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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
75,575 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems

fuel system problem

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2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Comments (Page 5 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #113

Apr 192009

Cavalier

  • 101,670 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Came to a stop. Accelerated from stop. Vehicle had problem accelerating. Finally stalled out about 1/8 mile later. Will not restart. Turns over but will not start from what I have read from others with this same problem with this year and model. Every one of them has stated that the fuel pump needed to be replaced.

- Citrus Heights, CA, USA

problem #112

Feb 152009

Cavalier

  • 74,959 miles
1. I was just driving my car it was running fine, I parked it on a hill and when I came back to start it, it just wouldn't start. 2. it was making horrible noises, the tank was at 1/4 I never let it get below that. After an hour of trying to get it to start someone mentioned that it could be the fuel pump and to have someone hit the gas tank while I tried starting it, sure enough it started, I drove it home, the next day I drove to fill up thinking it would help, it died on the way home and wouldn't start at all with any amount of help. 3. I had to have the car towed to get fixed, it was the fuel pump, they replaced it and it cost a total of $613.

- Thayne, WY, USA

problem #111

Oct 202008

Cavalier

  • 58,000 miles
While exiting the highway on an exit ramp, my vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, just shut down and would not restart. Vehicle required towing and fuel pump was replaced.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #110

Apr 052009

Cavalier

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Fuel pumps is dead 60K miles.

- Staunton, VA, USA

problem #109

Mar 282009

Cavalier

  • 66,434 miles
Fuel pump on 2003 Cavalier with approx. 66K miles failed abruptly and without warning. Car was parked in a shopping plaza parking lot and would not start. Had to be towed to service garage.

- Gibsonia, PA, USA

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problem #108

Mar 272009

Cavalier

  • 71,009 miles
I was maneuvering my 2003 Cavalier into a parking spot, and it just died. It wouldn't restart, we had to push it into the parking spot. The diagnosis is a bad fuel pump. After receiving a quote for nearly $800, not from the dealer! I went online to see if I could get an idea of cost and availability for a non-oem part. The first things I found were the forums with hundreds of unhappy Cavalier owners. After reading the forums, I'm thankful I wasn't in traffic when the pump failed. I was unpleasantly surprised to see how many people have been having this same problem. The cost for this repair is substantial; GM apparently knows this but is unwilling to step up and take responsibility for their bad decision in choosing this part. Please investigate this matter and apply whatever pressure you can to make GM accountable for their error. Please contact me if you need my help with this matter.

- Maple Valley, WA, USA

problem #107

Mar 282009

Cavalier

  • 72,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The fuel pump on my 2003 Chevy Cavalier went out without warning while traveling on interstate 25 in denver, Colorado. This is an extremely dangerous situation that can potentially cause serious injury or death due to an accident. I brought the car to a mechanic and was informed that it was the fuel pump that was the culprit. I really think that it is imperative that this issue is addressed before some gets seriously injured or dies as a result of this faulty part.

- Arvada, CO, USA

problem #106

Mar 252009

Cavalier

  • 34,000 miles
I bought a brand new 2003 Cavalier in may of 03. I drive to and from work, a total of maybe 14 miles. I have taken excellent care of this vehicle. Out of the blue I am stranded in a parking lot due the car not wanting to start. I had 3/4 of a tank of gas, yet it acted like there was none. Had car towed to dealership. Would not start off of tow truck. Next day, starts fine. It has taken 3 days for them to finally conclude it's the fuel pump! fix = +$950!!!! I have 34,000 miles!!!! we have had vehicles much older than mine and with +100,000 miles never have this problem. This is ridiculous! I am partially disabled due to a severe back injury and now need to worry about if this is going to happen again. Per prior posts, several people have had this happen more than once. This is an issue that places not only the driver's life, but that of other motorists. How is it possible that Chevy has not taken action? something needs to be done!

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #105

Mar 062009

Cavalier

  • 51,000 miles
Bought 2003 Cavalier 7-26-2003, brand new. Stalled while driving 3-31-04 - smelled burning/chemical smell- car restarted - took to dealer - dealer found no problem. To dealer 3 times to fix detective exterior lighting 2004/2005. Several additional engine stalls 2004-2009 - car restarted. On 3-6-09 stalled while driving - wouldn't start - towed to dealer- dealer said fuel pump went bad - will repair at my expense - over $1,000. Dealer asked if I have extended warranty - I don't. when the car stalls out I have no brakes, no power steering - it is terrifying and very unsafe. And if the car is repaired is it going to be any safer" will the same problem keep recurring as it did with the lighting signals" I am a safe driver, I am the only driver of this car, the car has only 51,000 miles on it, I only drive 10 miles to and from work, it is garage kept. I have owned several cars and have kept them all for many years and I have never had a major repair such as this occur on such a young car. This problem has been apparent since I bought the car but the dealer has ignored and neglected it at the expense of me and my family's health. I have children and grandchildren that are driven in this vehicle and could be victims of this defect. For the public safety in the U.S. please request a recall of this component (fuel pump). This is a serious matter and should be remediated as soon as possible. Please help before a deadly accident occurs.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #104

Mar 032009

Cavalier

  • 40,000 miles
My fuel pump went out on my 2003 Chevy Cavalier with 40,000 miles on it. I've noticed on topix comment boards this has happened to a lot of people with the 03 Cavalier. There really needs to be a recall from GM, this is not safe.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #103

Feb 252009

Cavalier

  • 86,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am having to replace my fuel pump on my 2003 Chevy Cavalier for the 2nd time, the first time it was still under warranty. Nothing lead up to this, turned off the car to go into the store, came out car would start, no getting any gas.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #102

Sep 012003

Cavalier

  • 8,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact experiences issues when attempting to restart the engine. The instrument panel gauges illuminate, but the engine does not start. He does not smell gasoline, but believes the fuel pump could be the cause of the failure. The failure occurred three months after the vehicle was purchased. The fuel pump was replaced under warranty; however, the failure has recurred. The vehicle is currently at a gas station and unable to be started. The vehicle has not been diagnosed a second time since the first repair. The contact found several complaints online for the same issue and believes a recall should be issued. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 8,000 and current mileage was 72,000.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #101

Sep 132008

Cavalier

  • 92,000 miles
Purchased a 2003 Chevy Cavalier in Sept. 2008 for my daughter to go to college. Had a carfax report done and found nothing, clean report. 2 days after purchase, inst. Cluster went bad, not working at all. Dec. 08 the fuel pump went bad. After researching the internet, I have found thousands of the same complaints as mine. I have even found websites advertising to rebuild the cluster as so many are defective. Now if this isn't enough to see the major problem, I don't know what is. I feel that enough information is out on the internet to warrant a recall on both issues before the public has to spend all their money to fix GM's faulty parts that break down so quickly. Just these 2 repairs cost $500 each.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #100

Feb 152009

Cavalier

  • 66,000 miles
My car has been running finer and then al of a sudden in the middle of rush hour traffic it dies. No warning. Nothing. The fuel pump has gone out and will cost $600+ to replace. There have been many many complaints about this very issue and it happens at approx the same mileage of the car. Between 60000 and 70000 miles. This needs to be addressed!

- Chunchcula, AL, USA

problem #99

Feb 122009

Cavalier

  • 86,000 miles
2003 Cavalier- 86,000 miles. Fuel pump failure. Usually do my own mechanical work but opted to let a shop work on this one. Total cost $800. Shop stated that this is a very common problem.

- Cullman, AL, USA

problem #98

Feb 112009

Cavalier

  • 91,000 miles
I have had a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier and the fuel pump keeps going bad costing me a pretty penny every time it goes. After doing some research online it appears that there are many people with bad fuel pumps for Chevrolet Cavaliers. Just reporting the problem to add my name to the list of unhappy 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier owners. The incident that I list below is the latest date the fuel pump went bad, today as a matter of fact. The last time it went bad was less than a month ago.

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #97

Jan 272009

Cavalier

  • 121,568 miles
Fuel pump died with no warning on dangerous highway. Had to get a tow and repair at a shop not familiar with total bill including towing and repair 1,200 some vehicle forums have upwards of 500 individuals with same problem definite safety hazard and warrants a recall.

- Sioux Falls, SD, USA

problem #96

Feb 012009

Cavalier

  • 56,000 miles
2003 Chevy Cavalier shut off on me while driving down steep hill. No power steering and brakes, luckily made it to safe space at bottom of hill. Car would not restart. Now in garage. Diagnosed with bad fuel pump. It will cost $600 to fix when part comes in. This is ridiculous, car has only 56,000 miles on it! this is a severe safety hazard. I searched on-line and it is a common complaint with this vehicle. Something must be done before a fatality occurs, if it has not already!

- Conyngham, PA, USA

problem #95

Jan 062009

Cavalier

  • 165,000 miles
I have 165,000km on my 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. It is constantly stalling, mostly at stop lights and when I slow down, however today it stalled on the highway. The mechanics think it might be the fuel pump but it is hard to tell for sure what it is and I don't want to spend all this money if it is not that. I have heard from many people this is a common issue with this car. I feel quite unsafe driving since it could stall or shut down at any point. A car should not stall while driving or at stop lights. Please recall this part!!

- Hamilton, 00, USA

problem #94

Jan 192009

Cavalier

  • 47,000 miles
My wife was driving with our two boys to the library when the car just stopped as she was going into a busy intersection. She called me at work in a panic. Luckily, another driver calmed her down and helped push the car off to the side of the road. Issue was that the fuel pump went bad. Car only has 47,000 miles. Cost of repair was $660 plus the towing from the intersection to the shop.

- American Fork, UT, USA

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