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.
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems
383 complaints (56% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 66,000. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 383
- of this car's complaints
- 56%
- typical mileage
- 66,000
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Delivery: fuel pump174
- Storage: fuel gauge system3
- Fuel injection system: injectors2
- Storage: tank assembly1
- Fuel injection system1
- Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
- Delivery1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Engine stalling - fuel pump failure
Odi's analysis of the stalling incidents that have resulted from subject component failures found that they can occur at any speed and generally result in a no restart condition.these are generally considered to be factors that increase the potential severity of stalling incidents.however, these incidents have occurred at relatively low rates in the subject vehicle population when compared with prior investigations involving similar categories of engine stall consequences.even for the early my 2003 production, where higher failure rates were noted, the rates of pump failures resulting in engine stall are lower than rates recorded in prior investigations of populations that were not recalled.further investigation of this matter would not be an efficient allocation of agency resources.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.see document file for more information about this closing resume.
EA07015
Fuel pump failure
An engineering analysis has been opened to further investigate the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.general motors (gm) has identified an issue with accelerated motor brush wear in the fuel pump assembly of model year (my) 2001 through 2003 chevrolet vehicles that can cause the pump to stop operating.general motors indicated that peroxide or sulfur, which are both present in varying amounts in gasoline, can react with the copper commutator of the pump motor and corrode/roughen the surface.a rough commutator surface increases the rate of brush wear.the increased electrical resistance caused by degradation of the brush-commutator interface inhibits current flow through the motor windings.according to gm, the condition will usually result in a no-start condition because of the high current required during start-up.when the alleged defect does cause a stall while driving incident, the vehicle typically cannot be restarted.gm's analysis of warrant claims showed that no start/hard start was the most common condition and the frequency of claims associated with stall while driving incidents was too low to warrant field action. This investigation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea07-015) to further assess the complaint and warranty claim data and the analyses provided by gm.
PE07033
What 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
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 brand new!! This is 3 bad fuel pumps in a year and my wallet can't afford to keep this up. Why is there not a recall on this?
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.
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!
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.
Was driving on interstate at top speed when car died. Got to side of road and had it towed. Had to have fuel pump replaced. A year later the new fuel pump went out. A year later that pump went out. Two weeks later, the fourth fuel pump went out and it is in the shop again. Car is not safe as this happens suddenly and without warning and leaves you with no control in the middle of traffic moving at top speed.
I've owned two different 2003 chevy cavaliers and in both cars the fuel pump went out after a year of owning the vehicles. I went through two fuel pumps in my first cavalier and I bought another cavalier after the first was wrecked and my second cavi lost its pump now. I know of cars with 3 times the amount of miles on it without having a single fuel pump problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet cavalier. He contact attempted to accelerate from a traffic light but the vehicle would not respond. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing who advised that the fuel pump would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
Questions about the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 383 complaints about the fuel system of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, 56% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 66,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Chevrolet Cavalier have the most fuel system problems?
The Chevrolet Cavalier model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2003 (383 complaints), 2000 (43 complaints) and 2001 (29 complaints).
Other 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Electrical 106Lights 57Engine 47Visibility 38Brakes 34Suspension 22Steering 19Airbags 18Transmission 16Acceleration 13Body 11Seat belts 8Tires 4Driver assistance 3Locks 3Wheels 3Seats 1
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