2003 Chevrolet Cavalier: won't start

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 Jan 19, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 115,000 miles · OH

I had been reading about recent recalls with gm, especially ignition switches. I have a 2003 chevy cavalier and it was diagnosed with a bad ignition switch. I first noticed when I went to start the car in the morning, a day after coming home from work. Good thing it happened then because I would have been stranded off site. I went to start the car, nothing happened except wipers and radio did not work as well which I thought was strange. Finally the radio at least came on at some point, but car still would not start. After it was fixed they said the ignition switch was bad and the mechanic asked if I had looked for the recall on it. I searched online but did not find it. I know my car is older, however of all the cars I ever owned and I had many, I never had any issues with ignition switches! I think I had one of the defective switches and would like to look into this matter. Unfortunately I probably can't go back to get the physical ignition switch at this point, too late. I have the proper paperwork for it however. Also on another note, my rear driver side signal keeps going out, no matter how many times I replace it. That might be something gm should look into as well.

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 Nov 7, 2012 · Engine, Fuel system · 70,000 miles · AL

Was at a stop light and car just konked out and would not start again. I tried and tried but to no avail. Had to push it into a gas station about 100 yards, not easy as a 50 year old female (no one stopped to help me, just sped by). I have seen hundreds of complaints on-line that this has been an habitual problem with this make and model. It only has 71,000 miles on it and I just purchased the first part of 2012???? What is up? This many problems should have involved a recall!

Filed Oct 12, 2011 · Fuel system · 275,200 miles · FL

At approx. 67k my fuel pump failed. I purchased and installed a new fuel pump, adhering to the manufacturers installation recommendations. Less than 6 months later the new pump failed. The has been a recurring problem now for at least 10 fuel pumps. This installation recommendations have not changed and I have had the electrical system that powers the pump checked out as well. In each condition it was a no start "failure", leaving me stranded in each case and costing me hundreds of dollars in towing fees that are non-refundable. Even though the auto parts stores have been kind enough to honor the warranty most times I have still had to pay for at least 5 of the 10 fuel pumps. That's a 1 to 1 ratio. I have also read about the condition with brushes in the motor wearing out. Some of these pumps have provided 30k miles or more and others not 3k mi. This is a huge problem and I for one will not be shopping for another chevy until this problem acknowledged and resolved. I am researching my purchases/exchanges to verify the dates and will register each one of them individually.

Filed Sep 6, 2011 · Fuel system · 100,000 miles · NV

My car would not start after I turned it off. I banged on the gas tank with a hammer, while a coworker cranked the engine over and the fuel pumped kicked in. This resulted in the car starting; however I played it safe and had it towed home. I replaced the fuel pump and have not had any problems since. Still unfortunate that the fuel pump barely lasted 100k. I believe chevy should give you a fuel pump free of charge if there is a failure within the first 200k miles. Plain and simple fuel pumps should not fail as often as they do with this make/model. It's is dangerous to everyone's health, and I hope no one ever gets hurt from it.

Filed Sep 3, 2011 · Fuel system · AZ

My husband and I went looking for a car at this dealership on oct. 31, 2010. We found this chevrolet cavalier (2003). When we bought the car it had no information on it; so I checked on carfax and found that it had couple of recalls on it; but nothing about the fuel pump. So now the car go's out won't start. I don't know what to do about this. We are on a fixed income and can't afford this right now. There was a recalled the cars from 1998 to 2002 and fixed the problem. We will have to have it fixed or get rid of it or trade it in.

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 .

Filed Mar 21, 2011 · Fuel system · 92,800 miles · TX

The car just would not start one morning after no warnings! I had it towed to the shop and was told the fuel pump, fuel filter and some type of module would have to be replaced, at a cost of $900.00!!!

Filed Sep 22, 2010 · Electrical, Fuel system · PA

2003 cavalier, the defroster knob cable has gone bad 2x's before it is gone again, the driver side window motor went last year, last month the fuel pump went, the passenger side motor is going, the speedometer is messed up along with the tack, it sticks. My daughter drives this car just turned 17, the speedometer said she was going 105, when she shuts the car off it says she's still doing 35, at times the car wont start, don't know exactly why, this is bs, there is only 72000 miles on it, gm needs to start fixing these problems, some one is going to get killed.

Filed May 17, 2010 · Fuel system · 111,000 miles · WV

2003 chevrolet cavalier, died while driving lost power steering and almost drove into ditch because I couldn't easily turn steering wheel! I think it is a problem with the fuel pump because the car would not start after incident. Starter will turn the engine over but will not start...

Filed Mar 24, 2010 · Fuel system · 100,000 miles · TX

The fuel pump failed on my 2003 chevy cavalier leaving my car power less (off) at 65 MPH. Then would not start, leaving me stranded on a busy highway. I am having to buy a new fuel pump costing around $200 and take time off of work to fix it.