Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||||
| 709 | 09/01/2005 | 10018156 | Car issues - fix it right the first time (new issues in bold). to include 2006 and 2007 models. gm. tech link. *tt | 12/16/2005 | |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||||
| 709 | 09/01/2005 | 10018156 | Car issues - fix it right the first time (new issues in bold). to include 2006 and 2007 models. gm. tech link. *tt | 12/16/2005 | |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - HEATER CORE | |||||
| 611 | 11/01/2004 | 10016265 | Binding mode valve-hvac. *sc | 09/06/2005 | |
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||||
| 030864009A | 03/01/2005 | 030864009B | 10004338 | Left outside breakaway mirror inoperative. *tt update. *tt | 12/02/2003 |
| 030864011A | 09/01/2003 | 030864011 | 10004339 | Mirror vibrates at highway speeds. *tt | 12/02/2003 |
| 022703 | 02/27/2003 | 10001851 | Inoperative manual outside rearview mirror(s). *tt *jb | 07/23/2003 | |
| 022503 | 02/25/2003 | 10001845 | Outside rearview mirror assembly appearing to be loose or a vibration complaint. *tt *jb | 07/22/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 01598 | 01/01/2004 | 10007178 | Sunroof supplemental information to 03-08-67-009.*mr | 06/03/2004 | |
| 030867009 | 03/01/2004 | 030867009A | 10005595 | Sunroof will not open or close completely due to the sunroof motor. *tt | 03/04/2004 |
| 100703 | 10/07/2003 | 10004981 | Jammed sunroof that will not open or a close completely. gm voicemail log. *tt | 01/22/2004 | |
| 030867004 | 06/01/2003 | 10002878 | Parts availability for sunroof repairs. *tt | 09/30/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - MOTOR | |||||
| 020843005 | 12/01/2002 | 10000727 | New windshield wiper motor assembly. *tt | 03/27/2003 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 11/13/2009 | 50000 | 2 | |
| Hvac cable bent and then snapped. now i can't defrost the windshield i ran off the road today because i could not see. i reported this problem to gm over a year ago and they didn't seem to care. they never responded to my letter. this is a big safety issue. i have had it fixed by a mechanic 2x and should not only be reimbursed, but should have this problem fixed. it still does not work right. had the actual cable replaced and then just had the kink corrected on it and it broke again the next day. *tr | |||
| 09/12/2007 | 30000 | 1 | |
| Hvac cable bent and then snapped. now i can't defrost the windshield & this could cause an accident since i can't see where i'm going! *tr | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 76500 | 1 | |
| 2003 chevy cavalier - defrosters do not work (rear and side windows), passenger window stop working (intermittent) and loud screeching noise when starting engine. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 1666 | 24 | 07/17/2003 |
| Chevrolet cavalier z 2003, multiple failures. *bf the defroster would not clear the windows, the heater did not work, the air bag light illuminated because there was a split in the center of the steering wheel. when the consumer made a right turn a noise was heard. the left rear turn signal bulb was replaced, the right rear brake light bulb. there was a noise coming from the front of the vehicle, the dealer lubed the front sway bar bushing. the tires were over inflated, so the vehicle would sway when going over bumps, the blower motor, and heater control was replaced. the abs lamp illuminated. the vehicle needed brake pads. there was mold on the drivers front door. the ac compressor was replaced. the window went down extremely slow, the dealer lubed the window track and regulator. the fog light bulb was inoperative, the door latch was inoperative. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 12/25/2009 | 108000 | 1 | |
| I own a 2003 chevrolet cavalier ls and on dec. 25 when i turned on the rear defrost button smoke started to come out from inside the steering wheel column. i could not get the rear defrost to turn off so i had to turn off the car and remove the fuse to it. shortly after this incident the power windows have stopped working and the fuse to them is still good, i replaced it just in case but the windows still do not work. the odometer has also stopped working so i have had to guess my speed. i feel that this is a huge safety concern since the rear defrost does not work i cannot see out the rear window on cold days, i also cannot tell how fast i am driving which can cause an accident, and the power windows have stopped working. the car is due for inspection next month and i cannot afford to fix these problems, this is my only vehicle and rely on it to get to and from work everyday. i have also placed a complaint with general motors concerning this issue as i feel that the problems that have occurred are a result of poor or hurried workmanship in that area of the vehicle's manufacture. *tr | |||
| 11/02/2007 | 33000 | 1 | 08/15/2003 |
| Defroster control broke due to freezing weather (about 30f). defroster no longer functions so it is difficult to clear windshield in cold or damp weather. dealer attempted to repair, but could not for original estimate of $477. wanted to charge another $630 to fix the problem (for a total cost of almost $1100). i feel the cost is outrageous to repair a necessary safety item. *tr | |||
| 11/07/2006 | 4 | 02/05/2003 | |
| I bought my 2003 chevrolet cavalier in feb 03.the cable that connects to the adjustment knob for the ac,defrost has broke 4 times since i have owned my car. it gets stuck where it just blows out of the vent and only the vent. no defrost so in the winter as you are driving down the road the windows are fogging up because you have no defrost. the last time i took my car into the dealership they said it was the cable that binds up they did fix it but here we go again it breaks. so now that my warranty is over in order for it to be fixed i will have to fork the money out of my pocket and to me if it has broke 4 times there is something wrong. to me this should be a safety issue. *nm | |||
| 07/26/2006 | 1 | 07/17/2006 | |
| I just got this car at a used car lot about two weeks ago and it rained one night and the front windshield became foggy so i tried to put on the defroster and it would not work no matter where i moved the switch it would only blow the air forward so i had to pull over every little while and wipe it off just so i could get home. the next morning i took it to a mechanic and he looked at it and said the cable that controls the flow of air was broken and he tried to get one from the junk yard and said 3 out of 5 cavaliers of around the same year 2003 had the same cable broken the same way and he told me the flap that the cable controls was sticking and causing it to break so i told him to leave the same cable on the car and he put the flap to the defrost position manually in case it rains again it seems very dangerous if you cant see where you are going this is in the summer time that i am having this problem i don't even want to think about what might happen in the winter time. *jb | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| Consumer noticed that the defroster was inoperative. it failed to defrost both passenger's side and driver's side windows, and the front windshield. this caused poor visibility to the driver. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. the cause has not been determined. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2004 | 44000 | 1 | 10/15/2004 |
| The cable which controlled the air flow for the defroster/defogger broke. could not defrost front windshield, causing poor visibility while driving. dealer was notified. *ak *tc | |||
| 09/23/2004 | 7 | 06/24/2003 | |
| My new car stalls out completely while driving and my ventilation system has had numerous problems since purchasing the car. it has happened numerous times in oncoming traffic which poses a threat to myself and family. clay chevrolet said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||
| 12/03/2002 | 19 | 12/03/2002 | |
| Problem started same week i purchase vehicle brand new. gmc would not exchange vehicle, they just kept repairing it as it broke down. i feel very unsafe in this vehicle, they did not care. clutch was rubbing against main line, failed twice. rear lights burned out 3 times, springs on seats popped out 3 times, gas pump went out once, heater/ac went out twice, locks would not open, 3 times, pain chipped off bumper, once. rear seat clips snapped, once. headlights, water leaked in. twice i had a head on collision in june/2007...air bag did not deploy. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||
| 11/01/2007 | 999 | ||
| Purchased 2003 chevy. cavalier used and the defroster and floor heating vents do not work. air only comes through the face vents. makes it difficult in cold temps. to see through the window and if the car is not completely heated inside, i will sometimes have to pull over and scrape the inside of my windows so i can see out. *tr | |||
| 09/15/2007 | 40814 | 1 | 06/30/2003 |
| The front defroster/defogger would not blow air. the ventilation control cable was replaced because there was a kink in the cable that caused the air to not be directed to the defroster. the service tech recommended that i not use the recirculate function on my ventilation system as it seems that when the control is in that position, the cable will start to kink. this is unacceptable as i should be able to use every function on the ventilation system. *tr | |||
| 06/01/2006 | 25 | 06/06/2003 | |
| Hard or impossible to change hvac mode or temperature settings. *jb | |||
| 09/15/2005 | 60 | 06/29/2005 | |
| (1)the heater switch quit working and heat and defroster will not come on. the windows fog up and you can't see the road ,this makes the car unsafe to drive when it is cold or when it is foggy outside ( 2.)the windshield wiper stopped working and you have to turn off the wipers and restart them, this makes the car unsafe to drive when it is raining . *tr | |||
| 11/20/2006 | 1 | 03/05/2003 | |
| Knob to turn the controller for defroster, heater for feet or vent. the only area it blows out is out the vent panel in the front of car. i am unable to use the defroster for the front of car, or receive heat at my feet. i just cant believe that this item has already failed. the car is only 3 years old. i would think this is a safety issue since you are required to have defroster to use. and need heat in the car. this other knobs on the control panel work fine there is 3 knobs. 1 for the amount of blower that you want, the second one is for the temp setting and the 3rd one is for where you want the blower to come out of. i have had nothing but problems with the car since day one. first it was the tail lights, then the power windows them self and now this. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - HEATER CORE | |||
| 01/04/2007 | 1 | ||
| There is a vent for my defroster/heater/air conditioner-on top of the dash--that does not work. i have a friend, that has the same model car. she too has the same problem. it seems like a defect. *jb my windshield keeps icing up and gets foggy. | |||
| 11/19/2003 | 15 | 6 | |
| While driving at any speed heater did not work. vehicle was taken to the dealer, and heater was replaced. also, on two different occasions dealer replaced wiring harness and connection wires. on another occasion entire brake light assembly was replaced along with the sockets. in all, vehicle had been to the dealer six times in seven months.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 05/09/2005 | 1 | 05/01/2003 | |
| Dt: contact heard a loud pop noise, she turned around and the back window was completely shattered. the contact searched around the vehicle and the road surrounding the vehicle, there was nothing that would have caused the window to shatter.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 09/03/2009 | 87000 | 1 | |
| My driver's side power window will initially go down. when i attempt to power the window up, it goes approximately one to two inches then stops. i have to continue driving or leave my car running until the window is up. it is very unsafe to leave my car in any lot or parking space with the window down. on average every 10 minutes it will go up another inch or two. this happens every time i power the window down. i will not leave my window down. elements will damage the interior, and it leaves me susceptible to vandals. i have two children and i consider this malfunction unsafe for me the driver and my children. i paid $18,000 for the vehicle, i will not allow this to go unfixed, however i feel it is the company's responsibility to recall and repair the issue. *tr | |||
| 06/12/2006 | 1 | ||
| I have to identical 2003 chevy cavaliers and the window motors both failed around the exact same time and i have been to numerous sites that have also reported this failure and chevy says that this isnt their problem. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2009 | 67000 | 1 | |
| I have a 2003 cavalier and had the fuel pump go bad at 67,000 miles. i researched on the web and it seems that there is a tremendous amount of 2003 cavaliers that have had this same issue. i have replaced 3 of the 4 window motors in the past 18 months. i have twice had my climate control switch fixed, as it was stuck only on vent. and most recently at 69000 miles i have to replace my fuel pressure regulator. in my educated opinion, this seems to be an awful lot of repairs for a vehicle of this age and with this record. *tr | |||
| 09/12/2004 | 66000 | 1 | |
| While stop at a red light veh.cut off and would not re-star. towed to the dealer and i was told that it was the fuel pump. cost $1,050. i also have problems with electric windows,two motors replaced ,one switch and still having problems. besides that no complain. *tr | |||
| 08/18/2007 | 128000 | 1 | 08/09/2006 |
| Went to roll up drivers side window when it started to rain heavily and window failed to roll up. rain, driven by wind from high rate of speed on freeway, poured into vehicle which fogged up window and hindered safe operation of vehicle. was forced to pull over to shoulder of road until rain stopped to safety restart vehicle. chevy dealer stated that this was not covered by warranty so i had to pay to have motor replaced. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 40000 | 2 | 03/05/2003 |
| Front driver side window failure, started going down a quarter to half way down and stopping then when you try to put it up it only goes up like a inch and you have to wait a little while and keep doing that until the window is completely up. second there is a clucking noise coming from the front at low speeds including when turning or going over a bump. *jb | |||
| 02/02/2003 | 0 | 80 | 02/01/2003 |
| Since i purchased the vehicle the radio has turned off by itself it also erases any programmed stations. the windows don't always go up , it happens off and on , it happens to one window and not the other and then reverses. *jb | |||
| 07/21/2003 | 5407 | 8 | 01/20/2003 |
| 2003 chevrolet cavalier experienced problems with brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights.***no answer required***. *mr the brake lights and tail lights shorted out many times, the tail light socket was also replaced. the consumer received a recall letter #04v524000. the consumer took the vehicle to have the service performed, however that did not seem to remedy the problem. the vehicle has been in the shop on numerous occasions regarding this problem, the consumer did not believe her vehicle was satisfactorily repaired. the cd would not eject. the right side power window made a noise when it was rolled down. *jb | |||
| 09/11/2004 | 48760 | 1 | 03/01/2003 |
| Passenger side front power window did not go up. dealer removed part of the door in order to raise the window. power regulator was defective.*ak *tc | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||
| 07/10/2003 | 1 | ||
| Driver's side rearview mirror vibrates, especially when driving in windy conditions and/or on freeway. sometimes it is bad enough where driver can't see cars behind him. dealer replaced mirror when car was a couple weeks old. no difference. informed dealer about tsb 03-08-64-011 regarding the insulator and torque nuts for the mirror. dealer performed repairs according to tsb. other models exhibit same condition.*ak | |||
| 06/17/2003 | 200 | 0 | 06/10/2003 |
| Driver's side mirror vibrates constantly. cannot see out of it, especially at speeds greater than 45 mph. took to dealer one week after purchase and dealer replaced mirror. still vibrates!! took it back to dealer but was told vehicle is operating as designed. test drove 6 other new cavaliers in the lot with a sales rep, they all did the same thing. cannot use mirror at all, this is definetely not safe!! | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - INTERIOR | |||
| 12/01/2003 | 21000 | 7 | 06/23/2003 |
| There are numerous things, and the delaership has convinced gm, because i wrote gm about the problems with this, that i am making this stuff up to get an suv. first the radio wasn't working, they put the cable back on said it was loose, its still not sounding like a radio should. next was the popping in the front end, dealership turned rotors, under warranty back brakes squealed real loud they said it was dust i had to pay for that. back brakes still squeal, front end still pops like a bad cv joint. trunk wouldn't shut had to keep slamming it. took it back they greased it worked for awhile starting to get hard to shut sometimes. brake lights and back lights and cruise control quit working . took it to dealership at least 5 or 6 times till they finally replaced it how long it will last i don't know. front sun visor popped when it hung up in rear view mirror real floppy can't use it no more dealer said they ordered it in december. still waiting not fixed. real bad odor of gas in car when tank is half full, no explanation as to why. seat belt makes a funny noise when you are wearing it, pins you back against seat real hard. no explanation for that. have to stop and jerk on it to loosen it like a seat belt should work. dealer says i am imagining this stuff because i do not want car, bought it new still paying for it. been trying to get rid of it they have everyone convinced i am a psycho woman wanting an suv and thats why i am complaining that is all false. just plain hate a car i am paying for.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER - MOTOR | |||
| 08/08/2007 | 89000 | 4 | 09/30/2003 |
| On 2003 chevy cavalier the wiper motor transmission assembly is made up with a plastic snap bushing . when it wears out the wiper does not work. the arm comes apart. on my cavalier it happened 4 times in the last 2 and half years .3 times drivers side 1 passenger. when you are on the road in a down pour it is hard to see where you are going . some one is going to get killed because of this problem. jess appleby *tr | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 06/10/2004 | 58000 | 1 | 06/16/2003 |
| The wiper blade arm had disconnected from the washer/wiper housing on the passenger side during inclement weather conditions, which obstructed the drivers vision while driving. the dealer was notified. the dealer informed the consumer that the part was not covered under a warranty or a manufacturer recall. *jb *sb *nm | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - LINKAGES | |||
| 12/18/2007 | 63000 | 3 | 09/12/2003 |
| Windshield on passenger side failed. plastic cap that by friction holds elbow/joint of both control arms to wiper pivot point separated and is worn and will not hold. now the driver side cheap plastic cap has failed. the motor works fine. independant repair man says he sees this all the time part very poorly engineered no retaining clip, cotter nut,or screw to give structural support. *tr | |||