2003 Chevrolet Cavalier: engine stalls while driving

Filed Aug 31, 2016 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 59,925 miles · PA

I was one block from home and my car stalled it wouldn't start back up. I found my self at the intersection. The mechanic said it is a bad fuel pump. The car only has 60,000 miles. This happened about this time last year . Also last year my gauge to my engine temperature went out of control. I can't tell the engine temp. Anymore.

Filed Jul 11, 2014 · Engine · 26,914 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle could be restarted and the vehicle function normally. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,914 and the current mileage was 27,914.

Filed Jun 24, 2014 · Engine · 40,000 miles · AL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact mentioned that when attempting to restart the vehicle, it made a loud popping noise. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 41,000.

Filed May 16, 2014 · Engine, Fuel system · 90,000 miles · WY

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 investigation or I would have said long ago. There has been lots of recalls lately on gm and this same cavalier decided not to start twice after the fuel pump, once in 2011 was the timing chain then again december 2012 that I still have to diagnose which LED me to research recalls. Each time the car stopped working luckily it was in my driveway each and every time. The timing chain there was some warning, it would sometimes buck, other times it was fussy on starting and it would stall at stop lights. I will report a new issue if I can find out the 3rd unknown 2012 issue.

Filed May 21, 2013 · Fuel system · 65,045 miles · FL

My boyfriend was driving our car. I was in the passenger seat. We had been driving on the interstate for about a mile. Then the car stalled. My friend realized something was wrong when he hit the gas pedal and there was no response, so he placed it in neutral, steered and signaled until he got us and the car safely off the road. After, the car was towed into the dealers shop the mechanics said it was the fuel pump that had failed to work. Therefore, a new fuel pump was installed in the car.

Filed Oct 6, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 130,000 miles · DE

I have a 2003 chevy cavalier stalls : changed the fuel pump , pressure solenoid switch ,torque converter clutch solenoid .tired of this and no one doing anything about it still stalls and all everyone can do is guess at what it is I hate my cavalier the last three years I had problems with the catalytic converter got that fixed after three converters help.

Filed Feb 17, 2012 · Fuel system · 64,640 miles · NY

Owner objects to gm's assertion that this is not a safety-related defect. Vehicle suddenly stalled without notice and left auto occupants in a dangerous position. Engine stumbled once and then stalled while driving down snow- covered road. Had to be pushed out of traffic. Engine would not restart. Was towed to repair facility and in-tank fuel pump had failed. Owner has always been careful to maintain at least 1/4 tank level as this failure has been widely publicized. Earlier model 1993 cavalier went twice this mileage without any fuel pump failures.

Filed Dec 28, 2011 · Fuel system · 123,769 miles · MO

Tl- the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH the vehicle stalled with the illumination of the check oil and battery warning lamps. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance to teh contact with repairs. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 123,769. Kmj updated 01/25//12 *bf updated 01/27/12

Filed Sep 3, 2011 · Fuel system · 61,246 miles · KY

I had left my mothers and drove approximately 35 miles and started slowing to make a turn into our local grocery store when my 2003 cavalier stalled and would not restart back. Upon checking I discovered there was no fuel to the fuel rail.I had just over 1/2 tank of fuel in the tank. I had another turn key and there was no whirring to indicate fuel pump was operating. I called tow service and towed it home. I dropped the tank and replaced the fuel pump and problem was resolved. Another symptom not listed in the complaints when my pump failed all the gauges on the dashboard would register (fuel gauge and temp gauge) then would drop to 0 and would flicker continuously when key was turned to the on position. Upon purchasing new pump assembly that the wiring harness needed to be repaired as well. You can not purchase a new harness to resolve issue had to cut the fuel pump leads off of pump wiring harness and purchase a new connector and splice them together. I feel there maybe more customers with these vehicles that had service done in a local shop that was not reported to the federal safety agency or to gm. As this repair was very expensive at the time and many would seek repairs for lower rates then offered by a dealership.

Filed Jul 5, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 30,000 miles · TX

I am the owner of a 2003 chevy cavalier and I have 2 complaints that should have been recalls as there are many with the same 2 problems, first every gauge in my car quit working no RPM, no gas guage and no speedometer. Second ever since I bought my car for no reason at all it would just stall at redlights when I would take off, dealer said no problem, I have nearly wrecked many times because of this, the latest was today I have read many forums that say they found out it was the faulty plastic fuel pump, why no recall this is going to get someone killed.

Filed Jun 29, 2011 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · MO

On may 31, my 2003 chevrolet cavalier ls sport stalled on a highway. I was in heavy traffic and my power steering went out, but I was luckily able to make it to the side of the road. I immediately exited my vehicle and called roadside assistance for a tow. After receiving diagnostics at a chevy dealership, it was determined that my fuel pump had gone out and had to be replaced. The cost of this and replacing a fuel filter was close to $1,000. My car only has 60,000 miles on it, I had previously replaced the fuel filter 1 year before at another gm dealership, and I performed regular maintenance on the vehicle in accordance with the user manual. When I went home I researched the issue with the car, and lo and behold I came across hundreds of pages which described the exact same problem I had. On one forum alone, there were over 700 posts where owners of the 2003 model cavalier had fuel pumps go out at around the same mileage as my car, with repair costs ranging from $300-$900. I continued to research the issue, and found that the federal safety agency had researched a large number of consumer complaints regarding fuel pump failures with the 2003 model cavalier ' investigation #ea07015 and #pe07033. Gm documents in both of these cases indicated a large number of malfunctions in models up to 2003, then a sharp decrease in failures in the 2004 model.

Filed Jun 17, 2011 · Fuel system · 55,817 miles · HI

2003 chevy cavalier 2dr/standard. Two months and counting my car stalls on stop light. Occasionally, shakes when I start, after putting gas in, it won't start right away (it takes five mins or less)...chk engine light is on...yes, oil change regularly, tuned-up done, new battery, new idle valve, it has been checked, but my car still stalls and I can smell burned oil when I'm warming my car and give some rev...please need help my car is important. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and by the way I don't have money to buy expensive parts if the manufacturer messed this model...help please .