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2003 Chevrolet CavalierProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 678 owner complaints about the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
29
CarFlaw IndexUse caution2.4× the Cavalier median · #2 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints67853 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage66kFuel system, gasoline, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 7, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier has problems

678 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline3403
Electrical system1068
Exterior lighting575
Engine and engine cooling431
Visibility374
Fuel system, other370
Service brakes, hydraulic302
Suspension222
Steering193
16 other systems11327

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Recall 04V-524 · Nov 1, 2004 · 256,025 vehicles

Risk. AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Mileage at failure

When do fuel system, gasoline problems start?

66kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 318 fuel system, gasoline complaints. 88% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
13under 30k miles280under 100k miles38100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Fuel system, gasoline

62 owners mentioned a cost

$735median

Middle half: $617 – $891

Electrical system

13 owners mentioned a cost

$500median

Middle half: $500 – $500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other Cavalier year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Cavalier median. How we score

'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier safety ratings

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, and the recalls they led to.

  1. TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONEA04028 · closed Nov 22, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-524
  2. ENGINE STALLING - FUEL PUMP FAILUREEA07015 · closed Oct 28, 2008
    No recall
  3. TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONPE04043 · closed Sep 14, 2004
    No recall
  4. FUEL PUMP FAILUREPE07033 · closed Nov 1, 2007
    No recall
In owners' words

What Cavalier owners report

Recent fuel system, gasoline complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WENT TO START CAR TO GO TO STORE AND IT WOULD NOT START. LUCKILY IT WAS AT HOME WHEN IT DECIDED TO STOP WORKING. TOWED TO GARAGE AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THE GARAGE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND IT FIXED THE NO START ISSUE. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS WAS THE PROCESS TO START A RECALL…
Complaint 10588817 · May 16, 2014 · 90,000 miles
WAS IN THE FAST LANE AND CAR SHUT OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD NOT. WAS STUCK IN THE ROAD CARS HONKING CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. *TR
Complaint 10555936 · Dec 13, 2013 · 123,100 miles
COASTING DOWN HILL ON A DIRT ROAD, GOT TO THE BOTTOM AND ENGINE HAD DIED. ROLLED TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED TO A MECHANIC, REPLACED FUEL PUMP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE MORE AND EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. THE LAST FUEL PUMP ONLY LASTED 3 MONTHS AND LIKE THE TWO PREVIOUS PUMPS, IT WAS…
Complaint 10515919 · Jun 9, 2013 · 140,000 miles

Own a 2003 Cavalier?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.