10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 59,713 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
While driving down the highway at 65 mph, 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier with 88,505 miles began losing speed/acceleration. Driver was able to pull to the shoulder before engine stopped. Driver turned off ignition and was not able to restart engine. Fuel pump failed and was replaced at a local garage. Re: NHTSA action number EA07015.
- San Antonio, TX, USA
The event leading up to the failure was while the car was traveling down the road, the car stopped running. The car would not restart and had to be towed to a dealership. The dealership determined the failure was the fuel pump and to correct the failure the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The old part is not available.
- Bay City, MI, USA
Fuel pump failed in my 2003 Chevy Cavalier at 80,000 miles.
- Boise, ID, USA
I have a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier ls sport coupe with approximately 72,000 miles on it. Last night, without any warning, my vehicle would not start and I was left stranded with groceries in my car at a grocery store parking lot. I had it towed to a very reputable local repair shop and was informed this morning that my fuel pump has to be replaced. The repairs are going to cost me approximately $700. In searching the internet, I came across a message board where over 330 posts have been made by consumers with the same problem I'm having. The website address is www.topix.com/forum/autos/Chevrolet-Cavalier/tvinic5tfu5sfsi5H also, the mechanic at the repair shop informed me that his shop repairs approximately 3-4 fuel pumps on Chevrolet Cavaliers each week. He stated that they are defective when they come from the manufacturer, so when they get between 60,000-80,000 miles on them, they fail with no warning signs.
- Longs, SC, USA
For the past year my vehicle has stalled in traffic while running going to 0 RPM but restarting. The I found is effecting all 2003 caviliers, it was my fuel pump. I am at a rock and a hard place because I had to get fixed and could not shop around. I had to spend over $600 and I could not affiord to everything that recomended done. The car is not even paid off, if there is a problem the cars should have therecall. I was on interstate 95 where speed limit is 70 miles per hour it is a miracle that I was not killed by a truck this is a trucking route in Florida. Please look into this it is so dangerous and it is happening with all Cavaliers.
- Orange Park , FL, USA
I bought a 2003 Chevy Cavalier a few months ago. It has 56,000 miles on it and the fuel pump went out on it. At first I didn't think it was a big problem with the Cavaliers so I googled it and it turns out there were almost 400 complaints from people who have had there fuel pumps go out on their 2003 Cavaliers at low mileage, and those are just the ones on google. Im sure there are many more! as far as I know there aren't any recalls for this problem, but with as many cases as there are than it would be a defect and there should be a recall. The average price to repair the fuel pump is around $700 and I really cant afford that much. Any kind of help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
- Columbus, GA, USA
My Chevy Cavalier 2003 just stopped on me without any notice. Got to go to work and car would not start. It has 45, 000 miles and only use it for work commute which is 1 mile round trip. I have had oil changes regularly. When mechanic looked at it--he said not another one! come to find out that fuel injection/pump failure for these cars is notorious. My mechanic said that my car was the seventh in the last 8 month. Same mo--no indication of problems and suddenly your car just stops! regardless of wear and tear or car mileage. So I guess I was lucky--I was not driving in traffic when this occurred. And mechanic cut me a break at $700. This is outrageous! and you wonder why the german, Japanese cars are out selling good ole usa. This was my first purchase of american car, and unfortunately I wish I had instead bought another Honda, or Mazda.
- La Mesa , CA, USA
I had to replace my fuel pump. When I was looking for information on the topic I found that over 300 others, had the same problem when dealing with the same issue after owning the car for short periods of time. I feel that if this is happening with this model 2003 in particular that Chevy should look into what is causing this failure.
- Burgaw, NC, USA
No start/non-start situation vehicle towed to dealer fuel pump failure diagnosed. Vehicle fixed next day at cost to owner.
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA
Car completely shut down while driving. Need to replace the fuel pump.
- Warren, MI, USA
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier unexpected fuel pump failure at 84,000 miles. Turned ignition off car after driving 50 miles, tried to immediately restart. Fuel pump would not run, car would not restart.
- Pearland, TX, USA
2003 Cavalier has only 65,000 miles on it with no other major issues having occurred in the past. The fuel pump suddenly went out according to my mechanic after it stalled while trying it.
- Dayton, OH, USA
I was driving my car, a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier into a gas station when my engine just all of a sudden died causing a vehicle behind me to almost rear-end me. My car would not start afterwards after a many tries. I had it towed to a nearby local garage and found out it was the fuel pump. My car had about 70,000 miles then (this was back in September). Total cost of repair was $415.95.
- Tinley Park, IL, USA
Car stalled at stop lights during the summer. Fuel pump failed following winter. Stalls around a dozen in one summer.
- Kc, MO, USA
While driving home from work, my 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier suddenly stalled in traffic. In order to prevent a serious accident, I attempted to pull the vehicle to the side of the road. Without power steering (due to the vehicle stalling), control was limited and I ultimately ran into a snow bank. Luckily, I was able to get the vehicle off the road far enough to prevent a more serious accident involving other vehicles. The car would not restart, and I was forced to leave the vehicle on the roadside and get a ride home. At home, I performed an internet search and found that many other drivers had similar problems with the same vehicle, most of which are the result of premature failure of the fuel pump. Using information obtained from other owners with similar problems, I was able to get the vehicle started and running intermittently in order to get it home. Altogether, the vehicle stalled three times during the process, and now will not start at all. I have contacted several mechanics who all feel the fuel pump has failed and I will be taking it in for service tomorrow.
- Sutton, MA, USA
I wanted to add my incident to your already opened PE07033 action. My daughter was driving home from work at 1:00am when her 2003 Chevy Cavalier stalled. She managed to get to the side of the road and was then stranded. I had the car towed to my mechanic who then replaced the fuel pump. Having read gms description of the problem and its cause, I am dismayed over the risk to her safety and the expense of the repair.
- Kennesaw, GA, USA
The fuel pump on my car went out. The car would stall and not start back up.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
Car was performing fine until won't start condition. Had to tow in to shop, replace bad fuel pump. $900 31,500 miles.
- Decatur, IL, USA
Fuel pump failed when driving at speed on freeway, causing total loss of power (in bad weather) in traffic. Vehicle stopped in middle of 4 lane freeway (US101).
- Camarillo, CA, USA
- Englewood, CO, USA