1996 Toyota Cavalier 2.4Z review from Australia and New Zealand

ABS Speed sensors failed twice (on different wheels) at around 100,000 and again at 110,000Kms.

Drivers side power window motor failed on 3 different occasions throughout my life of the car - back driver power window just failed at 123,000Kms.

Failed Warranty of Fitness at 90,000Kms because of Front Windshield delamination - had to replace it - was told that this "air in the seal" of the windscreen is a common fault of Cavs.

Major Overheating problem at 120,000Kms, replaced thermostat, cleaned radiator, replaced hoses etc and it still runs hot, may have to replace water pump as well now.

Coil housings failed at 115,000Kms needed to be replaced.

A/C Fan motor gear broke at 95,000Kms making a/c only work on super high, had to replace gears for the fan.

Mysterious undiagnosable rattle in rear - possibly struts? Didn't want to pay to replace them and have it not be the problem as they still seemed to work fine.

Alternator failed at 122,500Kms - replaced with a second-hand one as they were expensive to source new.

Pop-open Gas tank flap won't open when you pull the switch by the driver's seat (failed at 110,000Kms)

Little cosmetic things on dashboard squeak.

Dealer Paint job flaked badly at 70,000Kms (got dealer to pay for proper respray).

That's about all I think...??? (as if it weren't enough!!)

I put this in the Toyota section (i know it's a Chevy Cav) but I thought that it was possible that the Toyota assembly in Japan or the Right-hand drive batches may have different reliability in Aus/NZ??

This was a 1 owner import from Japan to NZ. I am the 2nd owner and have had the car since 59,000Kms.

I have had it about 5.5 years. Generally speaking it has been a somewhat reliable car (up and until now) and hasn't cost too much early on. I liked its drivability, pickup and safety features. It felt like a good American car with good pickup and gas mileage (to me an American in NZ who found other cars in NZ as smaller and under-powered.)

I thought it was good value for the money, BUT just recently all the people who had been telling me this car was a lemon that I had been denying for 4.5yrs became right. So many things started to go wrong in the past year and certain things have begun to repeat (like the ABS speed sensors failing and the @##@!ing power windows which are pricey to replace).

I have been maintaining this car well with regular services and the like and have been told by a cavalier expert repairer that my car is in better condition for its age than most and that what I am experiencing with this landfall of problems all at the same time after ~110,000Kms is what other cav owners normally experience sooner.

On a positive note, the interior seats have worn little and the car seems newish on the inside.

I'd like to sell or trade it in, but know I won't get much now as they have such a bad name.

I don't know how other years of this car are, but even though there are many things performance-wise and engine wise how the car has run that I like, all these little things have added up to annoy the heck out of me and I couldn't possibly own another one.

I've spent ~$2,000 NZ on fixing this car in the last year and don't want to put another dime in it despite the fact that it **looks like** it should have several more years in it.