Three problems related to engine have been reported for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier based on all problems reported for the 2003 Cavalier.
I was informed by a customer service rep at Chevrolet on 9/5/03 that my vehicle was covered for head gasket repair under a "special policy" recall. At the urging of this customer service rep from Chevrolet, bruce mitchell, I took my vehicle to the dealer for repair. I was notified by their service dept. That this "special policy" expired 7/03 and that it would cost over $1,400 to fix all of the damages including the head gasket. I told the dealership not to fix the problems. I called Chevrolet and spoke with the same customer service representative as I had earlier. He apologized and informed me that he was incorrect in telling me that the head gasket would be covered at no cost. I purchased this vechicle from a private sale in 2/03. I was never informed by anyone that any recalls were available to me. My vehicle started having problems a couple of weeks ago, so I looked on Chevrolet's website to see if perhaps there were any recalls out for my car and there were 2 and this other "special policy". I asked the company how I was supposed to know that this policy had an expiration date if I never knew about it in the first place. They told me that they did all that they can do and that they cannot help me. I cannot afford to get my vehicle fixed so therefore it is undrivable to me. I think that this is ridiculous. I missed the expiration date by 2 months because of an expired policy that I never knew about, or would have known about if I didn't take it upon myself to conduct some research on the Chevrolet website and take the initiative to call their company. I'm frustrated and angry that a customer service representative got this information so wrong. Now I'm stuck. . . . . I would not have taken this vehicle to the dealership for repair if I would have not been misinformed.
When attempting to shut off vehicle continued to run.
While driving at any speed and whenever the consumer depressed the brake pedal vehicle lost power. Also, intermittently cruise control engaged on its own. Vehicle would have to be turned off to disengage it. Vehicle was taken to dealer several times, and the dealer could not find the causes of the problems.