5.7
fairly significantTypical Repair Cost:
$334.00
Average Mileage:
58,569 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (4 reports)
- replace brakes and rotors (3 reports)
brakes problem
Helpful Websites About 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier brakes wear out prematurely
2007May 30
(reported on)Cavalier
- Automatic transmission
- 23,000 miles
I have replaced my brakes three times on my car and only have 40,000 miles on it. This is crazy. It is costing me more on brakes than anything I have never experienced this problem with any other car I have had.
2006Mar 01
Cavalier LS 2.2L Ecotec
- Automatic transmission
- 66,000 miles
The brakes and rotors in this car just don't seem to last long. Under normal freeway and city driving we seem to replace the front brakes about eveyr year or so. Roughly 25-30000 mile give or take a few thousand. Rotors seem to need to be replaced or turned every visit to the brake shop. An expensive and annoying problem. Apparently GM just wants you to drive away, not stop by and see them again. No wonder Toyota is looking at no. 1 spot in sales!
THIS IS THE LAST GM PRODUCT I WILL OWN!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2003Jun 30
Cavalier 2.2L Ecotec
- Automatic transmission
- 18,641 miles
I have to replace the pad every 6 months and rotors once a year-I do all highway driving and I am not a heavy braker--its ridiculous that my brakes need replacing so often
2007Nov 11
(reported on)Cavalier VL 2.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 77,000 miles
Whenever I brake on an off ramp the car shakes so violently, so I took it to a mechanic and he said there was 50% left of them, brakes and rotors aren't very good at all to shake like that. The vibration is getting worse so will have to be replaced soon at $420 even though they aren't even worn down.
2007Mar 20
(reported on)Cavalier Coupe 2.2L
- Manual transmission
- 35,000 miles
My car has 35,000 miles on my car and this is the second time I have had to get the rotors and pads replaced. The dealership told me it could be conditions. I don't think that is the case since I had them replaced at 18,000 miles too on another city. My extended warranty will not cover them
2007Feb 07
(reported on)Cavalier 2.2
- Automatic transmission
- 35,000 miles
I went to get my oil changed & tires rotated and I was told my brakes were shot and almost to the rotors. I only had 15,000 miles on the car. Then I had my car towed to the dealership last week because it wouldn't start and they told me the car ran just fine but my brakes were so bad my rotors were shot. I only have 35,000 miles on my car. It's yellow and it a piece of junk.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your brakes problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Oct 15
Cavalier 2.0L
I use my car for work and put on about 50,000 km every year so just about every complaint listed here, I've had! I bought the car brand new. GM service sucks. Needless to say, the new car I just bought is NOT a GM. (It's a Nissan.) I'm still using the cavalier for work and will continue to do so until the next large repair bill when it'll just be parked for good. I'm listing my complaints here because they all seem to be so common and the more complaints filed here, the more power.
My cavalier is now 5 years old, fully paid for and has about 250,000 kms on it. Other than these annoying problems that seem to occur for everyone, it doesn't drive too badly for an old lady of 250,000 kms. (My fingers are crossed as I say that.)
For brakes, I can't really complain since I do mostly city driving. BUT, that being said, it bugs me so much when each and every time I get a brake job, I have to get the rotors replaced. I get a brake job every year, sometimes once a year, sometimes twice. And every single time, I have to replace the rotors. I'd like to note that I do not abuse my brakes nor my car. I spend 8 hours a day/5 days per week in it and it's like a baby to me.
Something else that I have complained about to the dealer when it was still under warranty, and was told it was nothing, is the wicked amount of brake dust on my front rims. No kidding - the front rims look black. And with the mileage I put on, I cannot get it off. Those cleaners you can buy to remove it? They don't work for my rims.
I can think up new swear words looking at my greasy, filthy-looking rims. "Brake dust is normal" they said to me.
Deb L.
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
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