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2003 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cavalier years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

553 reports with mileage · 125 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 340 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 106 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports6 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

43 reports
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745,000 miles · Dec 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED MY 2003 CAVALIER BRAND NEW WITH 106 MILES ON IT (IT HAD TO BE DRIVEN FROM PITTSBURGH TO HARRISBURG). IN LATE SEPT. OR EARLY OCT. MY CAR BEGAN RATTLING AT STOP LIGHTS. THE DAY AFTER THE RATTLING STARTED, MY CAR STALLED AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. A TRIPLE A MECHANIC WAS CALLED AND COULDN'T DETERM…

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I PURCHASED MY 2003 CAVALIER BRAND NEW WITH 106 MILES ON IT (IT HAD TO BE DRIVEN FROM PITTSBURGH TO HARRISBURG). IN LATE SEPT. OR EARLY OCT. MY CAR BEGAN RATTLING AT STOP LIGHTS. THE DAY AFTER THE RATTLING STARTED, MY CAR STALLED AT MY PLACE OF BUSINESS AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. A TRIPLE A MECHANIC WAS CALLED AND COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS EXCEPT HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A GARAGE, I WAS TOLD THAT OIL WAS NOT MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH MY ENGINE CAUSING FRICTION AND IN TURN CAUSING MY ENGINE TO EXPAND BREAKING MY TIMING CHAIN AND BASICALLY RENDERING THE ENTIRE ENGINE USELESS. THE MECHANIC ASKED ME IF MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR OIL LIGHT WAS LIT ON MY DASHBOARD BECAUSE WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL PUMP, ONE OF THOSE LIGHTS WOULD HAVE LIT UP, WHICH I RESPONDED NO. HE THEN THOUGHT THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING WHICH WAS NOT TRUE BECAUSE WHEN HE TURNED THE KEY, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP. HE THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT MY OIL LEVELS WERE NORMAL AND THAT MY TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST FOR 25+ YEARS. THE MECHANIC WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT I SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET BECAUSE HE BELIEVE THAT WITH THE LOW MILEAGE OF MY VEHICLE AND THE RELATIVE NEW-NESS OF THE VEHICLE, THE ONLY CAUSE FOR THIS ISSUE WOULD BE A DEFECT. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET VIA EMAIL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A RESPONSE IN NO MORE THAN 48 HOURS. AFTER HEARING NO RESPONSE, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252996

110,200 miles · Oct 13, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STARTUP ISSUES AND OCCASIONAL "CHUGGING" WHILE DRIVING - SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WOULD LURCH AHEAD AT TIMES, HAS ALSO BRIEFLY STALLED AT LIGHTS. ON 10/11/08, THE CAR WOULD BRIEFLY TURN OVER AND START FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE, SHUT OFF, AND AFTERWARDS REFUSED TO START. HAD CAR T…

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MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STARTUP ISSUES AND OCCASIONAL "CHUGGING" WHILE DRIVING - SEEMED LIKE THE CAR WOULD LURCH AHEAD AT TIMES, HAS ALSO BRIEFLY STALLED AT LIGHTS. ON 10/11/08, THE CAR WOULD BRIEFLY TURN OVER AND START FOR LESS THAN A MINUTE, SHUT OFF, AND AFTERWARDS REFUSED TO START. HAD CAR TOWED FROM MY RESIDENCE TO MECHANIC SHOP WHO ALERTED ME THAT FUEL PRESSURE WAS LOW. FUEL ELECTRONICS WERE FUNCTIONING AS PER COMPUTER CHECK, TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD FUEL PUMP. CAR IS AT ~110,300 MILES. HAD SPARK PLUGS, FUEL FILTER, ENGINE BELT REPLACED IN MARCH & APRIL OF 2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245280

96,359 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

COMING HOME FROM MILWAUKEE AT 12:30 AM WITH SON AFTER SEEING RACE IN SLINGER, WI. ON INTERSTATE, CAR LOST COMPLETE ENGINE POWER AND BECAME DEAD. CLOSEST GM DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN, WI WENT OUT OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR (PER TOW TRUCK DRIVER). HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD FUEL PUMP AND A PRICE OF OVER $800. …

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COMING HOME FROM MILWAUKEE AT 12:30 AM WITH SON AFTER SEEING RACE IN SLINGER, WI. ON INTERSTATE, CAR LOST COMPLETE ENGINE POWER AND BECAME DEAD. CLOSEST GM DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN, WI WENT OUT OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR (PER TOW TRUCK DRIVER). HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A BAD FUEL PUMP AND A PRICE OF OVER $800. CAME TO PICK UP WITH A TRAILER AND ASKED FOR HELP PUSHING CAR ON TRAILER. THEY SAID YOU COULD DRIVE IT UP AS THE MECHANIC TAPPED THE FUEL TANK AND IT STARTED. DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES LAST WEEK WITH NO PROBLEMS. I EXPLAINED THIS TO GM, TOLD THEM ABOUT THEIR POOR DESIGN AND THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE IT WILL FAIL AT ANY TIME AND COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. WAS GIVEN CASE #71-648948392 (TOLD NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE PER MY VIN #). CHECKED ON INTERNET (TOPIX.COM) AND OVER 400 HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236023

77,000 miles · Jul 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS (UP TO 15 MPH) AND HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY DOING SO LATELY. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WHEN THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS CROSSING A HIGHWAY. MY WIFE HAS BEEN NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM FEARING THAT IF A RECALL ISN'T GIVEN ON THESE CARS PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY WIFE AND I, MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJ…

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THE CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS (UP TO 15 MPH) AND HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY DOING SO LATELY. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER WHEN THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS CROSSING A HIGHWAY. MY WIFE HAS BEEN NEARLY HIT SEVERAL TIMES AND I AM FEARING THAT IF A RECALL ISN'T GIVEN ON THESE CARS PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY WIFE AND I, MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP TO SEE IF THIS HELPS THE PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234130

67,000 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO IT STALLING OUT COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING, WHICH EVENTUALLY LED TO IT STALLING OUT COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10230446

35,000 miles · Jun 4, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AGAIN, BUT DID LATER IN THE DAY AND WAS DRIVEN INTO THE CONTACT'S DRIVEWAY. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10229945

73,000 miles · May 21, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS REWIRED. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DOES NOT YET KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10228595

14,500 miles · May 8, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON AT LEAST 10 OCCASIONS, MY CAR HAS STALLED UPON DECELERATION. HAS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY, STOPPING AT LIGHTS AND WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. MY CAR HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT. CANNOT DETERMINE SOURCE OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227068

65,000 miles · Mar 26, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE STARTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-55 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE STARTED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-55 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10222385

128,000 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF UNBURNED GASOLINE GOING INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN THE COIL FAILED. THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILED AND TWO CYLINDERS STOPPED FIRING. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT ONE-MILE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AFTER THE FAILURE …

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THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS A RESULT OF UNBURNED GASOLINE GOING INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN THE COIL FAILED. THE COIL ASSEMBLY FAILED AND TWO CYLINDERS STOPPED FIRING. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT ONE-MILE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AFTER THE FAILURE (WHICH HAPPENED SUDDENLY). THE COIL ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $400. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THAT THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS INDICATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS FAILED. THE CAR CANNOT HAVE ITS REGISTRATION RENEWED WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $500 TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218016

Official recalls

1

04V524000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Nov 1, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

4

EA07015 · Engine Stalling - Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Nov 1, 2007 · Closed Oct 28, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

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 NHTSA 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.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

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 NHTSA 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

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 NHTSA 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

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 NHTSA 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.

PE07033 · Fuel Pump Failure

Opened Jun 28, 2007 · Closed Nov 1, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

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.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

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.

EA04028 · Turn Signal Malfunction

Opened Sep 14, 2004 · Closed Nov 22, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

ON MAY 14, 2004 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-043) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE BRAKE/TAIL TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, OR WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED.ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE 04-043 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-028).GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL/TURN SIGNAL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE BULB SOCKETS.THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LACK OF THERMAL GREASE PLACED IN BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V524) COVERING ALL MY 2003 VEHICLES.GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY THERMAL GREASE TO THEM OR REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ASSEMBLIES WITH THERMAL GREASE ALREADY ATTACHED.MODEL YEAR 2004 AND NEWER VEHICLES HAVE THE THERMAL GREASE INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

PE04043 · Turn Signal Malfunction

Opened May 14, 2004 · Closed Sep 14, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND DO NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF A CRASH WHERE THE COMPLAINANT BRAKED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IMPACTED THE COMPLAINANT'S VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR.IN MAY 2002, GM'S SUPPLIER MADE CHANGES TO THE BULB SOCKET THAT INCLUDED STOPPING THE USE OF THERMAL-MASTIC GREASE IN THE BULB SOCKET.GM REPORTS THAT THE GREASE REDUCES ARCING AT THE CONTACTS AND DISSIPATES HEAT THUS PREVENTING MELTING OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL OR BURNING OF THE CONTACTS.MOST OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE BULB SOCKET.IN JUNE 2003, GM DIRECTED THE SUPPLIER TO RESUME THE USE OF GREASE IN THE SOCKET.GM ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 04-08-42-004A ON JULY 15, 2004 ADVISING TECHNICIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF GREASE WERE ADDED TO THE BULB SOCKETS ON ALL SERVICE PARTS.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-028 TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE ISSUE.