2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Complaints

View complaints related to 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 650 complaints submitted for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - MORGANTON, NC

    I PURCHASED MY CAR WITH 2 MILES ON IT IN MAY 2003.AFTER 2 WEEKS OF HAVING IT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE THAT STARTED UNDER THE FRONT END.THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THAT IT WAS JUST A NEW CAR SOUND AND IT WOULD GO AWAY.AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPT. AND HE FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY BOLTS TO THE FRONT END FRAME WERE NEVER TIGHTENED OR PUT IN FROM THE FACTORY.SO THEY PUT IN BOLTS AND TIGHTENED THE REST.HOPING THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM I LEFT.IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A POPPING TYPE SOUND AND I TOOK IT BACK WHERE THIS TIME THEY HEARD IT BUT COULD NOT FIND WHAT IT WAS.TO THIS DAY IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE FRONT END IS GOING TO FALL OUT AND THE STEERING HAS CHANGED.THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THEN THEY CAN'T FIX IT AND TO DRIVE IT UNTIL WHATEVER IT IS BREAKS OR FALLS OUT! I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT.ALSO THE SEAT BELT LIGHT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY,THE DASH HAS A LOUD VIBRATING NOISE,THE HEAT AND AIR MAKES A LOUD BUZZING SOUND, THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY AND THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE PROPERLY.I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY WERE SORRY ABOUT THE BOLTS NEVER BEING PUT IN AND THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE INSPECTED AND ARE SAFE.WELL HOW IS THAT WHEN THEY DID NOT EVEN PUT IN BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR IN?WHAT ELSE HAVE THEY FORGOTTEN?I FEEL UNSAFE IN MY CAR AND AM VERY ANGRY THAT THIS PROBLEM PERSISTS!

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - PORT ORANGE, FL

    THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT BURNED OUT 3 TIMES WITHIN THIS YEAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SOCKETS WERE CORRODED. *AK *SC

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - FT. MYER, VA

    I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED. I BOUGHT A 2003 CAVALIER AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT LAST WEEK. I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO TO TALK TO BEFORE I TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTIONS. MY CAR IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT AND I KNOW THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GET A RENTAL CAR. WELL, HERE'S THE SITUATION LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS ON THE WAY TO TAKE IT TO BE LOOKED AT AND IT HAPPPENED AGAIN, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE, THEY OFFERED NO HELP AS FAR AS MY RENTAL AND WARRANTY. I AM ANGRY BECAUSE THIS FLAW WITH THE CAR COULD'VE RESULTED IN MY DEATH. IT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO GET SOMEONE TO COME TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR AND WHEN SOMEONE FINALLY CAME ON NOV. 2, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND THAT WAS IT. I TRIED MAKING CONTACT AGAIN AND GOT NO RESPONSE. I'M STILL WITHOUT MY VEHICLE BECAUSE EVEN IF I PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, THERE IS STILL THE CHANCE THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.*AK

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - SILVER SPRING, MD

    WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 55-70MPH FOR 30-60 MINUTES, THE ENGINE RPM RATE INCREASES FROM AROUND 2500 TO 3500 INSTEAD OF FALLING TO 1000 (NORMAL IDLE). IF THE CLUTCH IS RE-ENGAGED THEN THE RPM RATE RETURNS TO THE NORMAL RANGE FOR THE GEAR/SPEED OF TRAVEL. IF THE CAR IS BRAKED TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPM RATE FALLS TO THE NORMAL IDLE RATE AFTER 20-40 SECONDS OF STANDSTILL. THE BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN OBSERVED EVERYTIME EXTENDED HIGHWAY DRIVING IS COMPLETED. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS NO PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP CAN NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - WARNER ROBINS, GA

    AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP ON HOT DAY, ENGINE STALLS WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED AS WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. ENIGINE WILL RESTART, BUT ACCELLERATOR MUST BE DEPRESSED TO REV THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO PREVENT STALLING. IF VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED, PROBLEM WITH STALLING IS GONE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY INTERMITTENT. THE SAME PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED IN OID NUMBERS 10049266, 10039337 AND 10037496.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - EL PASO, TX

    WHEN COASTING TO A STOP AND DEPRESSING CLUTCH, CAR IDLE SPEED WILL DROP BELOW THE NORMAL IDLE SPEED OF 800 RPM. SOMETIMES, THE IDLE SPEED WILL BOUNCE AROUND BETWEEN 400 RPM AND 800 RPM. OTHER TIMES, THE ENGINE WILL STALL. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT WILL USUALLY OCCUR MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE FIXING ITSELF. THE STALLING ENGINE IS A CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE LOST OF POWER STEERING MAKING TURNS. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *JB

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - RED BUD, IL

    A DARK BROWN RUST COLOR DEVELOPED ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE DEALERSHIP IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, CHANGED THE BRAKES, TURNED THE ROTOR AND PUT NEW BEARINGS ON, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE BROWN RUST COLOR WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *JB

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - SAN ANTONIO, TX

    THE REAR TURN SIGNAL FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC STATES THAT THE LIGHT BURNS THROUGH THE SOCKET WHICH CAUSES FAILURE. *PH

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - BILOXI, MS

    CAR STALLS. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER. CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS FOR THIS ISSUE. ALWAYS GET RESPONSE, "CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE." JUST PURCHASED 2003 CAVALIER IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 7000 MILES ON IT. THIS BEGAN IN AUGUST. HAVE BEEN REPORTING THESE INCIDENTS TO THE DEALER EVER SINCE. *LA

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
    - PHILADELPHIA, PA

    CONSUMER FELT THAT SEAT BELT WAIS DEFECTIVE. THE SEAT BELT CUT INTO THE CONSUMER'S NECK AND IT IS WAS TOO HIGH UP ON HER NECK. ALSO, THE LAP BELT WASS TOO TIGHT AROUND THE CONSUMER'SWAIST. THE DEALER TRIED TO PUT EXTENDERS ON THE BELTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONSUMER STILL FEELS UNCOMFORTABLE USING THE SEAT BELTS. *AK CONSUMER HAD TWO ADDITIONAL CONCERNS. FIRST, THE SEAT BELT GETS TANGLES EVERY TIME IT FASTENED AND IS UNCOMFORTABLE. SECONDLY, THE VEHICLE HAD 162 MILES AT PURCHASE AND SHE WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL. *JB

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE