Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2003)

678 consumer complaints on file.

#10429628October 12, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AT APPROX. 67K MY FUEL PUMP FAILED. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A NEW FUEL PUMP, ADHERING TO THE MANUFACTURERS INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS. LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER THE NEW PUMP FAILED. THE HAS BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM NOW FOR AT LEAST 10 FUEL PUMPS. THIS INSTALLATION RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE NOT CHANGED AND I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT POWERS THE PUMP CHECKED OUT AS WELL. IN EACH CONDITION IT WAS A NO START "FAILURE", LEAVING ME STRANDED IN EACH CASE AND COSTING ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN TOWING FEES THAT ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. EVEN THOUGH THE AUTO PARTS STORES HAVE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO HONOR THE WARRANTY MOST TIMES I HAVE STILL HAD TO PAY FOR AT LEAST 5 OF THE 10 FUEL PUMPS. THAT'S A 1 TO 1 RATIO. I HAVE ALSO READ ABOUT THE CONDITION WITH BRUSHES IN THE MOTOR WEARING OUT. SOME OF THESE PUMPS HAVE PROVIDED 30K MILES OR MORE AND OTHERS NOT 3K MI. THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND I FOR ONE WILL NOT BE SHOPPING FOR ANOTHER CHEVY UNTIL THIS PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED AND RESOLVED. I AM RESEARCHING MY PURCHASES/EXCHANGES TO VERIFY THE DATES AND WILL REGISTER EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425854September 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 6 AM ON A DECEMBER MORNING IN 2010 WHEN THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER I WAS DRIVING CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING LOT TO BE TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD WENT OUT AND IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY $450 TO FIX. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS ROUGHLY AROUND 87,000 MILES. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424123September 7, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
SPEEDOMETER GOES HAYWIRE SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. OTHER GAUGES (FUEL, TEMP) ALSO ERRATIC. SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY GM VEHICLES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423826September 6, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I TURNED IT OFF. I BANGED ON THE GAS TANK WITH A HAMMER, WHILE A COWORKER CRANKED THE ENGINE OVER AND THE FUEL PUMPED KICKED IN. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR STARTING; HOWEVER I PLAYED IT SAFE AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. I REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. STILL UNFORTUNATE THAT THE FUEL PUMP BARELY LASTED 100K. I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD GIVE YOU A FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE IF THERE IS A FAILURE WITHIN THE FIRST 200K MILES. PLAIN AND SIMPLE FUEL PUMPS SHOULD NOT FAIL AS OFTEN AS THEY DO WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. IT'S IS DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH, AND I HOPE NO ONE EVER GETS HURT FROM IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423133September 3, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAD LEFT MY MOTHERS AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AND STARTED SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN INTO OUR LOCAL GROCERY STORE WHEN MY 2003 CAVALIER STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART BACK. UPON CHECKING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO FUEL TO THE FUEL RAIL.I HAD JUST OVER 1/2 TANK OF FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAD ANOTHER TURN KEY AND THERE WAS NO WHIRRING TO INDICATE FUEL PUMP WAS OPERATING. I CALLED TOW SERVICE AND TOWED IT HOME. I DROPPED THE TANK AND REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. ANOTHER SYMPTOM NOT LISTED IN THE COMPLAINTS WHEN MY PUMP FAILED ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD REGISTER (FUEL GAUGE AND TEMP GAUGE) THEN WOULD DROP TO 0 AND WOULD FLICKER CONTINUOUSLY WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION. UPON PURCHASING NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AS WELL. YOU CAN NOT PURCHASE A NEW HARNESS TO RESOLVE ISSUE HAD TO CUT THE FUEL PUMP LEADS OFF OF PUMP WIRING HARNESS AND PURCHASE A NEW CONNECTOR AND SPLICE THEM TOGETHER. I FEEL THERE MAYBE MORE CUSTOMERS WITH THESE VEHICLES THAT HAD SERVICE DONE IN A LOCAL SHOP THAT WAS NOT REPORTED TO NHTSA OR TO GM. AS THIS REPAIR WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AT THE TIME AND MANY WOULD SEEK REPAIRS FOR LOWER RATES THEN OFFERED BY A DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10423173September 3, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY HUSBAND AND I WENT LOOKING FOR A CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP ON OCT. 31, 2010. WE FOUND THIS CHEVROLET CAVALIER (2003). WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD NO INFORMATION ON IT; SO I CHECKED ON CARFAX AND FOUND THAT IT HAD COUPLE OF RECALLS ON IT; BUT NOTHING ABOUT THE FUEL PUMP. SO NOW THE CAR GO'S OUT WON'T START. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. WE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW. THERE WAS A RECALLED THE CARS FROM 1998 TO 2002 AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT FIXED OR GET RID OF IT OR TRADE IT IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421599August 26, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING MPH AND ABOVE, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE WAS PROVIDING INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421039August 22, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED AND THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SIDE SHOULDER AND SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 9/27/11 *CN UPDATED 3/29/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419653August 16, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER GIVING OFF FUMES FIRST TIME I FILLED IT TO THE TOP WITH GASOLINE. THAT EVENTUALLY SET OFF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASH. I USED MY OBD2 SCANNER AND IT WAS A CODE FOR A HIGH EVAP LEAK. IT WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO FIND THE LEAK AT MY HOME, SO I HAD THE DEALERSHIP DO A SMOKE TEST AND REVEALED A CRACK AT THE SEAMS OF THE GAS TANK. DEALERSHIP SAID NO RECALL FOR THAT MAKE AND MODEL. ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT AND LABOR WAS $1,000. I FOUND A SALVAGE YARD GAS TANK FROM A LOW MILEAGE OLDSMOBILE ALERO AND THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED IT. MECHANIC MENTIONED IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO FIND A CRACK AT THE SEAMS OF A NEWER GM SMALL CAR WITH A PLASTIC GAS TANK. I RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE MYSELF AND THE PROBLEM NEVER REAPPEARED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419368August 14, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 80,340 MILES. PUMP FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY. REPAIR COST: $695 + TOWING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417842August 7, 2011
EQUIPMENT
SPEEDOMETER STICKING AT 80 TO 160 MPH, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAS NEVER EVER BEEN DRIVEN AT THOSE SPEEDS, SPEEDOMETER REGISTARS ANWHERE FROM 10MPH TO OVER THE LIMIT OF THE SPEEDOMETER (180MPH) WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF OR STOPPED. THIS STARTED AT 25,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STARTED REGISTERING OVER THE RED (AND HAS ACTUALLY TOUCHED THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE NEEDLE) APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER STARTED AT 32,000 MILES. AT 39,000 THE GAS GAUGE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH A PORTABLE GARMIN NUVI GPS SINCE 2008, JUST TO USE THE ESTIMATED SPEED IN THE HOPES I WILL NOT GET A SPEEDING TICKET. THE FIRST TIME I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW MY SPEEDOMETER AT 85 MPH, I INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, AND WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. I WAS ONLY GOING 50 MPH AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED. I NOW HAVE A TEEN DRIVER, AND I CANNOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE SHE IS NOT EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO ESTIMATE HER SPEEDS. I WILL NEVER KNOW IF MY CAR TRULELY OVERHEATS BECAUSE IT OVERHEATS ON THE GAUGE 3-5 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE TO FILL MY GAS BASED ON WHEN I FILLED IT LAST & HOW MANY MILES I HAVE DRIVEN SINCE AS I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH AND INJURY, AS A TOLD YOU MY EXPERIENCE WITH INSTINCTIVELY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES, AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF I RUN OUT OF GAS UNKNOWINGLY IN THE 3RD LANE OF AN EXPRESSWAY. I ALSO OWN A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER WHOSE GAS GAUGE REGISTARS 1/4 OF A TANK WHEN IT IS EMPTY. I SPEND OVER $450 AT A GARAGE TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT BREAKING DOWN, BUT WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING OUT OF GAS. THE 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER OF COURSE HAS THE MORE DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER A MESS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VECICLE WAS NOT STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE LOW MILEAGE, AS IT HAD BEEN OVER 3 YEARS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE CARS? LETS HOPE I'M NOT DRIVING IN FRONT OF YOUR MOTHER OR DAUGHTER TOMORROW. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415365July 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL GAUGES WORK ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM. READ THERE STORIES HERE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/CAVALIER/2005/ELECTRICAL/GAUGES_HAVE_GONE_HAYWIRE.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412105July 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOWER BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V524000; EXTERIOR LIGHTING, TURN SIGNAL. ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN HE HAD TO PAY FOR THE NEW REPAIRS SINCE THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10410423July 5, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AND I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLS AS THERE ARE MANY WITH THE SAME 2 PROBLEMS, FIRST EVERY GAUGE IN MY CAR QUIT WORKING NO RPM, NO GAS GUAGE AND NO SPEEDOMETER. SECOND EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR FOR NO REASON AT ALL IT WOULD JUST STALL AT REDLIGHTS WHEN I WOULD TAKE OFF, DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM, I HAVE NEARLY WRECKED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS, THE LATEST WAS TODAY I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS THAT SAY THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS THE FAULTY PLASTIC FUEL PUMP, WHY NO RECALL THIS IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409339June 29, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON MAY 31, MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT STALLED ON A HIGHWAY. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT, BUT I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY EXITED MY VEHICLE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW. AFTER RECEIVING DIAGNOSTICS AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THIS AND REPLACING A FUEL FILTER WAS CLOSE TO $1,000. MY CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT, I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER 1 YEAR BEFORE AT ANOTHER GM DEALERSHIP, AND I PERFORMED REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE USER MANUAL. WHEN I WENT HOME I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR, AND LO AND BEHOLD I CAME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF PAGES WHICH DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I HAD. ON ONE FORUM ALONE, THERE WERE OVER 700 POSTS WHERE OWNERS OF THE 2003 MODEL CAVALIER HAD FUEL PUMPS GO OUT AT AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AS MY CAR, WITH REPAIR COSTS RANGING FROM $300-$900. I CONTINUED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, AND FOUND THAT THE NHTSA HAD RESEARCHED A LARGE NUMBER OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING FUEL PUMP FAILURES WITH THE 2003 MODEL CAVALIER ' INVESTIGATION #EA07015 AND #PE07033. GM DOCUMENTS IN BOTH OF THESE CASES INDICATED A LARGE NUMBER OF MALFUNCTIONS IN MODELS UP TO 2003, THEN A SHARP DECREASE IN FAILURES IN THE 2004 MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407329June 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2003 CHEVY CAVALIER 2DR/STANDARD. TWO MONTHS AND COUNTING MY CAR STALLS ON STOP LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY, SHAKES WHEN I START, AFTER PUTTING GAS IN, IT WON'T START RIGHT AWAY (IT TAKES FIVE MINS OR LESS)...CHK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON...YES, OIL CHANGE REGULARLY, TUNED-UP DONE, NEW BATTERY, NEW IDLE VALVE, IT HAS BEEN CHECKED, BUT MY CAR STILL STALLS AND I CAN SMELL BURNED OIL WHEN I'M WARMING MY CAR AND GIVE SOME REV...PLEASE NEED HELP MY CAR IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AND BY THE WAY I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY EXPENSIVE PARTS IF THE MANUFACTURER MESSED THIS MODEL...HELP PLEASE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10402581May 24, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY FIANCE PURCHASED A USED 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND WE HAD THE FUEL PUMP GO OUT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. I INSTALLED A USED ONE FROM A JUNK YARD AND IT WENT OUT AGAIN LAST WEEK. I REALIZE THAT I CAN'T NECESSARILY EXPECT A USED FUEL PUMP TO LAST FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO FUEL PUMPS ON THIS YEAR MODEL. I HAVE OWNED A FEW CARS MUCH OLDER THAN THIS ONE AND WITH HIGHER MILEAGE AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO MESS WITH A FUEL PUMP. IT CURRENTLY HAS 120K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399428May 7, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING AND HAD BEEN IN MY CAR FOR ABOUT FIVE MIN AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF WHERE THE RADIO AND HEATER CONTROLS ARE..AT THAT TIME I PULLED OVER AND SAW FLAMES IN THE DASH AND IT WAS GROWING AND I CALLED 911 FIRE AND WE CLOSED THE DOORS AND WAITED TIL THE FIRE TRUCK GOT THERE AND HANDLED THE FIRE. IT COMPLETELY DESTROYED MY DASH STEERING COLUMN FRONT WINDSHIELD AND HEAD LINER...ALL MY INSTRUMENT PANELS AND WIRING ARE FRIED. I BELIEVE IT WAS A FAULTY WIRING SYSTEM...IF NOT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND HOW DO I FIX MY CAR.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398033April 27, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I STOPPED AT A CONSTRUCTION STOP SIGN AND MY CAR JUST STARTED TO STALL. I TRIED RESTARTING IT A FEW TIMES BUT IT WOULD JUST PUTTER OUT AFTER RUNNING FOR A FEW SECONDS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR ABOUT $800. THANKS A LOT GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396547April 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP DEAD WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, 60 MI/HR. HAD TO REPLACE IT FOR 700$. NO MORE GM'S PRODUCTS FOR ME !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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