Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2003)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10357303September 24, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO GO OUT. IT IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING. IT HAS GONE OUT ONCE BEFORE AND COST ME 800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE. I WISH I KNEW ABOUT HOW FREQUENT THIS HAPPENS WITH THIS CAR BEFORE PURCHASING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357087September 22, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, VISIBILITY, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2003 CAVALIER, THE DEFROSTER KNOB CABLE HAS GONE BAD 2X'S BEFORE IT IS GONE AGAIN, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WENT LAST YEAR, LAST MONTH THE FUEL PUMP WENT, THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR IS GOING, THE SPEEDOMETER IS MESSED UP ALONG WITH THE TACK, IT STICKS. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR JUST TURNED 17, THE SPEEDOMETER SAID SHE WAS GOING 105, WHEN SHE SHUTS THE CAR OFF IT SAYS SHE'S STILL DOING 35, AT TIMES THE CAR WONT START, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY, THIS IS BS, THERE IS ONLY 72000 MILES ON IT, GM NEEDS TO START FIXING THESE PROBLEMS, SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355992September 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IT WAS THE GAS GAUGE THAT STOPPED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I JUST LEARNED TO LIVE IT. THEN RECENTLY MY SPEEDOMETER AND RPM METER STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PRICE ESTIMATES DONE AND NONE HAVE BEEN UNDER $500 AND I JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT DONE WHILE I'M CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED. I HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER CASES OF FAULTY INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON GM MODELS INCLUDING THE CAVALIER. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT SAFE AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S ILLEGAL TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SPEEDOMETER BUT STILL AFTER YEARS OF COMPLAINTS TO GM OF FAULTY INSTRUMENT PANELS THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355046September 12, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP BROKE AT 70,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353119August 31, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND I HAD TO COAST TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351888August 26, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER JUST STARTED LOSING POWER AND THEN DIED ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO WAIT 1 HR. FOR AAA TO COME TO TOW IN 111 DEGREE HEAT. TURNS OUT TO BE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348166August 9, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC WAS REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE REGARDING HIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK SINCE A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345769July 27, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND STALLED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. IT SEEMS THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND CAR SEEMS TO BE RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343331July 14, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MY DAUGHTERS 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SUDDENLY DIED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WARNING. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE FUEL PUMP IS BAD. IT ONLY HAS 63,000 MILES ON IT. THE REPAIR COST ME $600. I'M FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL AND YEAR. I'VE NEVER IN MY LIFETIME OWNING NUMEROUS CARS HAD A FUEL PUMP FAIL. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY DAUGHTER WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI WHEN HER CAR DIED. THIS NEEDS TO BE A FACTORY RECALL . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339834June 24, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER- AT 64,000 MILES FUEL PUMP DIED WHILE PARKED AT A STORE UPON RESTART $700.00 REPLACEMENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES FRONT CLUNKING NOISE STARTED, DEALER COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM, NOW AT 76,000 MILES, HAVING FRONT UPPER STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED. FOUND ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SAME ISSUES. I DETERMINED CAUSE OF FRONT CLUNK ON MY OWN. ALSO, WAS IN COLLISION THAT INVOLVED FRONT DRIVER SIDE, DOWN DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DON'T KNOW IF THEY SHOULD HAVE. NOONE WAS HURT, WAS SLOW SPEED CRASH. STILL CANNOT BELIEVE NO RECALL ON FUEL PUMP OR FRONT SUSPENSION. APPARENTLY GM DOESN'T WANT TO FOOT THE 700.00 BILL FOR THE FUEL PUMP DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339805June 23, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ABS, TRAC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS STAY ON. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS BUT SINCE IT AFFECTS BRAKE OPERATION THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334438June 3, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10333929May 31, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10333893May 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP FAILURE - CAR STALLS JUST INSIDE A PARKING LOT OF A LARGE SHOPPING AREA. DRIVER HAS TO HAVE HELP MOVING THE 2003 CAVALIER INTO A PARKING SPOT UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COMES TO MOVE THE CAR TO THE GARAGE FOR REPAIRS. THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AT 72,441 MILES WITHOUT ANY WARNING; JUST A STALL AND THEN COMPLETELY DEAD. IT'S SAID THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS PRISTINE AND ALWAYS SERVICED AT OR BEFORE 3000 MILE INTERVALS. THERE IS NO REASON THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE REPAIR COST OVER $700. IT'S GOOD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A POSSIBLE FATALITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331221May 19, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS STOPPED WORKING. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2005 AND IN ABOUT 2006 IT STARTED ACTING UP. AT FIRST THE GAUGES WOULD FLICKER IN AND OUT ONE AT A TIME SOMETIMES READING INCORRECT SPEEDS OR FUEL LEVEL AND SOMETIME NOT WORKING AT ALL. THEY WOULD SOMETIMES SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY THE TEMPERATURE AND OTHER TIMES NOT. I TOOK IT IN AND THE MECHANIC FIDGETED WITH THE FUSES AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN AND HE SAID THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. SO EACH TIME THEY ACTED UP I WOULD ADJUST THE FUSES & THEY WOULD START WORKING AGAIN UNTIL EVEN THAT DIDN'T WORK. SO I WENT TO BUY NEW FUSES AND THE EMPLOYEE AT THE PART STORE CHECKED MY FUSES AND SAID THEY WERE WORKING FINE. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED. IN ABOUT 2008 OR 2009 I HAD SOME OTHER WORK DONE ON THE CAR AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD ACTUALLY SEEN OTHER CAVALIERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THE PANEL NEEDED REPLACED. MY DAD WANTS TO FIX MY CAR BUT WE ARE WAITING TO AFFORD IT AND NOT SURE IF THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND I AM WONDERING WHY THERE ISN'T A SAFETY RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY CHARACTERISTICALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY CAVALIER IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AND PAY FOR WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. IT IS NOT ONLY MONETARILY INCONVENIENT BUT IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. YOU ARE UNABLE TO KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING, OR HOW MUCH FUEL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE. THERE IS A REASON WE HAVE THOSE GAUGES AND IT ISN'T SIMPLY TO LOOK PRETTY. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOMEONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK INTO THIS AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330812May 17, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, DIED WHILE DRIVING LOST POWER STEERING AND ALMOST DROVE INTO DITCH BECAUSE I COULDN'T EASILY TURN STEERING WHEEL! I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER INCIDENT. STARTER WILL TURN THE ENGINE OVER BUT WILL NOT START... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330309May 13, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! SHE ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AFTER THE MOTOR QUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329862May 11, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
IN RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE07033 I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER ON 95 SOUTH BOUND, WHEN THE TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED A LITTLE BIT. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE DRIVING, HOWEVER NOTICED THE VEHICLE STALLING EVEN MORE. I WAS IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLACE IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, AND KNEW I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. MY CAR SHUT OFF AS I WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY VEHICLES GOING 60-70 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD - IN A POSITION WHERE I WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO EXIT MY VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $417. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB AND FIND IT TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON. TO SAY THAT THIS ISN'T A BIG PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS UNFAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327343April 25, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER, AT 77,000 MILES, QUIT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WAS LUCKY TO BE ON A LOW TRAFFIC STREET. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED HOME AND GETTING ON LINE, I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE. EVERYONE COMPLAINED THAT THEIR FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. AFTER PURCHASING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND DOING THE WORK MYSELF (DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS) THE CAR RAN FINE. WHEN WILL THE RECALL BEGIN, AFTER SOMEONE DIES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325612April 14, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I LOOKED AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND IT WAS NOT MOVING ABOVE 35 MILES PER HOUR. I PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT GO TO ZERO; IT STAYED AT 35 MILES PER HOUR. I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND ON, AND THE SPEEDOMETER DECREASED TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER TURNING MY CAR OFF AND ON SIX TO SEVEN MORE TIMES, THE SPEEDOMETER FINALLY WENT BACK TO ZERO. AFTER THAT, I BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN. THE SPEEDOMETER WORKED FINE. THE NEXT DAY, THE SPEEDOMETER GOT STUCK AT 50 MILES PER HOUR. WITHOUT PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE CAR OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN WORKING AGAIN, HOWEVER, IT SHOWED I WAS DRIVING AT 100 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50-55 MILES PER HOUR. THIS HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. WHEN IT IS COLD, THIS TENDS TO HAPPEN LESS FREQUENTLY, MAYBE ONCE A MONTH. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO OR THREE MECHANICS AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS. THE COMPUTER SAYS THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM, WHEN FIRST NOTICED, COULD HAVE CREATED A SERIOUS HAZARD IF THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 55 MILES PER HOUR, AND THE DRIVER EXITED TO A CITY ROAD AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER WOULD HIT THEIR BRAKES, THINKING THEY WERE DRIVING FAST, POSSIBLY CAUSING A COLLISION. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO TELL THE EXACT SPEED THAT YOU ARE DRIVING. GENERAL MOTORS WAS CALLED THE DAY OF THE PROBLEM AND A REPORT REGARDING THE PROBLEM WAS CREATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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