Problems · by component
1997 Chevrolet Cavalier service brakes, hydraulic problems
58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier cite service brakes, hydraulic, 11% of all 546 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
58
11% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING THE BRAKES, ALL THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE BRAKE LINES WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
“SOLD MY 1997 CHEV. CAVALIER TO A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL. HER DAD TOOK CAR FOR TEST DRIVE BEFORE CASH PURCHASE. HE WENT 200 FEET DOWN THE STREET THEN BACKED UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY. HE SAID BRAKE WARNING LITE CAME ON AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. WE SAW BRAKE FLUID POURING FROM UNDER CAR. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED AND BLEW OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO TUFFY AUTO CENTER AND THEY SPLICED NEW BRAKE LINES TO FIX. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT PLAIN STEEL LINES WERE ROUTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF CORROSIVE ELEMENTS. WE WERE ALL THANKFUL THAT THE GIRL DID NOT BUY THE CAR THEN GET INTO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THAT DAY. HOW MANY OTHER CAVALIERS ARE OUT THERE IN DANGEROUS CONDITION? I CAN NOT SEE HOW GM GOT AWAY WITH BRAKE AND GAS LINES INSTALLED IN SUCH A CHEAP AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS LOCATION. ALL THE PREVIOUS DESCRIPTION IS ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE PURCHASER AND TUFFY AUTO CENTER. [XXX] *TR”
“I HEARD OF A RECENT RECALL CONCERNING THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ON GM VEHICLES. IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY SON''S 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT BELOW 10 MILES PER HOUR, FOR NO REASON THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE AND BY-PASS THE SYSTEM TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. *NM”
“1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED.*MR THE REAR BRAKE LINES AND HOSES HAVE BEEN REPLCED THREE TIMES DUE TO RUST. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REOMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM”
“HEAD GASKET REPLACED @27000 MILES, FUEL PUMP @ 30000 AND AGAIN AT 96000 MILES. BRAKES REPLACED 2X A YEAR FOR 5 YEARS. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DOESN'T SEAL PROPERLY. FAN ONLY WORKS ON SPEED 3 OR 4. *NM”
“LTR FM JAMS M. CLARK (MD) RE THE DEFECTIVE 4L60 ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION W/OVERDRIVE IN HIS 1997 CHEVROLET FULL SIZE CONVERSION VAN, REPLY IN DUPLICATE ATTN DENISE NOOE/ANNAPOLIS OFC. *PH THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A FULL BRAKE REPLACEMENT PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. *JB (1997 CHEVROLET FULL SIZE CONVERSION VAN)”
Showing 6 of 58 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.