Owners' Stories

Chevy POS is what they should have named it. It always needs something done to it even though I take complete care of it with good gas not the cheap water crap, plus I add gas additives routinely, and I get all the routine maintenance. I have always taken good care of my car and usually never have a problem, but this one is nothing but a money pit. Not my first car but my first Chevy and definitely my last. Skip Chevy and get a Trabi or a Yugo it will definitely run better, faster, and get better gas mileage.

Overall agood car. Center heat vents no air. Foam stuck in center vents. Front end makes cracking noise when turning. On third blower motor. Great motor 2.2 Ecotec.

At around 100k struts were bad. By 124K, lots of issues. Battery, brakes, starter, alternator, tires...AC still works, though! Only AM radio. ? Power locks bad, too. Only small engine oil leak, though. Trans ok. Made it from lower Michigan to upper Kentucky okay just a month ago. Whining getting worse. Two different repair shops say it is the power steering beginning to go. Running better than the other car (Honda Accord, approx same age and mileage)! Exterior body not holding up so well as the HOnda.

I have the Z24 convertible model. After spending considerable amount of time gathering parts for this POS I have determined the average lifespan on these is about 140K. Any repair that you need to do on these (and there will be many), is overly complicated and messy. Parts will cost between 8-10 times as much as they should because of replacing standard items with proprietary crap for no reason. I have been working through 1 problem at a time and I am not gaining ground. I just want to fix everything so I can get rid of this. It is the WORST car i have ever owned. It is no wonder GM went bankrupt, I'll NEVER own another GM product. The engineers at GM are either mentally deficient or intentionally evil.

I bought my car in 05 with 138,000 miles on it. replaced the clutch, two sets of tires and some marker lights. minor electrical issues with the daytime running lamps and high beams due to corrosion from roadspray in the wintertime and missing plastic underneath i assume. the car has 230,000+ on it and runs and drives beautifully. minor rust around the gas door and rocker panels. no leaks. awesome car

I bought my 1996 cavalier brand new....i have 225545 miles on it..it uses no oil...it runs like a gem...i plan on running it until the wheels fall off...it is great on gas...i hope to get to 300,000 miles on it....i wish they still made them...because when this one is finally done....i would buy another one...it is starating to rust, but i have driven it every winter and they have been rough winters in PA...

This car is a cheap poor built car its like a trash can on wheels makes a yugo a lincoln what a piece of junk do not waste your money on one of these chevy should of named it the pinto two just junk no power as bad as a junk neon complete trash chevy should recall all of these

Love this cute little booger of a car, leant it out when I got somethin more accomodating to four kids. Person who borrowed it blew the 2.4L 4cyl (OHC) because he failed to repair the oil small oil leak and waterpump. This was work I had planned to do, but he said he would do it in order to borrow the car because he didn't have a vehicle. I told him he had to replace the motor, but he replaced it with an OHV motor that has a busted throttle assembly and god knows what else wrong. I have to practically flood the engine to start it, manually shift the transmission and pump the accelerator to get him up to 30MPH now. It instantly loses power when faced with uphill travel. "Charlie" used to go about 400 miles on a tank of gas, now I can't get him to the other side of town with 1/4 tank of gas. Because the car has the number 4 in the seventh position of the VIN; either motor can be used (technically), WTF did he do to my car?

i love this car ive had it for 8 years and its been good until today it started shifting really hard and the check engine light came on.i dont know whats wrong with it

Bought this car when it was only 4 years old at a GM dealership, terrible car, worst I have ever had, dealerships service was completely inept, in the 50,000 miles I have gotten out of this car pretty much everything but the engine has had to be replaced, I will never buy another Chevrolet or purchase at a GM dealer again. Complete and total garbage.

Overall best used car with just minor issues (knock on wood)

The thermostat float between 1/4 to 1/2 after 20 minutes of driving. I ad replaced the thermostat and flashed the coolant and still the same condition I have 78,000 miles in the chev. cav. 2001 what to do?

250,000 miles on it and it's humming like a little birdie... I'm planning on taking it way into the 300,000s. I drive a bunch, mostly back roads, about 100-200 miles a day. Has a good mpg, surprisingly - cause it's a tank. Two years after I got it (2004), a 16-wheeler rolled into it, I was told at a shop it was a goner, but fixed it for $350 replacing the radiator by a friendly mechanic. Had to replace a starter at around 220,000 miles, paid $50 for a used one and it has served me well so far.. Other than that, no problems at all. Very very reliable, I will most likely stick to Chevy for my next vehicle (the Volt makes me salivate)...

i have a 1996 and i got it about 2 years a go i have i think like 183k miles on it and i had to put a new gas tank and lines in it, new exhaust, also i had to replace that break lines ,new tires but all in all it is a good car to have and if your E- brake works then it is a fun car... haha

What , does it when your oil light stay on?.

EXCELENT SERVICE ......THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING ......GO THERE ITS THE BEST

very good car

This car had 13 miles on it when we bought it. We have had to replace tires all the way around, three times. Two new batteries. Alternator, spark plugs. Piston's and everything having to do with fuel had to be replaced at 50 thousand. As soon as the extended warranty ended, everything went down hill on the car. Have had to take to the dealer for various other problems many times.....none of which I can recall right now. The seats are not comfortable, especially in the back. The struts are awful, even though they have been replaced twice. I have the driver seat up as far as it will go, but still have problems reaching the gas, break & clutch. Very uncomfortable for me to drive. To me, the bucket seats make me feel like I am laying down while driving. I like to be sitting "up" in the drivers seat. But even though I have the seat up as far as it will go, I still feel like I am laying down. The emergency break has been worked on more then a dozen times, as it will not hold. The AC does not cool in our 100 plus degree summers, and it continually over heats....especially in the summer. Have had it to the dealer many times in the past 2 summers about the last 2 problems. But they never can find any reason for the AC not working and over heating. My car is a 2 door, and I am constantly having the doors come back and hit my legs when I am getting in/out of the car, because when they are opened all the way they do not stay. Neither of the windows roll down/up easily in the winter. In all fairness it is a dependable car. If you don't mind having to take it to get this or that fixed all the time, if you don't mind burning up during the summer, if you have long legs and don't mind "laying down" when your driving, and if you don't mind having uncomfortable seating. Other then that....it's all great!!

I have a z24 convertable, have only had to replace alternator and buy a couple of batteries, both time the battery died, the car was in my garage!!! It has 125043 miles on it and I LOVE it!!!!

I bought my 1998 cavalier in 2004 it had 110,000 miles on it.The first week i had to replace day time running light relay .I keep it maintaned like change oil ever 3000 miles and trans fuild and filter ever 50,000 miles . I have had to replace battery 2 times in 5 yrs and the headlights switch once and the a/c went out at 200,000 miles. Other than that just your normal maintance.IT is a very reliable car it has never let me down I have toke it on alot of road trips. I drive it to the beach 2or 3 times a summer its about 350 miles round trip always done very good I have even toke it from ga to tx 750 miles one way done great thin to . IT has 240,000 miles on it now and still going strong. when she stops going i will get another one . love this little car !!!!!!!!!!

I have a 2001 base cavalier. I purchased it as a 'rental return' certified unit in Dec 2002 , with 31000 0n odometer. I presently have 132000 on the odometer. I replaced all four tires at 65k, front calipers and rotors at 105k and batteries twice(Walmart brand) These are the only things ,except normal maintainance, that have been done to this vehicle. What do I think of this vehicle? The interior fit and finish suck. The oil filter location is typical of US built vehicle(idiot design).The dash trim panel has stress cracks in three places(welcome to the club). The car is NOISY. The headlight bulb replacement requires TOOLS. The seats are uncomfortable. BUT THE CAR IS DEPENDABLE AND FOR THIS I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

I got mine around 2001. It has 175k+ miles on it. I replaced the clutch once. Everything has worked perfectly for me except the radiator. I have had problems with it overheating. The radiator hose blew once and was replaced like a year ago. Now I'm having another problem with the radiator. I'm hoping its just the radiator cap and I can keep running this thing into the ground. If not, then it may be time to say goodbye to it.

Lost auto shifter light at 4,000 miles - odometer light at 30,000 - radio just goes somewhere twice a month for about 5 minutes (since the 1st year) - other than that I love this ride. 70,000 miles now and I get 36/37 mpg at 55 mph steady. Fun to drive - bought new Oct 04 - I'm 61 years old.and too bad the dealer has always said that my electrical problems are my imagination or I'd buy another GM. For the 1st time in my life I'm looking at the Ford cross-over Edge .............Harry from Ohio

only thing wrong with mine right now is i cant get the windshield wipers to work.

Great car. Have had to replace a few items but she has 118,000 miles on her what do u expect? But i guess this was to good of a car for Cheve to keep makeing. They did the same thing with the Chevett, it ran so good that they had to quit makeing them. Why would a company do that? You have a great product so you quit makeing it? oh well, and we wonder why people by fouren cars........

I'M IN LOVE. First car ever, and I make sure to treat it like it was a Ferrari. I have learned not to blame the car but to blame the parts they have used in creating this vehicle (Done to keep it so cheap, I assume.) Don't ever buy the same parts that fail out on this car and you will have had zero issues with the same thing failing again. I've had to replace so far: Ignition coil, both window motors, window motor switch (coupe car), front wheel bearings, battery, tires, all four shocks. I do regular maintenance and use synthetic oil. Saving up to replace brakes, bushings, and hoses with better parts to eliminate a possible failure. Seats are uncomfortable, but replace them with a universal and better seat you can take with you to your new car. GREAT CAR, RECOMMEND TO ANYONE!!!!

I had a 1984 and put 483,000 miles on it. Floor went through before car died.

This is my first car and i love it. It drives great and never have problems with it.

I bought this car twice..it had 80,000 miles on it.Then the second time around it had 185,000 miles on it 9 years later and it still runs great.Overall it has been good on mileage at 33 miles on the hwy and 28 in the city.

I have the Z-24 Convertable. I've had some small issues, like right now I can't figure out why the driving lights suddenly stopped working after changing a betterey out. But, 167K and still drives great!

it's good car , but i have problem with gas pedal when I am going to FRWY it's going to out of control . now can you help me on that ?

THIS CAR SUCKS!! do not buy i cant tell u how many problems ive had with this car. The brakes are absoultey horrible and the electrictal just as bad. My car only has 29,000 miles on it and the brakes were replaced last year and are already making loud noises and grinding sounds. The odomoter light and cluster panal lights are either burnt out or dim and this car has no insulation at all every single plastic peace on this car which is the whole interior rattles when you go over 35 MPH please save ur money and somthing else

Bought mine about two years ago. Had a few problems just because of previous owner. Its a great car. Fun to drive being a manual and all. I have had problems with the fuel pump and a fuel leak and just regular maintenance. Have to replace to clutch but other than that great car!

I REALLY LOVE MY 2004 CAVALIER THIS IS MY FIRST CAR AND I SIMPLY LOVE IT, THE ONLY PROBLEMS I AM HAVING IS THE PASSENGER WINDOW GOES DOWN AND WON'T COME BACK UP AND THE WIPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK, SO I GOT TO GO GET MY BABY FIXED OTHER THEN THAT I LOVE IT

Owned since Nov. 2005, only problem was a wheel speed sensor. Great gas mileage, 36mpg on highway. Took on 800 mi. trip, comfort level was good. Would have to recommend this car. Too bad they named it Cavalier, as it is nothing like the predecessor at all.

Great over all car. Ours has 240,000+ miles on it and still running fine. Has a wierd sound in the rear end while driving, but has always been there. Windshield wipers are screwed up, but then it is an older car. We are only second owner, great reliable vehicle. We did get rid of the air conditioning when belt went.

I absolutely love my car!! I have 98,000 miles on it, bought it with 93,000. This car just gets up and goes with no hesitation. My sister has a 2005 Chevy Malibu and drove my car and said mine drives better than hers. My air condition did go out in the middle of the summer but it only ended up being a fuse ($20.00) But it blows ice cold in 110 degrees. Cup holders suck :( (They are not in a good place and are not tall or big enough therefore drinks don't fit or fall out and spill)I am having some window issues though, the driver window freezes up sometimes randomly. Dash board is cracked like another person said, it is the year as i've seen other cars like mine with cracks in the same spot, but other than that no problems!! Definitely overall great!!

I bought my car new and has only had minor issues.

This is a fun car to drive in the city. I have owned this car since 2001 and had only small repairs. I replaced the fuel pump, front tires, and brakes. I have a sun roof and a good sound system. Enjoy it a lot.

This is your basic, everyday economy car. I still get 32mpg highway after 5 years with minimal engine service (oil changes) but the biggest problem for me have been the rear drum brakes. The car's interior is basic (nearly identical to previous generation (95-02) Cavaliers) and provides literally no insulation from road noise. The fuel filter failed at 80k (I use Lucas Oil gas treatment every tank) and at 108k the rest of the car is having issues: coolant temp recently hit the red in start/stop conditions, the A/C only works at 40mph or faster, and the suspension is riding extremely rough.

It ain't flashy ;but I've put 80k on mine and had no problems whatsoever. Love the car :)

I just purchesed this year model but so far so good. I also had a 1998 and out of the three years I owned it,I only had to put a new alternater in it. hopefully this car turns out to be just as good.

RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED THE REAR WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO LEAKS FOUND IN THE TRUNK OR LIGHTS. MY CAR WAS THE Z24 MODEL AND WAS FUN TO DRIVE AND IT LOOKED GREAT.

nothing but problems with radiator and overheating. I only drive to and from work (6 miles each way) and have had to replace both radiator and head gasket 2x