Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was driving to working on November 19 2004 at approximately 8:30 am when my car stalled at a stop light on a major street. I tried to give it gas but it would not accerate. I tried to start it a couple of times but it would not start. The car was on a 1/4 of gas when this happened so I thought it wasn't the fuel. I had to call my boss, who came out to try to help but had no luck in getting it to start or figuring out what the problem was so we had to call aaa and have them tow my car to an automotive shop. After 2 days of having my car in the shop, I was told by my mechanic that my fuel pump was completely shot due to my fuel guage readings not reading correctly. When my fuel reading was at 1/4 it was actually of empty. My mechanic then informed me that this has been a known defect for my year, make and model car. …
Purchased used 2000 Cavalier in 2006. First problem (which has continued for 5 years) is that the service light will come on when the car is cranked unless the headlights are first turned on. If you turn the headlights off while driving, the service light comes on. It will not go off unless you turn the car off and restart it (with headlights on). Second problem is that fuel hand does not reflect accurate amount of gasoline in tank. It goes up and down while driving (with the check gauges light on). Or sometimes it is stuck on e or stuck on f regardless of how much fuel is actually present. Third problem is that car intermittently overheats and is always losing coolant. I have replaced thermostat, water pump, & radiator. Three different mechanics cannot find a leak in the cooling system (despite pressure testing, compression testing, & block testing). …
My wife and I own a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier. The steering is beginning to have a distinctive popping sound and loosening develop. I know there is a problem and I am taking it to a professional to avoid serious problems. It is difficult to believe that GM could not develop a better steering column than this. It would seem a recall should be placed on GM for inspections to this particular problem (part). I know that this May seem trivial but I have already had to replace a fuel pump ($700 plus) out of pocket at about 2000 miles over my warranty. Just seems like GM has yet to understand quality in the small automobile. Or at least giving a little on an obviously defective part. Example: I owned a 87 3 series BMW that I put 425,000 plus miles on and never had to replace a steering column. I did replace the fuel pump after an accident when the tank had to be replaced at 310,000 miles. …
There have been two issues with my vehicle that I feel should be recalls due to the same problems that has happened to my car has also happend to other Cavalier owners. Recently the fuel tank gauge went out without any kind of warning, which cased me to run out of gas and have to call a family member to pick me up. The second issue is the plastic behind the windsheild on the dashboard cracked in two different places. I work with a girl that has the same vehicle I do and both of these issues also happend to her car. I just think these issues should be looked into. Its kinda weird that the same malfunctions happen to two cars of the same make and model. Another issue is I had never received a recall notice on the failed ignition switch. I had to find out about it online when looking for a new part for my car. Thats kind of scary! …
My car would intermittently not start. Would run fine, start several times while driving to different locations and then not start. Left me and my young daughter stranded, would not have been good if it were in a bad part of town or had I not had family close to come get me. Now I can't get it to start at all, don't hear the fuel pump prime. A mechanic told me to hit gas tank with mallet while trying to start it. It started by doing that, and I was told the fuel pump is bad and needs to be replaced, which is going to cost over $700...money I don't have. This I am finding to be a very common problem with this car....check out this discussion forum for many more complaints of the same problem at........ Http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/Chevrolet-Cavalier/tvinic5tfu5sfsi5h ............. This car really needs to be recalled for the fuel pump, it is defective and dangerous.
I was on my way hme from work on a very busy road all of sudden car just lost power car would not restart took to shop was told the fuel pump was bad and needed to $$700 repair for something that I feel should not needed to be done on such a new vehicle I only had 51000 miles on the vehicle I bought a new car for this reason to avoid major repairs as of this date the car has failed again with the same conditions as previous just stalled and wont restart and the warrenty has run out on that( 12,000 or 12 mth) so that wilkl be another cost to replace this pump in less than a years time. This is utterly ridiculous on a 2000 vehicle for this to happen and GM states not are problem things happen , yes things happen but not continuous on new vehicles and the same problem I think GM really needs to take a closer look at this for some type of defect this is very dangerous and very costly
Fuel pump on Chevrolet Cavalier z24 went out at 76,000 miles. It lost power and died all of a sudden in the middle of the highway. Luckily, no cars were around as it was almost midnight. Cost to repair was over $600, not including the towing. In doing some research I have found that numerous people had fuel pumps malfunction on their cavaliers, and on some cars newer and most with lower miles than on this car. Same story, just loses power and died in the middle of the road. This was extremely unsafe. Obviously this was a defect with the Cavalier, yet they won't issue a recall. I have never heard from anyone that owned a Cavalier that didn't have some sort of problem with it. Also, had problems with the shifter cable and power window motor on the driver's side. Extremely unhappy with the Chevrolet.
While traveling at speed limit over busy bridge 1/12/04 at 7a.m. And slippery road conditions car stopped and failed to take any gas causing 4 oncoming vehicles to swerve and almost hit me in the rear. The car then starts and runs fine for a couple days then the car stops again on 1/14/04 again on busy highway causing almost a 3 car collision. This has happened several times and in the middle of traffic. I believe that I could have been killed on two occasions and many others could have lost their lives. I believe this issue needs to be looked at as soon as possible, it is life threatening. I was told that the fuel pump could have been defective. I believe the manufacturer needs to look into the fuel pumps on this make and model of car.
Nov.7,2002 car won't start. Dec.11,2002 won't start. Took car to potamkin chevorlet dec.19,2002. I was told there's was nothing wrong with the car and they would not replace battery. Jan.13,2003 car won't start. Car was towed to liberty chevorlet. Was told car needed battery and starter. Also told if proper test was done, potamkin should have picked up the problem. Currently having problems with car. Car stops while driving. Liberty unable to find problem. Also since I purchased the car,new, my interior lights flash on and off when I brake hard or go over bumps in road. Either dealer unable to find out why.
Gas gauge on the instrument panel does not work, it registars higher than the amount of gas in the car. I spent over $450 dollars at the garage trying to troubleshoot why the car stopped running while driving and wouldn't restart. The garage could not find the problem. I discovered myself after the 3rd time, that putting gas in it fixes it, and realized the gas gauge was not registering empty, when the cat was empty, and I was simply running out of gas.
NHTSA investigations
Engine stall due to fuel starvation
Odi opened pe02-066 to evaluate the scope and consequence of engine power-loss due to fuel starvation induced by in-tank modular fuel pump strainer restriction.the subject pumps use an external ?sock? Strainer to filter fuel flowing to the pump inlet.this filter can sometimes become clogged, resulting in a reduced flow of fuel to the engine.GM has subsequently modified the strainers to reduce this…
Erratic fuel gauge
Odi opened ea 02-028 to review complaints of consumers reporting that their fuel gauge was incorrectly displaying the amount of fuel in the gas tank.the fuel gauge receives an electrical signal from a fuel tank sending sensor circuit card.a float arm in the tank moves electrical contacts that rub against the card as the level of fuel rises and falls.disruption of the electrical signal (such as caused by corrosion of…
Fuel System complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, 14% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.