RoadVitals

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
12
Latest Sep 28, 2006
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.
0
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 12 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 transmission

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

ElectricalEngineFuel system+3 more
Filed Sep 28, 2006

1. VEHICLE MADE A MOANING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT APPROXIMATELY 55,000 KMS (AND 3 YEARS OLD). REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK. 2. RANDOM CLUNKING FROM THE FRONT END AT APPROX. 56,000 KMS. REPLACED FRONT BEARINGS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNT. 3. CAR LOST POWER, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, INSISTED THE CAR WAS FINE. I INSISTED ON THEM TAKING IT OUT AGAIN. CAR BROKE DOWN, HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALER AGAIN. REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND FUEL IGNITION SWITCH. 4. BURNED THROUGH 4L OF OIL AND PUFFED OUT BLACK SMOKE. DEALER COULDN'T LOCATE PROBLEM. HAPPENED AGAIN APPROX. 2000 KMS LATER. FAULTY PISTON RINGS, ENGINE REPLACED ENTIRELY. AT 61,000 KMS. NOW AT OVER $11,000 CDN WARRANTY REPAIRS ON A WELL MAINTAINED LOW MILEAGE CAR. 5. RANDOM CLUNKING NOISE IN FRONT IS BACK. GOING TO DEALER TOMORROW. WARRANTY: EXPIRED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169531
Incident
May 18, 2006
Mileage
55,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jul 27, 2006

9-17-2005 - CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR AND STAYED ON FLOOR, CAR WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FOUND AT FAULT AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. 7-19-2006 - CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR AND BARELY CAME UP OFF FLOOR. VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT GRINDING GEARS. CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FOUND AT FAULT AND REPLACED. CUSTOMER AND DEALER SPLIT COST OF REPAIRS. 7-25-2006 - CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR AND BARELY CAME UP OFF FLOOR. VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT GRINDING GEARS. SUSPECT MASTER CYLINDER IS AGAIN AT FAULT, CAR IS PRESENTLY BEING REPAIRED. **VERY NEARLY CAUSED AND ACCIDENT WHEN CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. NOTE: NHTSA # 10005459 AND 10019423 FOR SAME PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10163590
Incident
Sep 17, 2005
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 20, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SAFETY DEFECT IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE ROLLS BACK WHILE ON A HILL. WHILE IT IS IN DRIVE IT ACTS AS IF IT WAS STANDARD TRANSMISSION. HAPPENED ON AND OFF SINCE 2003. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IDLES TOO LOW WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137677
Incident
Sep 20, 2005
Mileage
10,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 8, 2004

VEHICLE IDLED WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND SENT THE CONSUMER ON HIS WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091619
Incident
Sep 7, 2004
Mileage
20 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 13, 2004

WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND GO TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO TURN OR STOP AND THE CAR STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. HAPPENS VERY RANDOMLY EVERY SO OFTEN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WITH OTHERS IN THE CAR, INCLUDING A ONE YEAR OLD, AND HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN SEVERE ACCIDENTS. ONCE WITH AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER!! THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY PROBLEM!!

NHTSA ID
10066097
Incident
Apr 10, 2004
Transmission
Filed Jan 25, 2004

MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS A PROBLEM OF STALLING ( ENGINE DIES)AT LOW SPEED WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS NOTED IN COMPLAINT SECTION OF THIS WEBSITE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU MUST KEEP ENGINE REVS HIGH IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. THIS HAPPENED IN JUNE OF 2003 AND AGAIN JAN. 15 2004. DEALER AND CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE SAY MORE OR LESS, SORRY ABOUT YOUR BAD LUCK. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS AND I AM QUITE SURE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. THIS CONDITION COULD GET YOU KILLED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10054836
Incident
Jun 15, 2003
Mileage
500 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 2003

MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT FOR THE 3RD TIME. DEALER WON'T HONOR WARRENTY. STATES THAT THAT CAR WAS ABUSED.

NHTSA ID
10039458
Incident
Sep 24, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
SuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 23, 2003

VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. FRONT END HAS POPPING NOISES WHEN TURNING. REAR END MAKE LOUD NOISE WHEN WEIGHT IN PUT ON IT (EX. ENTERING AND DEPARTING VEHICLE CABIN). ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH VEHICLE STALLING WHEN SLOWING DOWN (MANUAL...PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RPM'S DROP-OFF CAUSING A STALL). TECHNICIANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE LATTER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10039337
Incident
Sep 19, 2003
Mileage
2,600 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 9, 2003

WHEN DRIVING AND PRESS CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN RPM'S DROP BELOW 300 AND VEHICLE DIES. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHEN HAPPENING AND COULDN'T GET IT IN TO CHECK . VEHICLE STOPPED DOING IT AND HAS SPELLS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10037496
Incident
Sep 2, 2003
Mileage
6,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION WILL START TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10026850
Incident
Jul 5, 2003
Transmission
Filed Mar 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

NHTSA ID
10010700
Incident
Mar 16, 2003
Transmission
Filed Mar 12, 2003

THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY MADE A VIBRATION NOISE, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ID
10011548
Incident
Mar 12, 2003

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .