1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Steering:rack And Pinion Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING:RACK AND PINION · data through 07/14/2026

36Steering:rack And Pinion complaints

6.7%Of all 540 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering:rack and pinion ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE47 · 8.7%

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL44 · 8.1%

STEERING:RACK AND PINION36 · 6.7%

AIR BAGS32 · 5.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH32 · 5.9%

Share of the 540 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier overview page.

What owners report

“TEETH INSIDE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ARE STRIPPED OUT . WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED, THE STEERING WHEEL POPS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL…”NHTSA complaint 819159 — filed 12/19/1997

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering:rack And Pinion complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier have steering:rack and pinion problems?

Steering:rack And Pinion is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier: 36 of 540 complaints on file (6.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier have in total?

540 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 70 involved a crash, 25 involved a fire, 78 reported injuries, and 5 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering:rack and pinion category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING:RACK AND PINION category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.