Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
1) brake failure, warped rotors and hubs, lro. 2) crash, rear end collision. Property damage. 3) GM refused to fix 2003 Cavalier on 01-17-04 under warranty and as a result a crash happened on 02-28-04, a rear end collision due to brake failure.cause was defective factory equipment, warped rotors and hubs resulting in violent judder, shutter, and chatter, due to a lateral brake run out problems.this condition shows up thru the steering wheel which shakes violently when applying the brakes, especially on the freeway at 70 MPH. It's a total out of control condition.there is indeed 2 TSB's out on the lro problem from GM, TSB 01-05-23-001a, brake lateral runout,TSB 00-05-05-22-002b, brakes rotor service guide on 02-28-04 my daughter audra m griffin crashed into a 2001 Ford pickup due to front brake failure. …
I have a major problem with a vehicle that I recently purchased. I bought a 2003 Cavalier and there was a problem with it last week. I need to know exactly who to talk to before I take any further actions. My car is supposed to have an extended warranty on it and I know that I'm supposed to be able to get a rental car. Well, here's the situation last week, I was driving my car and went to make a turn and my steering wheel locked up while I was driving. I was on the way to take it to be looked at and it happpened again, but when I tried to stop, the car just kept going and caused me to crash into another vehicle. When I went to the dealership to speak to someone, they offered no help as far as my rental and warranty. I am angry because this flaw with the car could've resulted in my death. …
When applying the brakes at night, the headlights and dash lights dim to a softer shade of light. I have also changed the rear single lights in my car three times in the past 6 months. This car has a bad brake problem. The front of the car shakes very bad when you apply the brakes while exiting a highway. City driving is not as bad, but when the brakes get warmed up they pulsate when I come to a stop. At the end of the day, I pull my car into my driveway and the first thing I smell when I get out is a burning smell from the back brakes. I called the fucillo Chevy service department in December 2003. I talked to a serviceman about my brake problem. He told me that my pulsating brakes is the ABS system working in the snow. Now the roads are dry and my brakes are still pulsating. I could not find anything in my original paperwork on my car showing that it has the ABS system. …
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. …
Dt: the consumer owns a 2003 Chevrolet caviler. Was losing control of the steering and the brakes. It started in the winter. The consumer stated the direction that car was headed was the way it stayed. Also, she noticed that there was a hum in the steering wheel which lasted a couple of seconds each time. The consumer contacted the dealer, and they said that it did not sound to them as dangerous. A couple of months later the problem finally came to ahead in June. Lights came on the dashboard. The belt broke, and the alternator seized. When the car was repaired by the dealer they concluded the alternator and the belt malfunctioned. Also heard a grinding noise in the brakes. The dealer never did any repairs to the steering. The consumer said that the key was hot after it had been in the ignition. And the steering wheel was tight when turning to the right. …
I have a 2003 Cavalier and I am experiencing problems with front brake rotors again. When car was 1 1/2 years old I experienced wheel vibration, took car to dealership where I bought it and they told me that the brake rotors were warped and that they would replace them under warranty. I checked them about 2 weeks later and found that all they did was turn the rotors down they didn't replace them . Vibration problem was fixed I thought . Got new tires on car and about 6 months later the vibration problem surfaced again. So I took car to a regular brake repair shop and was informed that the rotors were indeed warped. So had the work done for about 350.00 this lasted for awhile till warranty is out now problem is back again. To me it seems like a manufacturing defect/ or it could be the cheap factory wheels. Car is a big disappointment. …
Chevrolet Cavalier z 2003, multiple failures. 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.
1. Both brake lights went out w/in month of each other. In the months of July and August. 2. Brakes noisy, September 3. Trunk would not open, October 4. Brakes noisy, again, November 5. Car turns off in the middle of an intersection after making a complete stop and trying to speed up. Freaking out, I pressed the gas and moved the key in the ignition, then put car in park and got it to start, November. It just seems to me that I have a disfunctional car that when I dont have something wrong with one thing I have to go in to the dealer for another. Its a new car and its costing me more problmes and inconviniences than the old '96 I had till I bought this one.
My son was pulling into a parking lot and as he describes it, everything but the radio went dead all by itself (the engine died and there was no power steering or brakes). Obviously the same symptoms as the current recalls. I called the dealer and was told the car isn't on the list. I've complained to Chevy and am getting the runaround by multiple members of their "consumer support team" (we've assigned you a service request number but I am to wait until it happens again and then bring it in "so we could start reviewing on your case"). I took it to my own mechanic and he ran a bunch of tests but couldn't find anything that would cause the car to die.
When braking consumer heard a squeaking noise coming from the rear brakes. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician and consumer took the vehicle for a ride and determined that the rear brakes were the problem. The consumer asked if the brakes were covered under the vehicle's warranty and was assured that they were. When the vehicle was returned the next day for repairs someone else told the consumer that the rear brakes were not covered under the warranty. The consumer chose not to have the repairs made.
Brake complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, 5% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, though it has 1 recall 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 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 19,000 miles, and 58% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.