Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2003)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10112176February 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTING IN OCTOBER 2004, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BEGAN TURNING OFF ANYTIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WERE UNABLE TO CONDUCT ANY REPAIRS. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP STILL COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE THIRD TIME, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY MADE A "HIGHLY EDUCATED GUESS REPAIR." THE FOURTH AND LAST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MADE NO REPAIR ATTEMPT AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN UNLESS I AM ABLE TO BRING IT IN WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF. AT THIS POINT, I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A FLASHLIGHT IN THE CAR SO THAT I CAN SEE MY SPEED AND OTHER GAUGES WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE OFF. WHILE THEY DO NOT TURN OFF EVERY TIME I DRIVE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY ARE OFF QUITE FREQUENTLY. AT THE WORST, I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT THE LEAST, I ASSUME I WILL BE PULLED OVER AT SOME POINT FOR DRIVING WITH A FLASHLIGHT ON IN THE CAR. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE A 5-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND GM IS REQUIRED TO WARRANT ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS UNDER IT. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, I CAN TELL THAT GM HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE 2003-2004 CAVALIERS AND I FEEL THIS IS ONE MORE MANIFESTATION OF THAT MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109489February 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108999January 26, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERATIVE. IT FAILED TO DEFROST BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOWS, AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108785January 25, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
04 V 524 000/REAR LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLES: THE CONSUMER STATED, THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED THREE TIMES ON THE LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHTS SOCKET AND TWO TIMES ON THE RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS SOCKET AND THE BULBS CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE DEALER WAS STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105108January 19, 2005
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE CABLE WHICH CONTROLLED THE AIR FLOW FOR THE DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER BROKE. COULD NOT DEFROST FRONT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105037January 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, ALL THE LIGHTS CUT OFF INCLUDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THEY EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE GLITCH AND UNTIL THEY DO SHE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT IS. *JB THE THEFT SERVICE SHUTS DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE DEFROSTER OR HEATER IS ON THE CONSUMER SMELLS A BURNING SMELL. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105944January 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
REAR TURN SIGNAL ON 2003 FAILED FOR 5TH TIME IN 5 MONTHS. PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V524000. DEALER AND GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-222-1020 SAYS MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. MY VIN IS [XXX].*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105655January 3, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1/2/05-CAR WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT BEGAN TO LUNGE INTO TRAFFIC, CAR WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL WHERE IT CONTINUED TO LUNGE UNTIL A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, CAR IS IN SERVICE TODAY 1/3/05. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104890January 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I ALWAYS NOTICED ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER THAT THE LOW TRAC LIGHT WOULD PERIODICALLY COME ON WHEN I BRAKED. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A NICER VEHICLE THAN MY PREVIOUS ONE (AN OLD FORD ESCORT). I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (INTEGRITY CHEVROLET IN PARMA HEIGHTS, OH) FOR 2 RECALLS. WHEN THEY FINISHED DOING THE RECALL WORK, THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY FRONT BRAKES WERE LOW. I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNUSUAL SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 23,000 MILES. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I INQUIRED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT GETTING THE BRAKES REPAIRED. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS JUST PART OF THE "NORMAL MAINTENANCE" WORK AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NOT USUAL MAINTENANCE SINCE A PERSON SHOULD NOT NEED NEW BRAKES AFTER 23,000 MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO CHECK MY BRAKES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT NOT ONLY DID I NEED NEW BRAKES, BUT I ALSO NEEDED NEW ROTORS BECAUSE MINE WERE RUSTED. THIS TRIP TO THE LOCAL SERVICE CENTER COST ME $423.14. I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT IS ONLY 1 1/2 YEARS OLD! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES! THE SERVICE CENTER ATTENDANT HAD INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD NOTICED THIS WITH MANY OF THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS. THIS LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES AND ROTORS IS INDICATIVE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104754December 30, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS ARE GOING OUT COMPLETELY ON 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. OK, WHOM, HAS WHAT LEGISLATOR, IN, WHOM'S BACK POCKET? THERE WAS A RECALL BY CHEVROLET IN NOVEMBER, OF 2004- I AM BETTING COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY, OF COURSE. THIS RECALL, WAS, FOR TAILLIGHTS AND LIGHTBULB GREASE. RIGHT, SOMEBODY GOING TO GET KILLED IN THOSE VEHICLES, IF THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS ARE NOT CORRECTED. HERE IS A HINT, READ THIER TSB REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING PROBLEM. WHAT A LOAD THAT IS. I WILL TELL YOU WHY, I THINK THEY PUT THAT TSB OUT. IT WAS JUST SIMPLY TO COVER THIER OWN YOU KNOW WHAT. I WONDER HOW MANY FIRES, OR DEATHS HAVE OCCURED DUE TO THE LIGHT HEARTED APPROACH GM HAS TOWARDS THE LIGHTING PROBLEMS ON THE 2003 MODELS? DON'T YOU LOVE HUBEROUS. HAVE YOU GONE TO YOUR DEALER ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE LATELY. OH, CHECK OUT THE BRAKE ROTORS THERE IS STRESS AND HEAT FRACTURES AT LESS THAN THIRTY THOUSAND MILES. COME ON! ARE WE WAITING FOR 1000 WHEELS TO CATCH ON FIRE, OR JUST MY PREGNANT WIFE LOOSING CONTROL DUE THE SHIMMY. AH HECK, I'LL JUST GO BUY A AN OLD PINTO AND HAVE REAL EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT FULLY INSURED OF COURSE, FOR THE NEXT THREE LONG YEARS. DID I MENTION THE STEREO FACE BURNING ONES FINGERS, BUT THE DEALER SAYS, THAT WAS OK TOO. FORGET THE KICKBACKS AND DO YOUR JOBS. REMEMBER THE TAXPAYER AND PUBLIC SERVENT, NOT CORPORATION AND PUBLIC SERVENT. SLEEP WELL, I AM GLAD SOMEONE CAN. I GOT GO CHANGE SOME DIAPERS NOW. YEH, THREE KIDS; NONE OF THEM RIDE IN THAT DEATH TRAP.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104461December 24, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INFORMATION REGARDING GM RECALL 04083, REGARDING THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVING FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE FINALLY BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN: [XXX] IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. IS THERE ANY THING THAT I CAN DO SHORT OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR PARTS MYSELF?*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108948December 10, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT, STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
I OWN A NEW 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. HAD TO REPLACED 2 SPACERS, A STRUT MOUNT, SEVERAL STEERING PARTS AND PART OF THE REAR LIGHT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE CAN SLIGHTLY ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF AN OCCASIONAL POPPING IN THE STEERING IS NORMAL IN HER VEHICLE AFTER TESTING FOUR OF THE SAME MODELS. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102155December 4, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1) BRAKE FAILURE, WARPED ROTORS AND HUBS, LRO. 2) CRASH, REAR END COLLISION. PROPERTY DAMAGE. 3) GM REFUSED TO FIX 2003 CAVALIER ON 01-17-04 UNDER WARRANTY AND AS A RESULT A CRASH HAPPENED ON 02-28-04, A REAR END COLLISION DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE.CAUSE WAS DEFECTIVE FACTORY EQUIPMENT, WARPED ROTORS AND HUBS RESULTING IN VIOLENT JUDDER, SHUTTER, AND CHATTER, DUE TO A LATERAL BRAKE RUN OUT PROBLEMS.THIS CONDITION SHOWS UP THRU THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. IT'S A TOTAL OUT OF CONTROL CONDITION.THERE IS INDEED 2 TSB'S OUT ON THE LRO PROBLEM FROM GM, TSB 01-05-23-001A, BRAKE LATERAL RUNOUT,TSB 00-05-05-22-002B, BRAKES ROTOR SERVICE GUIDE ON 02-28-04 MY DAUGHTER AUDRA M GRIFFIN CRASHED INTO A 2001 FORD PICKUP DUE TO FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. MY DAUGHTERS STATEMENT WAS "DADDY THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK", THIS AFTER AN EXTREME NASTY GRAM (FAX) WAS SENT TO JESSICA WHITE GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE DANGEROUS CONDITION REGARDING MY FROM BRAKE SYSTEM. GM ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO FIX THIS UNSAFE CONDITION UNDER MY WARRANTY CONTRACT. THEY DID NOTHING THUS ENDANGERING ME AND MY FAMILY. FAST ACTION IS REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE AND GET THIS CAR FIXED PRONTO. SO FAR GM SEEMS CONTENT TO DO NOTHING. THEY NOW SEEM TO BE MORE INTERESTED IN AVOIDING LEGAL LIABILITY, THEN THEY ARE ABOUT MY SAFETY.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101723November 29, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK SPORADICALLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095422November 9, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT POWER WINDOW DID NOT GO UP. DEALER REMOVED PART OF THE DOOR IN ORDER TO RAISE THE WINDOW. POWER REGULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099463November 5, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT WHILE TURING, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR END COLLISION. THIS OCCURED DUE TO THE DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 04V524000 CONCERNING REAR LIGHT BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WA SNOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095433November 3, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHILE TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNALS THE TURN THEY FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BULB AND SOCKET. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILED, THERE WAS SHAKING IN THE DASH WHEN THE BLOWER WAS ON DUE TO THE A/C ACCUMULATOR. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10099030October 29, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO OUT . THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOR THE DEFECT AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND IT WAS STILL DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER IS CONSTANTLY STOPPED BY OTHER MOTORIST TO INFORM HIM THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094846October 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING CONSUMER HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN AND CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR A RIDE AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ASKED IF THE BRAKES WERE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY AND WAS ASSURED THAT THEY WERE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED THE NEXT DAY FOR REPAIRS SOMEONE ELSE TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER CHOSE NOT TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093964October 19, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
WHEN IN USE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL SOCKET. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT LIGHT TRIED NEW BULB BUT STILL WILL NOT LIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW SOCKET. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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