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2000 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 315 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, most often about the electrical (22% of complaints, typically around 59,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Cavalier model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Electrical
69 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 59,500 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, starter assembly.
High beams & drl's stopped working, checked fuses, none blown. Took to dealer and found that battery that had been previously replaced for leaking, was again leaking. The acid damaged headlight wire harness making drl's and high beams non-functional. Dealer says battery has no warranty even though battery states 5…
Interior dashboard lights flashed while driving. Vehicle failed to restart, and the interior lights didn't function when this occurred. Vehicle had to sit for about an hour before restarted. In addition, there was a burning odor in the vehicle. Four mechanics have serviced this vehicle,but could not duplicate the…
Engine
58 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Timing chain loose/tensioner wearing out. First happened around 60,000 miles, at this time the chain, tensioner, and gears were changed. Worked fine for a week and a half, then slowly started to rattle again until the noise was worse than before it was fixed. Brought to chevy dealership, car stayed there for 5 days…
Car idles extrmemly rough and feels like it is going to stall. Bogs while driving, makes a firing noise from the tailpipe. I put better gas in the car, new spark plugs and fuel injector cleaner. No help. Check engine light comes on when car is started, but also goes off just as fast. When idling, it does not stay at…
Brakes
45 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, conventional, disc.
I have a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. The first problem I experienced was in oct 2001,while driving the temperature gauge went to the maximum reading without warning, I pulled off the highway and turned off vehicle. Waited a while started back went approximately 1/4 mi and same problem,after stopping 3-4 times I started…
We bought a used Chevrolet Cavalier from the year 2000 with an extended warranty (gm certified) for 3 months or 3,000 miles. Since the beginning there were 4 problems not yet fixed. 1 - there is a popping noise under the back of the car. Dealer (koons Chevrolet - withe marsch, md) said he couldn't duplicate. After…
Fuel system
43 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 50,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, fuel injection system.
I was on my way hme from work on a very busy road all of sudden car just lost power car would not restart took to shop was told the fuel pump was bad and needed to $$700 repair for something that I feel should not needed to be done on such a new vehicle I only had 51000 miles on the vehicle I bought a new car for this…
Purchased used 2000 Cavalier in 2006. First problem (which has continued for 5 years) is that the service light will come on when the car is cranked unless the headlights are first turned on. If you turn the headlights off while driving, the service light comes on. It will not go off unless you turn the car off and…
Steering
28 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 40,500 miles. Parts named most often: column, column locking, steering wheel/handle bar, rack and pinion.
We bought a used Chevrolet Cavalier from the year 2000 with an extended warranty (gm certified) for 3 months or 3,000 miles. Since the beginning there were 4 problems not yet fixed. 1 - there is a popping noise under the back of the car. Dealer (koons Chevrolet - withe marsch, md) said he couldn't duplicate. After…
My wife and I own a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. The steering is beginning to have a distinctive popping sound and loosening develop. I know there is a problem and I am taking it to a professional to avoid serious problems. It is difficult to believe that gm could not develop a better steering column than this. It would…
Body and structure
27 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The top of the dash cracked where it joins into the windshield. The consumer is concerned that this may cause the air bags to deploy.
: the contact stated there was a vibration in the dashboard causing it to separate from the structure of the vehicle. The consumer is concerned that if the dashboard completely separates the airbags may no longer be operable. The dealership determined the top of the dashboard needs to be replaced. Updated 3/9/2006 -
Transmission
26 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, clutch assembly, manual transmission.
We bought a used Chevrolet Cavalier from the year 2000 with an extended warranty (gm certified) for 3 months or 3,000 miles. Since the beginning there were 4 problems not yet fixed. 1 - there is a popping noise under the back of the car. Dealer (koons Chevrolet - withe marsch, md) said he couldn't duplicate. After…
On the date mentioned below, my daughter was driving to work when the car wouldn't go into 3rd geer. The RPM's wouldn't go over 3 and the car wouldn't go over 30 MPH. No previous problems with the car at all. We took it to the chevy dealer and they wanted $400 just to drop the pan and look at the car. Since my…
Suspension
21 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
We bought a used Chevrolet Cavalier from the year 2000 with an extended warranty (gm certified) for 3 months or 3,000 miles. Since the beginning there were 4 problems not yet fixed. 1 - there is a popping noise under the back of the car. Dealer (koons Chevrolet - withe marsch, md) said he couldn't duplicate. After…
When the consumer turned the steering wheel to a 80 degree angle hear a loud knocking noise coming from the steering wheel. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls
Electrical: switch
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Lights: interior lighting
Risk: This could make it more difficult to see objects outside the vehicle when driving at night.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel type indicator switch assembly, which includes the instrument panel illumination control.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the bi-fuel option fail to comply with fmvss no. 101, "control location, identification, and illumination." the instrument panel lights in these vehicles are at full illumination levels and cannot be adjusted. The standard requires at least two levels of illumination.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Erratic fuel gauge
Summary
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 against the card as the level of fuel rises and falls.disruption of the electrical signal (such as caused by corrosion of the circuit card) will cause incorrect readings to register on the fuel gauge.gm reported in their response to odi dated january 13, 2003 that the primary cause of erratic fuel gauge operation is excess elemental sulfur in fuel.gm reported that abnormal levels of sulfur sporadica
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Summary
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, resulting in a reduced flow of fuel to the engine.gm has subsequently modified the strainers to reduce this restriction.analysis of the odi complaint database shows that despite these restrictions, the subject vehicles stall at a rate that is comparable to those of many peer vehicles.additionally, none of the relevant warranty repair rates exceed 1% at 36 months of exposure.one related crash involves a s
Erratic fuel gauge
Summary
There is no summary currently available
Questions about the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (69 complaints, typically around 59,500 miles); engine (58 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); brakes (45 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 27, 2004 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Chevrolet Cavalier?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Cavalier model year since 2000, with 315 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.