2003 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
678 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 553 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 193 of 678 complaints (28.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 351 | 51.8% |
| Engine operation | 135 | 19.9% |
| Braking behavior | 76 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 42 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 34 | 5.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 193 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 162 |
| Electrical System | 57 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 31 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 31 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 28 |
| Fuel System, Other | 23 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 18 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 193; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 162; Electrical System: 57; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 31; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 31; Engine And Engine Cooling: 28; Fuel System, Other: 23; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 18
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 81 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 92 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 197 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 108 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 58 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 81; 25,000 to 49,999: 92; 50,000 to 74,999: 197; 75,000 to 99,999: 108; 100,000 to 149,999: 58; 150,000 and above: 17
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (197). 125 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 66 |
| 2005 | 42 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 105 |
| 2008 | 179 |
| 2009 | 86 |
| 2010 | 49 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 42; 2004: 66; 2005: 42; 2006: 17; 2007: 105; 2008: 179; 2009: 86; 2010: 49; 2011: 35; 2012: 11; 2013: 10; 2014: 13; 2015: 10; 2016: 7; 2018: 2; 2021: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 351 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 135 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004146 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT GASOLINE CAN BE HEARD IN THE TANK WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010700 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
ON MODERATE INCLINES THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ROLLS BACKWARDS AND CONTINUES, EVEN ACCELERATES UNTIL YOU BRAKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BOTH SAY THIS IS A DESIGN FEATURE AND IS NOT A DEFECT. THE COMPUTER MODULE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED FOR OTHER REASONS BUT THIS UNSAFE DEFECT CONTINUES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011548 · 2003-03-12 (March 12, 2003)
THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MADE A VIBRATION NOISE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011851 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE BRAKES GRIND/SQUEAKED WHEN USED FOR THE FIRST TIME EACH DAY. THE BRAKES WERE ALSO SENSITIVE AND GRABBED ON OCCASION. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL OPERATION. *NLM *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014892 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014968 · 2003-04-01 (April 1, 2003)
A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER STATED THE FRAME WAS LOOSE, HOWEVER SECONDS LATER, THE SAME POPPING NOISE RECURRED, THE DEALER THEN STATED THE CONTROL ARM WAS THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017411 · 2003-04-23 (April 23, 2003)
THE VEHICLES FUEL PUMP SYSTEM HAD A HIGH PITCH FREQUENCY (DRAWING TO MUCH POWER). THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THE FUEL GAUGE IS ALSO INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022287 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AT 70MPH VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022287 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V524000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2004-11-01 (November 1, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA campaign record ↗