CarBrief

The 2003 Cavalier has 678 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1], and 340 of them name the gasoline fuel system[2]. It also has one recall for rear lamps that can stop working[3].

678owner complaints[1]
1recalls[4]
24–25MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Reported problems

NHTSA has 678 owner complaints on file for this model year[1]. Of those, 31 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 18 injuries and 1 a death[1]. These are unverified reports from owners, and one complaint can name several parts.

Component group Complaints Median miles at failure
Fuel system, gasoline[2] 340 66,354
Electrical system[6] 106 59,379
Exterior lighting[7] 57 12,304
Engine[8] 47 55,000
Fuel system, other[9] 37 63,000
Visibility[10] 37 49,380
Brakes[11] 34 9,900
Suspension[12] 22 26,000

Fuel system. The gasoline fuel system group is the largest, with 340 complaints, 3 crashes and no fires or injuries[2]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe fuel pump failures and replacements, and the engine stalling or shutting off while driving[2]. Some describe the pump being replaced more than once.

Electrical and lighting. The electrical group has 106 complaints, including 3 crashes, 4 fires and 3 injuries[6]. Exterior lighting has 57 complaints, 5 crashes and 3 injuries[7]. In the samples we read, owners describe rear brake and turn signal bulbs burning out again and again, and sockets that fail or melt[6][7]. Some of the same complaint texts appear more than once in the sample.

Engine. The engine group has 47 complaints and 1 fire[8]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe stalling and loss of power, at idle and when pressing the clutch, and several say the dealer could not find or repeat the problem[8].

Brakes, suspension and visibility each have fewer complaints than the groups above[10][11][12]. The brake group's median mileage at failure is 9,900[11], but it is a smaller group.

Recalls

NHTSA lists one recall for this model year.

This recall lines up with the exterior lighting complaints above. If you are looking at one of these cars, ask whether the work was done.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions of the 2.2L 4-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive[5][13][14].

Version City Highway Combined Annual fuel cost
Automatic 4-spd, regular[5] 21 30 25 $2,700
Manual 5-spd, regular[13] 22 30 25 $2,700
Dual-fuel, automatic 4-spd, gasoline or natural gas[14] 21 30 24 $2,800

EPA's annual cost uses current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings list both the 4-door and the 2-door as not rated[15][16]. That means there is no star score to compare.

Engine and size

These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models. All variants have a 104 in wheelbase[17][18][19][20].

Variant Length Width Height Curb weight
2-door coupe VL/VLX[17] 183 in 69 in 53 in 2,619 lb
2-door coupe Z24[18] 183 in 69 in 53 in 2,749 lb
4-door sedan VL/VLX[19] 183 in 68 in 55 in 2,676 lb
4-door sedan Z24[20] 183 in 68 in 55 in 2,729 lb

How 2003 compares with other years

1995: 270 complaints, 4 recalls19951996: 503 complaints, 7 recalls19961997: 540 complaints, 7 recalls19971998: 345 complaints, 4 recalls19981999: 240 complaints, 2 recalls19992000: 315 complaints, 2 recalls20002001: 243 complaints, 1 recalls20012002: 196 complaints, 0 recalls20022003: 678 complaints, 1 recalls67820032004: 330 complaints, 1 recalls20042005: 287 complaints, 0 recalls2005
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Cavalier model year. The 2003 is highlighted[4].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19952704
19965037
19975407
19983454
19992402
20003152
20012431
20021960
20036781
20043301
20052870

Among the Cavalier model years listed, 2003 has the most complaints, at 678[4]. The next highest are 1997 with 540 and 1996 with 503[4]. The lowest is 2002 with 196[4]. The neighbors are 2002 at 196 and 2004 at 330[4].

For recalls, 2003 has 1[4]. The 1996 and 1997 years have 7 each, and 2002 and 2005 have none[4]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a high count may partly reflect sales.

Should you buy a used 2003 Cavalier?

This model year has the highest complaint count of any Cavalier year listed, at 678[4]. Of those, 340 name the gasoline fuel system[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so they show where owners reported trouble, not how likely a given car is to fail. If you are considering one, check whether the fuel pump has been replaced and whether the rear lamp recall work was done[3]. Fuel economy is rated 25 combined for the common versions[5][13], and the car has no NHTSA star rating[15][16].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The largest complaint group is the gasoline fuel system, with 340 of 678 complaints[2][1]. Electrical (106) and exterior lighting (57) follow[6][7].
Does the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier have any recalls?
Yes, one. Recall 04V524 covers rear lamps that can stop working because of poor bulb and socket contact. Dealers inspect and grease or replace the sockets[3].
What MPG does the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier get?
EPA rates the automatic at 21 city, 30 highway and 25 combined, and the manual at 22, 30 and 25[5][13].
Is the 2003 Cavalier a bad year?
It has the most complaints of the Cavalier years listed, 678 against 540 for the next highest[4]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.
How safe is the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA lists the 4-door and 2-door as not rated[15][16].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 678 owner complaints on file for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (31 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 18 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 340 complaints name the fuel system, gasoline component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,354). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Recall 04V524, filed November 1, 2004: Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal. NHTSA recall database
  4. Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 106 complaints name the electrical system component group (3 crashes, 4 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 59,379). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 57 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 12,304). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 47 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 37 complaints name the fuel system, other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 37 complaints name the visibility component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 49,380). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 34 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 9,900). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 22 complaints name the suspension component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Cavalier Dual-fuel, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or natural gas, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 2DR COUPE VL/VLX: length 183 in, width 69 in, height 53 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,619 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 2DR COUPE Z24: length 183 in, width 69 in, height 53 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,749 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  19. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 4DR SEDAN VL/VLX: length 183 in, width 68 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,676 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 4DR SEDAN Z24: length 183 in, width 68 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,729 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.