2003 Chevrolet Cavalier engine problems
49 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, which is 6% of all its NHTSA complaints.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 49 6% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 55,000 miles 41 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 41 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 55,000 miles, and 59% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 1 fire.
What owners wrote
Fire in driver side engine compartment of chevrolet cavalier. Driver stated vehicle shut off in traffic. Upon re-starting, noticed smoke coming from under engine hood, driver side. Driver got out and saw flames in area of driver side eng. Compt.
My son was pulling into a parking lot and as he describes it, everything but the radio went dead all by itself (the engine died and there was no power steering or brakes). Obviously the same symptoms as the current recalls. I called the dealer and was told the car isn't on the list. I've complained to chevy and am getting the runaround by multiple members of their "consumer support team" (we've assigned you a service request number but I am to wait until it happens again and then bring it in "so we could start…
Other problems reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
- Fuel system 406 complaints
- Electrical system 109 complaints
- Lighting 74 complaints
- Brakes 43 complaints
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 38 complaints
- Suspension 22 complaints
- Steering 20 complaints
- Air bags 19 complaints