2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
867
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
19
Service Bulletins
4
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
The 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has received a total of 867 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL. 19 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuel System Gasoline (193 complaints), Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump (162 complaints), and Electrical System (57 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, potentially affecting up to 259,880 vehicles.
Recall 08E063000 — STEERING
| 3,855 vehicles affected
Defect: DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE....
Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
View full details →Recall 04V524000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
| 256,025 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
867 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
There is a recall on the vehicle I need to get fixed.
MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WAS RECALLED FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, RPM, SPEEDOMETER.... NONE OF MY GAUGES WORK. THEY GAVE THE WRONG READINGS, THE HAND WOULDN'T RETURN TO THEIR STARTING POSITIONS, THEN THE HANDS WENT LOWER THAN THEIR STARTING POSITIONS TO THE POINT THEY ALL DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE GM RECALL LIST FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE. PINS ON TILT MECHANISM ARE GONE. DON'T KNOW WHEN IT FELL OUT. NOTICED WHEN CLEANING CAR WHEN I TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL UP.
MY CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT WAS RECALLED FOR OTHER GM VEHICLES. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, RPM, SPEEDOMETER.... NONE OF MY GAUGES WORK. THEY GAVE THE WRONG READINGS, THE HAND WOULDN'T RETURN TO THEIR STARTING POSITIONS, THEN THE HANDS WENT LOWER THAN THEIR STARTING POSITIONS TO THE POINT THEY ALL DIDN'T WORK ANYMORE. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE GM RECALL LIST FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
TAKATA RECALL
Safety Rating for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
General Motors, LLC has issued 19 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
01682 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
HVAC MODE CONTROL HARD TO CHANGE SETTINGS. *TT
3014 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STALL, HESITATION, STUMBLE WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS). *TT
3115 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HIGH IDLE WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. *SC
01476 — POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
GRINDING/RATTLE NOISE WITH CLUTCH FULLY DISENGAGED. *TT
510 — STRUCTURE
RIGHT FRONT SPEAKER RATTLE. *SC
090903 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) MAY SET A FALSE CODE OF B3785. GM VOICEMAIL LOG. *TT
071503 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
SERVICING THE REAR TAIL LAMP BULB OR SOCKET ASSEMBLY. *TT
030863002 — STRUCTURE:BODY
CARPET WET ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *TT
060303 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONCERNS WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE 6CVC AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FOR A NOISE COMPLAINT. *TT
030729005 — POWER TRAIN
CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT END DURING LOW SPEED TURNS OR MANEUVERS. *TT
Showing 10 of 19 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
NHTSA has opened 4 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER.
Investigation EA07015 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY Closed
Opened:
ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILURE
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET CAVALIER
- 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 473 complaints
- 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 337 complaints
- 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 447 complaints
- 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 356 complaints
- 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 254 complaints
- 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER (current)
- 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 428 complaints
- 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 362 complaints
Other CHEVROLET Models
- CHEVROLET MALIBU — 28,991 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 — 22,175 total complaints
- CHEVROLET IMPALA — 15,197 total complaints
- CHEVROLET TAHOE — 12,511 total complaints
- CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 12,135 total complaints
- CHEVROLET BLAZER — 11,032 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO — 10,928 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — 10,375 total complaints