Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2003)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10680126January 31, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER, STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO FAIL, WHICH MADE ME WRECK INTO A DITCH. IT ALSO CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AND PREVENTED SEATBELTS FROM LOCKING INTO PLACE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE HIT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676476January 19, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I HAD BEEN READING ABOUT RECENT RECALLS WITH GM, ESPECIALLY IGNITION SWITCHES. I HAVE A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD IGNITION SWITCH. I FIRST NOTICED WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING, A DAY AFTER COMING HOME FROM WORK. GOOD THING IT HAPPENED THEN BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED OFF SITE. I WENT TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENED EXCEPT WIPERS AND RADIO DID NOT WORK AS WELL WHICH I THOUGHT WAS STRANGE. FINALLY THE RADIO AT LEAST CAME ON AT SOME POINT, BUT CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. AFTER IT WAS FIXED THEY SAID THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF I HAD LOOKED FOR THE RECALL ON IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE BUT DID NOT FIND IT. I KNOW MY CAR IS OLDER, HOWEVER OF ALL THE CARS I EVER OWNED AND I HAD MANY, I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IGNITION SWITCHES! I THINK I HAD ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE SWITCHES AND WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. UNFORTUNATELY I PROBABLY CAN'T GO BACK TO GET THE PHYSICAL IGNITION SWITCH AT THIS POINT, TOO LATE. I HAVE THE PROPER PAPERWORK FOR IT HOWEVER. ALSO ON ANOTHER NOTE, MY REAR DRIVER SIDE SIGNAL KEEPS GOING OUT, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I REPLACE IT. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING GM SHOULD LOOK INTO AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663613December 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES MALFUNCTION PERIODICALLY AND LOCK INTO ONE POSITION OR DON'T WORK AT ALL. CANT TELL WHAT YOUR SPEED IS , TEMP IS, RPM ETC! THIS I THINK IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. I SEE THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE AS I HAVE INVESTIGATED IT ON LINE. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT'S HAPPENING... HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=RZILY3GXEXA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609903July 11, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,914 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,914.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605667June 24, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, IT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598217June 19, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 CHEVROLET COBALT & 2003 CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BOTH VEHICLES POWER STEERING AND CUTTING OFF PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAVALIER, CUT OFF, JUST LIKE THE COBALT. HOWEVER, THE COBALT WAS RECALLED. THE CAVALIER CUT OFF WEEKLY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED DURING A RECALL. IT WAS REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 68,000. *JB UPDATED 08/07/14 *JB UPDATED 09/24/14. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10599136June 18, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE
MY SON WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND AS HE DESCRIBES IT, EVERYTHING BUT THE RADIO WENT DEAD ALL BY ITSELF (THE ENGINE DIED AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES). OBVIOUSLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE CURRENT RECALLS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE CAR ISN'T ON THE LIST. I'VE COMPLAINED TO CHEVY AND AM GETTING THE RUNAROUND BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THEIR "CONSUMER SUPPORT TEAM" (WE'VE ASSIGNED YOU A SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER BUT I AM TO WAIT UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEN BRING IT IN "SO WE COULD START REVIEWING ON YOUR CASE"). I TOOK IT TO MY OWN MECHANIC AND HE RAN A BUNCH OF TESTS BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO DIE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10599171June 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY SEIZED IN THE IGNITION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 08/19/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588817May 16, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WENT TO START CAR TO GO TO STORE AND IT WOULD NOT START. LUCKILY IT WAS AT HOME WHEN IT DECIDED TO STOP WORKING. TOWED TO GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT FIXED THE NO START ISSUE. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS THE PROCESS TO START A RECALL INVESTIGATION OR I WOULD HAVE SAID LONG AGO. THERE HAS BEEN LOTS OF RECALLS LATELY ON GM AND THIS SAME CAVALIER DECIDED NOT TO START TWICE AFTER THE FUEL PUMP, ONCE IN 2011 WAS THE TIMING CHAIN THEN AGAIN DECEMBER 2012 THAT I STILL HAVE TO DIAGNOSE WHICH LED ME TO RESEARCH RECALLS. EACH TIME THE CAR STOPPED WORKING LUCKILY IT WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY EACH AND EVERY TIME. THE TIMING CHAIN THERE WAS SOME WARNING, IT WOULD SOMETIMES BUCK, OTHER TIMES IT WAS FUSSY ON STARTING AND IT WOULD STALL AT STOP LIGHTS. I WILL REPORT A NEW ISSUE IF I CAN FIND OUT THE 3RD UNKNOWN 2012 ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587710May 12, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLUSTER DEFECT: PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN DECEMBER OF 2002. JUST AFTER 5 YEARS AND APPROXIMATELY 55,000 MILES, WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DURING SNOWFALL WHILE THE SPEEDOMETER STATED WE WERE TRAVELING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT READING CORRECTLY UNTIL WE GOT TO A CORNER AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED WE WERE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN WE WERE FLYING AT ATLEAST 50 MPH WHICH INDICATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ABOUT 30 MPH OFF. THEN THE TACHOMETER WOULD STOP WORKING, GET STUCK, OR NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. I THEN BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE GAUGES, THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WOULD GO BACKWARDS ON TOP OF THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO STOP WORKING THEN ALL GAUGES WOULD MALFUNCTION, THEN THEY WOULD STOP WORKING COMPLETELY. I TOOK IT INTO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID IT'S WORKING FINE, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN THE GAUGES CONTINUE TO GO HAYWIRE CHEVY STATED WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A COMPLAINT AND I TOLD THEM TO LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. CURRENTLY NONE OF MY GAUGES ARE WORKING AND AM HAVING TO USE A GPS TO NAVIGATE SPEED AND FILL MY VEHICLE UP EVERY 4 DAYS BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE CAR IS ON EMPTY. IT IS HIGH TIME SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS. CHEVY RECALLED A BUNCH OF OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT THE CARS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. OR DOES IT TAKE A DEATH OR MANY MORE TO GET SOMEONE'S ATTENTION THAT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT FURTHER. THERE ARE TOO MANY OF US OUT THERE THAT ARE DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM AND ARE JUST KEEPING QUIET ABOUT IT. THIS PROBLEM DEFINITELY WARRANTS A RECALL AND FAST. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577775April 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ERRATIC INSTRUMENT PANEL..SOMETIMES AFTER TURNING IGNITION KEY ON ALL PANEL LIGHTS STAY ON (BEYOND NORMAL)AND ALL GAUGES GO OFF..SOMETIMES OK WHEN STARTING BUT SOME LIGHTS COME ON (AIR BAG, SERVICE ENG, ABS GAS GAUGE, ETC) AFTER DRIVING ..SOMETIMES ALL INSTR GAUGES GO OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER...THEY SOMETIMES COME BACK ON AND SOMETIMES NOT...I ENTERED MY MAKE AND YEAR ON GOOGLE TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT MANY DO..INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT WHILE RESEARCHING ON GOOGLE I FOUND OUT CHEV TRUCKS IN YEAR 2003 HAD A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTROLS BUT THE AUTOS WERE NOT RECALLED.. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD SINCE I SOMETIMES HAVE TO DRIVE WITH NO SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE AND AN AIRBAG LIGHT THAT STAYS ON. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME AND HAVE TO RESORT TO ONLY SHORT TRIPS (GROCERY STORE, DR APPTS, ETC) I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THIS 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER..ESP WHEN THEY HAVE RECALLED THE SAME YR AND MAKE TRUCKS FOR FAULTY INSTR PANELS.. I FEEL THIS FAULTY INSTR PANEL IS PLACING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION EACH TIME I GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND NEEDLESS TO SAY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS AUTO AT ALL... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573211March 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
ON OR ABOUT MARCH 8TH, 2014, I NOTICED THAT HOLES HAD APPEARED ON THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE BOTTOM AND WHEN I WENT TO FURTHER EXAM THE HOLE, I THEN REALIZED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE SHEET METAL ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE IS COMING OFF IN SHEETS AND THE HOLE HAS BECOME MUCH LARGER IN SIZE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT PRETTY STRONGLY. THE INSIDE FLOOR OF THE CAR FEELS SQUISHY LIKE THE FLOOR IS GOING TO FALL OUT. HIGHER SPEEDS SEEM TO MAKE MORE SHEET METAL FALL OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572820March 17, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
AFTER I DRIVE CAR FOR 5 THEN SYSTEM SECURITY LIGHT COMES, AND MANY OTHER LIGHTS COME ON DASH BOARD AND ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO. PEPBOYS SAYS IT IS BAD BCM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568096March 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN
WHEN SHIFTING AUTO TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE GEAR FROM PARK THE CLIP THAT HOLDS THE SHIFT CABLE ONTO THE SHIFT LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT ENTIRE SHIFT CABLE MUST BE PURCHASED TO GET THE SMALL CLIP THAT HOLDS CABLE END TO TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER. I WENT TO A LOCAL JUNK YARD TO FIND THIS SMALL CLIP (PART) AND WAS ASTONISHED TO FIND THAT EVERY AUTO OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE HAD THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. ALL OF THESE AUTOS HAS THE CABLE WIRED TO THE SHIFT LEVER. SOME USED A WIRE TIE TO SECURE THE LEVER TO CABLE. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO RESPONDED TO TOW MY VEHICLE SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM "ALL THE TIME". WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER THEY SAID THEY WERE OUT OF STOCK FOR THIS CABLE AND CLIP AND HAD TO ORDER IT. THIS MAY ALSO INDICATE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD. IF THIS SHIFT CABLE WERE TO FALL OFF WHILE TRYING TO MANUALLY SHIFT THE AUTO TRANSMISSION, WELL, I AM SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE RESULTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567491March 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL COMPLETELY WENT HAY WIRE AND THE SPEED WOULD INCREASE AND DECREASE. EVERYTHING WAS FLASHING TO THE POINT IT WAS ACTUALLY SCARY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT STILLED CONTINUED. I FINALLY DECIDED TO CONTINUE HOME AND AFTER ABOUT 6 MILES IT FINALLY JUST STOPPED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT SO MANY MORE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING HAPPENING BUT SOME HAVE HAD THEIR CAR ACTUALLY START ON FIRE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY RECALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY CONSIDERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555936December 13, 2013
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND CAR SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD NOT. WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD CARS HONKING CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10516215June 11, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED BRAKE LINES, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515919June 9, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
COASTING DOWN HILL ON A DIRT ROAD, GOT TO THE BOTTOM AND ENGINE HAD DIED. ROLLED TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO A MECHANIC, REPLACED FUEL PUMP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE AND EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. THE LAST FUEL PUMP ONLY LASTED 3 MONTHS AND LIKE THE TWO PREVIOUS PUMPS, IT WAS BRAND NEW!! THIS IS 3 BAD FUEL PUMPS IN A YEAR AND MY WALLET CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THIS UP. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513599May 26, 2013
STEERING
DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE SIDE PLAY. MADE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL MECHANIC (NON-DEALER) STEERING HOUSING TAKEN OFF AND FOUND ONE OF TWO PINS IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE TILT MECHANISM HALF WAY OUT OF HOUSING. MECHANIC REINSERTED PIN AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTAKE PIN IN HOUSING. EXPERIENCED NO SIDE PLAY AFTER REPAIR FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK AND PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513050May 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING OUR CAR. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT A MILE. THEN THE CAR STALLED. MY FRIEND REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN HE HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, SO HE PLACED IT IN NEUTRAL, STEERED AND SIGNALED UNTIL HE GOT US AND THE CAR SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. AFTER, THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERS SHOP THE MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP THAT HAD FAILED TO WORK. THEREFORE, A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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