1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 93,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (22% of reports).
- 107electrical system complaints
- 93,500median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 20%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 24 of 107 complaints (22%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 9 of 107 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 18 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 107 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 16 a fire, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 211 | 74% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 185 | 56% | 54,100 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 106 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 35 | 18% | 64,416 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 56 | 23% | 76,305 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 69 | 22% | 59,700 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 47 | 20% | 57,107 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 66 | 19% | 78,484 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 107 | 20% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 100 | 20% | 60,714 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 59 | 22% | 89,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. 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 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, buick at 1-800-521-7300, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Car radiator fan won't kick on cause car to get very dangerously hot causing car to become a bomb
While driving my horn stopped working without any kind of indicator!! 3 time this has occurred while driving !! Major safety issue! Was unable warn car backing out and had to swerve to avoid accident! Replaced fuse 3 times!! Someone may die as a result of this malfunction!! Never received any kind…
The safety device light came on. It won't go off, can't start my car. *js
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Chevrolet Cavaliers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 107 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier (20% of the 540 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 93,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 24 of 107 complaints, followed by “caught fire” (9).
Other 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems or electrical system problems across all Cavalier years.