10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
45,128 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Jun 242007

Cavalier

  • 133,718 miles
During the time of June 24 2007 I was involved in a accident where the valve stem blow out of a tire and the tire blew of the rim at night causing my car to go off the road into a ditch embankment and cause the car to be considered to be total and I then contacted the company of Firestone on research blvd here in austin tx.I was injured with neck pains and back pains. Call #200703564 elgin Texas 78621 elgin police department #5122855757.

- Elgin, TX, USA

problem #2

Mar 012005

Cavalier 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 1,666 miles
Chevrolet Cavalier Z 2003, multiple failures. The defroster would not clear the windows, the heater did not work, the air bag light illuminated because there was a split in the center of the steering wheel. When the consumer made a right turn a noise was heard. The left rear turn signal bulb was replaced, the right rear brake light bulb. There was a noise coming from the front of the vehicle, the dealer lubed the front sway bar bushing. The tires were over inflated, so the vehicle would sway when going over bumps, the blower motor, and heater control was replaced. The ABS lamp illuminated. The vehicle needed brake pads. There was mold on the drivers front door. The ac compressor was replaced. The window went down extremely slow, the dealer lubed the window track and regulator. The fog light bulb was inoperative, the door latch was inoperative.

- Altoona, PA, USA

problem #1

Sep 232003

Cavalier

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On Sept 23, 2003 I called the service department at showcase Chevrolet where I bought the Cavalier. Talked to a service advisor about the problem with my vehicle. The car was very hard to handle on groove roads. It felt like the back-end was going one way and the front the other. He said he would look at it, he stated that they put more air in the tires and that should do it. The next day I called and ask to speak to the service manager as the vehicle was worse. Troy (svc. Mgr.) said he would drive with me. We took the vehicle down the road and it swerved and troy stated to me he felt the problem and was holding on. He told me to take it back as he is not safe in it. He stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and that he feels that it is the tie rods. He took the vehicle back to the shop and readjusted the tie rods, rebalanced tires, and stated that he drove the other Cavaliers and all with 14 inch tires had the same problem. I asked him what he could do about this and he stated that the vehicles with 15 inch tires didn't do that and we could buy rims and tires and he feels that should solve the problem. On the third trip to the service dept. He said he couldn't help with the tires as they didn't have any 15 inch rims around and I would have to pay for them. He stated he could not warranty them out as it is an upgrade in the vehicle. I have no way of knowing that putting 15 inch tires on this vehicle will solve the problem. I have contacted GM and they state the vehicle is up to their specifications for that car and they will not do anything to the vehicle or vehicle with 14 inch tires. It was not brought up as an option to me when I bought the vehicle as the GM customer service representative stated. How can they let these cars stay on the road with a problem controlling them on groove roads? the service manager stated that he would not drive this vehicle on the road during rain or snow as you could easily loose controls in the grooves.

- Mabank, TX, USA