Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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).
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving 5 MPH entering the highway, the turn signal lamps failed to illuminate when activated and resulted in a crash. The contact's vehicle was struck on the rear driver side and spun onto the roadside. The air bags did not deploy and a police report was filed. All three occupants in the vehicle were severely injured and required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 04V524000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. ...updated 02/19/16 updated 09/20/16
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. …
Headlights are going out completely on 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. OK, whom, has what legislator, in, whom's back pocket? There was a recall by Chevrolet in November, of 2004- I am betting completely voluntary, of course. This recall, was, for taillights and lightbulb grease. Right, somebody going to get killed in those vehicles, if the headlight problems are not corrected. Here is a hint, read thier TSB regarding the headlights dimming problem. What a load that is. I will tell you why, I think they put that TSB out. It was just simply to cover thier own you know what. I wonder how many fires, or deaths have occured due to the light hearted approach GM has towards the lighting problems on the 2003 models? Don't you love huberous. Have you gone to your dealer about a safety issue lately. Oh, check out the brake rotors there is stress and heat fractures at less than thirty thousand miles. …
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. …
The campaign 04083 was performed on my vehicle, but it didn't fix my problem. The Chevrolet service mechanic advised that they checked the sockets, found that they did not need to be replaced and greased accordingly, but that the turn signals are inoperative at times due to the fact the turn signal switch is bad & needs to be replaced to get them to work all of the time. I have all of the same issues that this campaign indicated it would resolve, but my turn signals are still going out sporadically, and it occurs more often if my lights are turned on and if I press down the break. I've been having to replace my break lights often and this started occurring the last time I had my left break light replaced a few months ago. The turn signal works at least the first time I put it on, but then will not flashing & stop making noise shortly after before I've even made my turn. …
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.
I have been having a problem with my 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. The rear brake/signal lights keep burning out due to bad sockets and bulbs. Combined, I have had to replace five (5) light bulbs (three (3) on the right and two (2) on the left). The first time was April or May 2003 on the right side, when I was still in pittsburgh. The second time was in September or October 2003, also on the right side, but this time was in port orange, fl, where I found out about the socket problem. The third time was two weeks following the second incident, this time on the left side, but the dealership had the sockets on back order. The fourth time was in January 2004, again on the left side, this time the dealership replaced the socket. The fifth time was April 30, 2004, again on the right side, after the socket was replaced.
I have had a recall fixed twice on the brake lights, turn signals, tail lights all in the trunk for the rear lights well I am having the same problem on the recall 2 years later after contacting mccluskey Chevrolet about this problem they tell me it is a 12 month, 12,000 mile warranty issue on a recall by general motors. Apparently it was fixed only temporarily how can the same work being done twice for a recall have a time stipulation? The fuel pump went out directly after I had 36,100 miles only 100 miles over my warranty. Now I have a short in the driver side motor for my driver window, they want $375.00 to fix one window. I understand cavaliers are garbage that's why they quit making them, but they don't tell you that when they want you to finance one.
The tail light/turn signal burned on the driver's side about 2 months ago I replaced the bulb 2 days later the passenger side went out I replaced that bulb and since that about every 2 days I burn another bulb I took it to the dealership thinking it was the recall they have on the tail light/turn signal and the dealership inspected it the first time and said nothing was wrong the second time this week I took it back with the bulb burned out and they said there was no problems found I can't get them to do the recall work because they say there is no problems with the lights but I am paying 4.00 a bulb everytime it burns out and I have done this for 2 months now and I guess I will have to keep doing this I don't know what else to do.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact's vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign id number 04V524000 (exterior lighting:turn signal) in 2006. Two years later, while driving at an unknown speed, she noticed that the passenger side brake lamp and turn signal were inoperative. She repeatedly replaced the brake light bulb, but it continued to fail. The manufacturer stated that because her vehicle was previously repaired under recall, she would be responsible for the repair costs. The contact is in the process of taking the vehicle to an authorized dealer for a diagnosis and repair. The failure and current mileages were 62,011.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
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…
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.
NHTSA investigations
Turn signal malfunction
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…
Turn signal malfunction
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…
Headlight complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 57 complaints about the lights of the 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier, 8% of the model year's 678 complaints. The component named most often is turn signal (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-524 (turn signal, Nov 1, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 14,000 miles, and 65% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to lights 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.