Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 38 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.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
POWER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING POWER STEERING TO FAIL, WHICH MADE ME WRECK INTO A DITCH. IT ALSO CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AND PREVENTED SEATBELTS FROM LOCKING INTO PLACE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE HIT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ENGAGED AND THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING THE VENTS. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE SIDE SHOULDER AND SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 9/27/11 *CN UPDATED 3/29/12 *CN
2003 CAVALIER, THE DEFROSTER KNOB CABLE HAS GONE BAD 2X'S BEFORE IT IS GONE AGAIN, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR WENT LAST YEAR, LAST MONTH THE FUEL PUMP WENT, THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR IS GOING, THE SPEEDOMETER IS MESSED UP ALONG WITH THE TACK, IT STICKS. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR JUST TURNED 17, THE SPEEDOMETER SAID SHE WAS GOING 105, WHEN SHE SHUTS THE CAR OFF IT SAYS SHE'S STILL DOING 35, AT TIMES THE CAR WONT START, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY, THIS IS BS, THERE IS ONLY 72000 MILES ON IT, GM NEEDS TO START FIXING THESE PROBLEMS, SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. *TR
MY DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL INITIALLY GO DOWN. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO POWER THE WINDOW UP, IT GOES APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO INCHES THEN STOPS. I HAVE TO CONTINUE DRIVING OR LEAVE MY CAR RUNNING UNTIL THE WINDOW IS UP. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO LEAVE MY CAR IN ANY LOT OR PARKING SPACE WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. ON AVERAGE EVERY 10 MINUTES IT WILL GO UP ANOTHER INCH OR TWO. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I POWER THE WINDOW DOWN. I WILL NOT LEAVE MY WINDOW DOWN. ELEMENTS WILL DAMAGE THE INTERIOR, AND IT LEAVES ME SUSCEPTIBLE TO VANDALS. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND I CONSIDER THIS MALFUNCTION UNSAFE FOR ME THE DRIVER AND MY CHILDREN. I PAID $18,000 FOR THE VEHICLE, I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO GO UNFIXED, HOWEVER I FEEL IT IS THE COMPANY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO RECALL AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. *TR
I OWN A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS AND ON DEC. 25 WHEN I TURNED ON THE REAR DEFROST BUTTON SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. I COULD NOT GET THE REAR DEFROST TO TURN OFF SO I HAD TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND REMOVE THE FUSE TO IT. SHORTLY AFTER THIS INCIDENT THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND THE FUSE TO THEM IS STILL GOOD, I REPLACED IT JUST IN CASE BUT THE WINDOWS STILL DO NOT WORK. THE ODOMETER HAS ALSO STOPPED WORKING SO I HAVE HAD TO GUESS MY SPEED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE REAR DEFROST DOES NOT WORK I CANNOT SEE OUT THE REAR WINDOW ON COLD DAYS, I ALSO CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND THE POWER WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR IS DUE FOR INSPECTION NEXT MONTH AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS, THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND RELY ON IT TO GET TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY. I HAVE ALSO PLACED A COMPLAINT WITH GENERAL MOTORS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AS I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE A RESULT OF POOR OR HURRIED WORKMANSHIP IN THAT AREA OF THE VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURE. *TR
HVAC CABLE BENT AND THEN SNAPPED. NOW I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD I RAN OFF THE ROAD TODAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO GM OVER A YEAR AGO AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY LETTER. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE HAD IT FIXED BY A MECHANIC 2X AND SHOULD NOT ONLY BE REIMBURSED, BUT SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. IT STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. HAD THE ACTUAL CABLE REPLACED AND THEN JUST HAD THE KINK CORRECTED ON IT AND IT BROKE AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. *TR
HVAC CABLE BENT AND THEN SNAPPED. NOW I CAN'T DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD & THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT SINCE I CAN'T SEE WHERE I'M GOING! *TR
I HAVE TO IDENTICAL 2003 CHEVY CAVALIERS AND THE WINDOW MOTORS BOTH FAILED AROUND THE EXACT SAME TIME AND I HAVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS SITES THAT HAVE ALSO REPORTED THIS FAILURE AND CHEVY SAYS THAT THIS ISNT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 CAVALIER AND HAD THE FUEL PUMP GO BAD AT 67,000 MILES. I RESEARCHED ON THE WEB AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF 2003 CAVALIERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE REPLACED 3 OF THE 4 WINDOW MOTORS IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. I HAVE TWICE HAD MY CLIMATE CONTROL SWITCH FIXED, AS IT WAS STUCK ONLY ON VENT. AND MOST RECENTLY AT 69000 MILES I HAVE TO REPLACE MY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. IN MY EDUCATED OPINION, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN AWFUL LOT OF REPAIRS FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE AND WITH THIS RECORD. *TR
2003 CHEVY CAVALIER - DEFROSTERS DO NOT WORK (REAR AND SIDE WINDOWS), PASSENGER WINDOW STOP WORKING (INTERMITTENT) AND LOUD SCREECHING NOISE WHEN STARTING ENGINE. *TR
WHILE STOP AT A RED LIGHT VEH.CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RE-STAR. TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. COST $1,050. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRIC WINDOWS,TWO MOTORS REPLACED ,ONE SWITCH AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. BESIDES THAT NO COMPLAIN. *TR
PURCHASED 2003 CHEVY. CAVALIER USED AND THE DEFROSTER AND FLOOR HEATING VENTS DO NOT WORK. AIR ONLY COMES THROUGH THE FACE VENTS. MAKES IT DIFFICULT IN COLD TEMPS. TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDOW AND IF THE CAR IS NOT COMPLETELY HEATED INSIDE, I WILL SOMETIMES HAVE TO PULL OVER AND SCRAPE THE INSIDE OF MY WINDOWS SO I CAN SEE OUT. *TR
WINDSHIELD ON PASSENGER SIDE FAILED. PLASTIC CAP THAT BY FRICTION HOLDS ELBOW/JOINT OF BOTH CONTROL ARMS TO WIPER PIVOT POINT SEPARATED AND IS WORN AND WILL NOT HOLD. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE CHEAP PLASTIC CAP HAS FAILED. THE MOTOR WORKS FINE. INDEPENDANT REPAIR MAN SAYS HE SEES THIS " ALL THE TIME" PART VERY POORLY ENGINEERED NO RETAINING CLIP, COTTER NUT,OR SCREW TO GIVE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT. *TR
DEFROSTER CONTROL BROKE DUE TO FREEZING WEATHER (ABOUT 30F). DEFROSTER NO LONGER FUNCTIONS SO IT IS DIFFICULT TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD IN COLD OR DAMP WEATHER. DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR, BUT COULD NOT FOR ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF $477. WANTED TO CHARGE ANOTHER $630 TO FIX THE PROBLEM (FOR A TOTAL COST OF ALMOST $1100). I FEEL THE COST IS OUTRAGEOUS TO REPAIR A NECESSARY SAFETY ITEM. *TR
PROBLEM STARTED SAME WEEK I PURCHASE VEHICLE BRAND NEW. GMC WOULD NOT EXCHANGE VEHICLE, THEY JUST KEPT REPAIRING IT AS IT BROKE DOWN. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE, THEY DID NOT CARE. CLUTCH WAS RUBBING AGAINST MAIN LINE, FAILED TWICE. REAR LIGHTS BURNED OUT 3 TIMES, SPRINGS ON SEATS POPPED OUT 3 TIMES, GAS PUMP WENT OUT ONCE, HEATER/AC WENT OUT TWICE, LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN, 3 TIMES, PAIN CHIPPED OFF BUMPER, ONCE. REAR SEAT CLIPS SNAPPED, ONCE. HEADLIGHTS, WATER LEAKED IN. TWICE I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION IN JUNE/2007...AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
THE FRONT DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER WOULD NOT BLOW AIR. THE VENTILATION CONTROL CABLE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS A "KINK" IN THE CABLE THAT CAUSED THE AIR TO NOT BE DIRECTED TO THE DEFROSTER. THE SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED THAT I NOT USE THE RECIRCULATE FUNCTION ON MY VENTILATION SYSTEM AS IT SEEMS THAT WHEN THE CONTROL IS IN THAT POSITION, THE CABLE WILL START TO "KINK." THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE EVERY FUNCTION ON THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. *TR
WENT TO ROLL UP DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WHEN IT STARTED TO RAIN HEAVILY AND WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP. RAIN, DRIVEN BY WIND FROM HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON FREEWAY, POURED INTO VEHICLE WHICH FOGGED UP WINDOW AND HINDERED SAFE OPERATION OF VEHICLE. WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER OF ROAD UNTIL RAIN STOPPED TO SAFETY RESTART VEHICLE. CHEVY DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE MOTOR REPLACED. *JB
ON 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER THE WIPER MOTOR TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY IS MADE UP WITH A PLASTIC SNAP BUSHING . WHEN IT WEARS OUT THE WIPER DOES NOT WORK. THE ARM COMES APART. ON MY CAVALIER IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 AND HALF YEARS .3 TIMES DRIVERS SIDE 1 PASSENGER. WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD IN A DOWN POUR IT IS HARD TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING . SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. JESS APPLEBY *TR
HARD OR IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE HVAC MODE OR TEMPERATURE SETTINGS. *JB
(1)THE HEATER SWITCH QUIT WORKING AND HEAT AND DEFROSTER WILL NOT COME ON. THE WINDOWS FOG UP AND YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD ,THIS MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS COLD OR WHEN IT IS FOGGY OUTSIDE ( 2.)THE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING AND YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE WIPERS AND RESTART THEM, THIS MAKES THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS RAINING . *TR
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILURE, STARTED GOING DOWN A QUARTER TO HALF WAY DOWN AND STOPPING THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT IT UP IT ONLY GOES UP LIKE A INCH AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE AND KEEP DOING THAT UNTIL THE WINDOW IS COMPLETELY UP. SECOND THERE IS A CLUCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT AT LOW SPEEDS INCLUDING WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER A BUMP. *JB
THERE IS A VENT FOR MY DEFROSTER/HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER-ON TOP OF THE DASH--THAT DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE A FRIEND, THAT HAS THE SAME MODEL CAR. SHE TOO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE A DEFECT. *JB MY WINDSHIELD KEEPS ICING UP AND GETS FOGGY.
SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE RADIO HAS TURNED OFF BY ITSELF IT ALSO ERASES ANY PROGRAMMED STATIONS. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP , IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON , IT HAPPENS TO ONE WINDOW AND NOT THE OTHER AND THEN REVERSES. *JB
I BOUGHT MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER IN FEB 03.THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ADJUSTMENT KNOB FOR THE AC,DEFROST HAS BROKE 4 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY CAR. IT GETS STUCK WHERE IT JUST BLOWS OUT OF THE VENT AND ONLY THE VENT. NO DEFROST SO IN THE WINTER AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE WINDOWS ARE FOGGING UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO DEFROST. THE LAST TIME I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS THE CABLE THAT BINDS UP THEY DID FIX IT BUT HERE WE GO AGAIN IT BREAKS. SO NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS OVER IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE FIXED I WILL HAVE TO FORK THE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET AND TO ME IF IT HAS BROKE 4 TIMES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. TO ME THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *NM
KNOB TO TURN THE CONTROLLER FOR DEFROSTER, HEATER FOR FEET OR VENT. THE ONLY AREA IT BLOWS OUT IS OUT THE VENT PANEL IN THE FRONT OF CAR. I AM UNABLE TO USE THE DEFROSTER FOR THE FRONT OF CAR, OR RECEIVE HEAT AT MY FEET. I JUST CANT BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM HAS ALREADY FAILED. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. I WOULD THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE DEFROSTER TO USE. AND NEED HEAT IN THE CAR. THIS OTHER KNOBS ON THE CONTROL PANEL WORK FINE THERE IS 3 KNOBS. 1 FOR THE AMOUNT OF BLOWER THAT YOU WANT, THE SECOND ONE IS FOR THE TEMP SETTING AND THE 3RD ONE IS FOR WHERE YOU WANT THE BLOWER TO COME OUT OF. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SINCE DAY ONE. FIRST IT WAS THE TAIL LIGHTS, THEN THE POWER WINDOWS THEM SELF AND NOW THIS. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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