1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Steering Problems
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 84,005 miles. The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (35% of reports).
- 83steering complaints
- 84,005median miles at failure
- 14mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 10%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.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 29 of 83 complaints (35%)
- Making turn: mentioned in 12 of 83 complaints (14%)
- Steering gear: mentioned in 8 of 83 complaints (10%)
- Wheel locked: mentioned in 5 of 83 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 83 complaints, 14 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 10 an injury.
Chevrolet Cavalier steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 8 | 3% | 45,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 16 | 5% | 130,012 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 19 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 16 | 8% | 72,810 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 26 | 11% | 37,000 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 28 | 9% | 40,578 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 31 | 13% | 62,500 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 54 | 16% | 78,484 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 83 | 15% | 84,005 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 49 | 10% | 52,000 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 19 | 7% | 179,850 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:rack and pinion
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles and mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Risk: If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Fix: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. 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, 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. The contact also stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was repaired. The contact was not…
1997 chevy cavalier steering column and dashboard caught on fire on march 10, 2011. Car had no mechanical or electrical issues prior to the fire. Car was in excellent working condition. Car had been parked for approximately one hour after being used for a short drive. The cavalier was parked…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet cavalier. The contact was driving 10 mph when the steering wheel became resistant and locked. Without steering capability, the contact was unable to control the vehicle and crashed into a building. The contact sustained head injuries and a police report was…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Chevrolet Cavaliers have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 83 owner complaints about steering for the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier (15% 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 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 84,005 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 29 of 83 complaints, followed by “making turn” (12).
Other 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
See all 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier problems or steering problems across all Cavalier years.