Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2003)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10218996February 24, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH 88,505 MILES BEGAN LOSING SPEED/ACCELERATION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE ENGINE STOPPED. DRIVER TURNED OFF IGNITION AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA07015. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218994February 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I HAVE A 2003 CHEV CAVALIER. OWNED IT FROM THE TIME IT HAD 4 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING QUITE CORRECTLY. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY UNTIL WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 20MPH. OVER TIME I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WILL READ AT 60MPH AT A DEAD STAND STILL. BUT THAT IS NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, IT STILL GOT WORSE. AT A STAND STILL IT WOULD READ 100MPH+ AND WHEN MOVING IT WOULD GO BACK OVER AND START AT 0MPH. RIDICULOUS!!! I HAVE RECEIVED TWO TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL SOMETIMES READ 260 DEGREES. I'VE CHECKED THE WATER AND ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CAUSING MY TEMP TO READ EXCESSIVELY HIGH AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD CLUSTER IS MESSED UP. SOMETIMES MY FUEL GAUGES WON'T EVEN READ CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM HAS JUST GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT CAN COST AS MUCH AS $1,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10218784February 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218011February 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT ARE GIVING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AND THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE-YEARS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO US THEN WAS ABOUT $500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218012February 14, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
PLEASE ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10218011, INVOLVING THE SECOND INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND GAVE ERRONEOUS READINGS. THIS IS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS LISTED ABOVE THAT OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THAT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $500. I DID NOT KEEP ALL THE PAPERWORK, BUT I SUPPOSE THAT THE JACK SCHMITT CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THAT DATA. THE "INCIDENT DATE" LISTED IS AN ESTIMATE, I DO NOT RECALL THE DATE OR YEAR EXACTLY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN 2006. MILEAGE AT THE TIME IS UNKNOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218014February 14, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE TRACTION-CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE "SERVICE," "ABS," AND "LOW TRAC" LIGHT. THESE TYPICALLY COME ON SOON AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED OR THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218016February 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF UNBURNED GASOLINE GOING INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN THE COIL FAILED. THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILED AND TWO CYLINDERS STOPPED FIRING. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT ONE-MILE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AFTER THE FAILURE (WHICH HAPPENED SUDDENLY). THE COIL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $400. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS INDICATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED. THE CAR CANNOT HAVE ITS REGISTRATION RENEWED WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $500 TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217939February 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON IT. LAST NIGHT, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH GROCERIES IN MY CAR AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VERY REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THIS MORNING THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $700. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I CAME ACROSS A MESSAGE BOARD WHERE OVER 330 POSTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I'M HAVING. THE WEBSITE ADDRESS IS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-CAVALIER/TVINIC5TFU5SFSI5H ALSO, THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT HIS SHOP REPAIRS APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FUEL PUMPS ON CHEVROLET CAVALIERS EACH WEEK. HE STATED THAT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE WHEN THEY COME FROM THE MANUFACTURER, SO WHEN THEY GET BETWEEN 60,000-80,000 MILES ON THEM, THEY FAIL WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217983February 13, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED IN MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AT 80,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217882February 12, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLAMPS HAVE A PLASTIC COVER THAT HAS "FOGGED" REDUCING VISIBILITY. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER 1,500 ARE ON ORDER TO DATE, 2-11-2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217647February 11, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FOR THE PAST YEAR MY VEHICLE HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC WHILE RUNNING GOING TO 0 RPM BUT RESTARTING. THE I FOUND IS EFFECTING ALL 2003 CAVILIERS , IT WAS MY FUEL PUMP. I AM AT A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BECAUSE I HAD TO GET FIXED AND COULD NOT SHOP AROUND. I HAD TO SPEND OVER 600.00 AND I COULD NOT AFFIORD TO EVERYTHING THAT RECOMENDED DONE . THE CAR IS NOT EVEN PAID OFF, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THE CARS SHOULD HAVE THERECALL. I WAS ON INTERSTATE 95 WHERE SPEED LIMIT IS 70 MILES PER HOUR IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I WAS NOT KILLED BY A TRUCK THIS IS A TRUCKING ROUTE IN FLORIDA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IT IS SO DANGEROUS AND IT IS HAPPENING WITH ALL CAVALIERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217583February 10, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I BOUGHT A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON IT. AT FIRST I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE CAVALIERS SO I GOOGLED IT AND IT TURNS OUT THERE WERE ALMOST 400 COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THERE FUEL PUMPS GO OUT ON THEIR 2003 CAVALIERS AT LOW MILEAGE, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES ON GOOGLE. IM SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE! AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE AREN'T ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WITH AS MANY CASES AS THERE ARE THAN IT WOULD BE A DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE AVERAGE PRICE TO REPAIR THE FUEL PUMP IS AROUND $700 AND I REALLY CANT AFFORD THAT MUCH. ANY KIND OF HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217446February 8, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY CHEVY CAVALIER 2003 JUST STOPPED ON ME WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. GOT TO GO TO WORK AND CAR WOULD NOT START. IT HAS 45, 000 MILES AND ONLY USE IT FOR WORK COMMUTE WHICH IS 1 MILE ROUND TRIP. I HAVE HAD OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. WHEN MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT--HE SAID NOT ANOTHER ONE! COME TO FIND OUT THAT FUEL INJECTION/PUMP FAILURE FOR THESE CARS IS NOTORIOUS. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MY CAR WAS THE SEVENTH IN THE LAST 8 MONTH. SAME MO--NO INDICATION OF PROBLEMS AND SUDDENLY YOUR CAR JUST STOPS! REGARDLESS OF WEAR AND TEAR OR CAR MILEAGE. SO I GUESS I WAS LUCKY--I WAS NOT DRIVING IN TRAFFIC WHEN THIS OCCURRED. AND MECHANIC CUT ME A BREAK AT $700. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! AND YOU WONDER WHY THE GERMAN, JAPANESE CARS ARE OUT SELLING GOOD OLE USA. THIS WAS MY FIRST PURCHASE OF AMERICAN CAR, AND UNFORTUNATELY I WISH I HAD INSTEAD BOUGHT ANOTHER HONDA, OR MAZDA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216543January 30, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP. WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE TOPIC I FOUND THAT OVER 300 OTHERS, HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. I FEEL THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING WITH THIS MODEL 2003 IN PARTICULAR THAT CHEVY SHOULD LOOK INTO WHAT IS CAUSING THIS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216267January 28, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, AND EARLIER THIS MORNING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO CRANK AFTER I WAS ABLE TO ROLL IT INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER SOME TROUBLE SHOOTING, I WAS ABLE TO NARROW IT DOWN TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT COMING ON WHEN THE IGINITION WAS TURNED ON. I CAUGHT A RIDE BACK TO MY HOUSE AND BEGAN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH AND NOTICED THIS WAS A COMMON TRAIT FOR THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THAT IS FUEL PUMP FAILURE AROUND 60,000+ MILES. MY CAVALIER HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 64,000 MILES ON IT. MY CAR'S FAILURE WAS PERFECTLY DESCRIBED IN THE MANY FORUMS I READ OVER. THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO CHECK FOR ANY OTHER RECALLS ON THIS YEAR CAR. I NOTICED THAT THE NHTSA #PE07033 AND THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS #EA07-015 PERTAINED DIRECTLY TO MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216331January 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE 4 TIMES IN THIS CAR. IT FAILS SUCH THAT THE ENGINE IN ONLY RUNNING ON 2 CYLINDERS. TESTING HAS SHOWN THE COIL PACKS ARE OK AND THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ICM COMPUTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216051January 25, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
NO START/NON-START SITUATION VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER FUEL PUMP FAILURE DIAGNOSED. VEHICLE FIXED NEXT DAY AT COST TO OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215866January 24, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215357January 18, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER UNEXPECTED FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 84,000 MILES. TURNED IGNITION OFF CAR AFTER DRIVING 50 MILES, TRIED TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART. FUEL PUMP WOULD NOT RUN, CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215198January 17, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER INTO A GAS STATION WHEN MY ENGINE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DIED CAUSING A VEHICLE BEHIND ME TO ALMOST REAR-END ME. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS AFTER A MANY TRIES. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY LOCAL GARAGE AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. MY CAR HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES THEN (THIS WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER). TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $415.95. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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