Print this page

3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,200 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Comments

problem #5

Jun 152008

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Freeville, NY, USA

problem #4

Apr 012009

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles
Trans axle went out April 09 with a horrible mess of oil, steering rack replaced 6 months later, driver side window/ motor problem, fuel pump went 75,000 a bit shy of a year later. Now my defrost isn't working; possibly the switch 85,000. Had brakes done twice so far with leaks; this includes hydraulics, rotors, pads, shoes etc. My steering has seized while driving. This car has been a very expensive inconvenience.

- Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, 00, USA

problem #3

Oct 232008

Cavalier

  • 70,000 miles
Car wouldn't start after putting gas in it. Car was towed to Chevy dealer, fuel pump replaced, and after three days car wouldn't start again.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #2

Sep 172005

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
9-17-2005 - clutch pedal pressed to floor and stayed on floor, car would not go in gear. Clutch master cylinder found at fault and replaced under warranty. 7-19-2006 - clutch pedal pressed to floor and barely came up off floor. Very difficult to put into gear without grinding gears. Clutch master cylinder found at fault and replaced. Customer and dealer split cost of repairs. 7-25-2006 - clutch pedal pressed to floor and barely came up off floor. Very difficult to put into gear without grinding gears. Suspect master cylinder is again at fault, car is presently being repaired. **very nearly caused and accident when clutch would not engage. Note: NHTSA # 10005459 and 10019423 for same problems.

- Woodland Park, CO, USA

problem #1

May 232005

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,000 miles
Brake failure, 1st happened at 1024 miles, dealer reluctley fixed it, happened again at 19.500, dealer and GM refused to fix.

- Reisterstown, MD, USA

Not what you are looking for?