has returned his calls. *jb
108/21/1996
 Abs brakes failed. also warped rotors, causing brakes to pulsate.
807/08/1996
 Front brake rotors/engine/muffler/converter/seat/horn/power steering hose and wheel bearings failed.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM
04/10/1998204/01/1997
 Had to replace drums in april of 1998 and i am currently experiencing the same problem i.e. needing to replace the drums again.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DRUM - DRUM
08/14/19961
 Rear brake drums leaking fluid, causing brake failure/accident. (new jersey state police report)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
11/06/19960
 Driving vehicle, went to stop vehicle, brakes (abs) failed to work, vehicle unable to stop, pulled emergency brake, vehicle spun around, mechanic said master cyclinder was defective, seals broken. *ak
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - SWITCHES - BRAKE LIGHT
02/17/19967
 Brake light switch failed.