RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Aug 31, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 678 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2016

I WAS ONE BLOCK FROM HOME AND MY CAR STALLED IT WOULDN'T START BACK UP. I FOUND MY SELF AT THE INTERSECTION. THE MECHANIC SAID IT IS A BAD FUEL PUMP. THE CAR ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR . ALSO LAST YEAR MY GAUGE TO MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T TELL THE ENGINE TEMP. ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID
10899679
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
Mileage
59,925 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON FUNCTION AND HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY TO BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10786735
Incident
Oct 25, 2015
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 17, 2014

AFTER I DRIVE CAR FOR 5 THEN SYSTEM SECURITY LIGHT COMES, AND MANY OTHER LIGHTS COME ON DASH BOARD AND ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO. PEPBOYS SAYS IT IS BAD BCM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10572820
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Apr 14, 2010

I WAS HEADING OUT OF MY HOUSE IN THE EVENING AND GOT ABOUT 2 OR 3 MILES FROM MY HOME WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I APPLIED PRESSURE TO GAS PEDAL. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO COAST JUST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION AND MY VEHICLE ENDED UP SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH OUT WARNING, NO SIGNS, NO LIGHTS MY VEHICLE JUST GAVE OUT ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION HAD IT OCCURRED JUST 5 SECONDS BEFORE I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR WORST IT COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER REVIEW SITES GIVE DETAILED SCENARIOS OF THIS DANGEROUS FUEL PUMP FAILURE AND ITS ABRUPT OCCURRENCE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT MILEAGE AS LOW AS 7,000 AND WORKS ITS WAY UP. I WOULD LIKE TO BE SPOKEN WITH PERSONALLY BY SOMEONE ON THE BOARD AND FOR REASONS WHY THIS PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10325771
Incident
Apr 13, 2010
Mileage
103,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 11, 2007

IN EXTREME HEAT OR COLD TEMPERATURES INSIDE VEHICLE THE SPEEDOMETER WILL JUMP IN INTERVALS OF FIVE MPH. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESET ITSELF IF LEFT ALONE. IF PASSES 70 MPH MARK IT WILL CONTINUE RISING UNTIL IT POINTED DOWNWARD TOWARDS THE ODOMETER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10190535
Incident
May 11, 2007
Mileage
35,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 1, 2006

THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS ON MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT IS STUCK AT 40 MPH WHILE STANDING STILL, ON ACCELERATION IT WILL RISE ACCORDING TO THE SPEED ATTAINED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164122
Incident
Aug 1, 2006
Mileage
43,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 7, 2005
Crash reported

DT: THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS TRYING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A SERVICE DEALER THAT DID NOT TELL HER THE CAUSE. SHE BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK UPDATED 11/30/05. *JB

NHTSA ID
10141933
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Mileage
16,748 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 19, 2005

2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER GEAR BECAME STUCK WIDE OPEN.*MR WHEN USING THE PASSING GEAR THE ENGINE STUCK OPEN. THE CONSUMER FORCED TO PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE IDLE VALVE WAS STUCK. *NM

NHTSA ID
10118921
Incident
Apr 1, 2005
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+5 more
Filed Mar 10, 2005

THERE ARE NUMEROUS THINGS, AND THE DELAERSHIP HAS CONVINCED GM, BECAUSE I WROTE GM ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS, THAT I AM MAKING THIS STUFF UP TO GET AN SUV. FIRST THE RADIO WASN'T WORKING, THEY PUT THE CABLE BACK ON SAID IT WAS LOOSE, ITS STILL NOT SOUNDING LIKE A RADIO SHOULD. NEXT WAS THE POPPING IN THE FRONT END, DEALERSHIP TURNED ROTORS, UNDER WARRANTY BACK BRAKES SQUEALED REAL LOUD THEY SAID IT WAS DUST I HAD TO PAY FOR THAT. BACK BRAKES STILL SQUEAL, FRONT END STILL POPS LIKE A BAD CV JOINT. TRUNK WOULDN'T SHUT HAD TO KEEP SLAMMING IT. TOOK IT BACK THEY GREASED IT WORKED FOR AWHILE STARTING TO GET HARD TO SHUT SOMETIMES. BRAKE LIGHTS AND BACK LIGHTS AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING . TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 OR 6 TIMES TILL THEY FINALLY REPLACED IT HOW LONG IT WILL LAST I DON'T KNOW. FRONT SUN VISOR POPPED WHEN IT HUNG UP IN REAR VIEW MIRROR REAL FLOPPY CAN'T USE IT NO MORE DEALER SAID THEY ORDERED IT IN DECEMBER. STILL WAITING NOT FIXED. REAL BAD ODOR OF GAS IN CAR WHEN TANK IS HALF FULL, NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. SEAT BELT MAKES A FUNNY NOISE WHEN YOU ARE WEARING IT, PINS YOU BACK AGAINST SEAT REAL HARD. NO EXPLANATION FOR THAT. HAVE TO STOP AND JERK ON IT TO LOOSEN IT LIKE A SEAT BELT SHOULD WORK. DEALER SAYS I AM IMAGINING THIS STUFF BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT CAR, BOUGHT IT NEW STILL PAYING FOR IT. BEEN TRYING TO GET RID OF IT THEY HAVE EVERYONE CONVINCED I AM A PSYCHO WOMAN WANTING AN SUV AND THATS WHY I AM COMPLAINING THAT IS ALL FALSE. JUST PLAIN HATE A CAR I AM PAYING FOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113912
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Mileage
21,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 3, 2005

1/2/05-CAR WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN IT BEGAN TO LUNGE INTO TRAFFIC, CAR WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL WHERE IT CONTINUED TO LUNGE UNTIL A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, CAR IS IN SERVICE TODAY 1/3/05. *AK

NHTSA ID
10105655
Incident
Jan 2, 2005
Mileage
30,500 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Dec 24, 2004

I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INFORMATION REGARDING GM RECALL 04083, REGARDING THE 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAVING FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE FINALLY BEEN TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE'S VIN: [XXX] IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. IS THERE ANY THING THAT I CAN DO SHORT OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIR PARTS MYSELF?*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10104461
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
36,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Nov 29, 2004

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK SPORADICALLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101723
Incident
Nov 22, 2004
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 9, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHENEVER THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE LOST POWER. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF TO DISENGAGE IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10042665
Incident
Aug 20, 2003
Mileage
1,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 14, 2003

BRAKE PEDAL ON THIS CAR IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ACCELERATOR PEDAL. UNTIL THE DRIVER GETS USED TO THE HEIGHT MISMATCH, THE DRIVER'S FOOT HITS THE SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THIS WILL CAUSE A HUGE LAG IN RESPONSE TIME IN BRAKING.I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOT AN ADJUSTMENT FOR EITHER PEDAL (LOWER THE BRAKE OR RAISE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL).*AK

NHTSA ID
10032824
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Driver assistanceInterior & seats
Filed Jun 17, 2003

THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER WAS REROUTING THE THROTTLE CABLES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10024249
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 17, 2003

THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REROUTED THE THROTTLE CABLES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10024220

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .