NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
678 reports88,505 miles · Feb 24, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH 88,505 MILES BEGAN LOSING SPEED/ACCELERATION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE ENGINE STOPPED. DRIVER TURNED OFF IGNITION AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA0701…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH, 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH 88,505 MILES BEGAN LOSING SPEED/ACCELERATION. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE ENGINE STOPPED. DRIVER TURNED OFF IGNITION AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART ENGINE. FUEL PUMP FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT A LOCAL GARAGE. RE: NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA07015. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218996
110,000 miles · Feb 24, 2008
Electrical SystemInjury
I HAVE A 2003 CHEV CAVALIER. OWNED IT FROM THE TIME IT HAD 4 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING QUITE CORRECTLY. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY UNTIL WHEN I CAME TO A…
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I HAVE A 2003 CHEV CAVALIER. OWNED IT FROM THE TIME IT HAD 4 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING QUITE CORRECTLY. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY UNTIL WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 20MPH. OVER TIME I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WILL READ AT 60MPH AT A DEAD STAND STILL. BUT THAT IS NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, IT STILL GOT WORSE. AT A STAND STILL IT WOULD READ 100MPH+ AND WHEN MOVING IT WOULD GO BACK OVER AND START AT 0MPH. RIDICULOUS!!! I HAVE RECEIVED TWO TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL SOMETIMES READ 260 DEGREES. I'VE CHECKED THE WATER AND ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CAUSING MY TEMP TO READ EXCESSIVELY HIGH AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD CLUSTER IS MESSED UP. SOMETIMES MY FUEL GAUGES WON'T EVEN READ CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM HAS JUST GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT CAN COST AS MUCH AS $1,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218994
36,030 miles · Feb 21, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD, THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218784
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
120,000 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE TRACTION-CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THE DASHBOARD SHOWS THE "SERVICE," "ABS," AND "LOW TRAC" LIGHT. THESE TYPICALLY COME ON SOON AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED OR THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218014
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2008
Electrical System
PLEASE ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10218011, INVOLVING THE SECOND INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND GAVE ERRONEOUS READINGS. THIS IS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIMILAR P…
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PLEASE ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10218011, INVOLVING THE SECOND INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND GAVE ERRONEOUS READINGS. THIS IS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS LISTED ABOVE THAT OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THAT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $500. I DID NOT KEEP ALL THE PAPERWORK, BUT I SUPPOSE THAT THE JACK SCHMITT CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THAT DATA. THE "INCIDENT DATE" LISTED IS AN ESTIMATE, I DO NOT RECALL THE DATE OR YEAR EXACTLY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN 2006. MILEAGE AT THE TIME IS UNKNOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218012
131,100 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Electrical System
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT ARE GIVING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AND THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE-YEARS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO US THEN WAS ABOUT $500.…
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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT ARE GIVING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AND THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE-YEARS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO US THEN WAS ABOUT $500. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218011
83,000 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL PUMP FAILED IN MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER AT 80,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217983
72,000 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON IT. LAST NIGHT, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH GROCERIES IN MY CAR AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VERY REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THIS MORNING THAT MY FUEL PUMP H…
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I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES ON IT. LAST NIGHT, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED WITH GROCERIES IN MY CAR AT A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A VERY REPUTABLE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THIS MORNING THAT MY FUEL PUMP HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $700. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I CAME ACROSS A MESSAGE BOARD WHERE OVER 330 POSTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I'M HAVING. THE WEBSITE ADDRESS IS HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHEVROLET-CAVALIER/TVINIC5TFU5SFSI5H ALSO, THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT HIS SHOP REPAIRS APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FUEL PUMPS ON CHEVROLET CAVALIERS EACH WEEK. HE STATED THAT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE WHEN THEY COME FROM THE MANUFACTURER, SO WHEN THEY GET BETWEEN 60,000-80,000 MILES ON THEM, THEY FAIL WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217939
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2008
Exterior Lighting
HEADLAMPS HAVE A PLASTIC COVER THAT HAS "FOGGED" REDUCING VISIBILITY. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER 1,500 ARE ON ORDER TO DATE, 2-11-2008. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217882
NHTSA investigations
4EA07015 · 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.
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