Problems with 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier SUSPENSION

My 2003 chevrolet cavalier recently began to make a clunking noise, which can also be felt, in the front end. when i put it up on a lift, i noticed that the sub-frame was rusting (deteriorating). i know it is 13 years old, but my parents owned a 1989 cavalier z24 for 20 years, and they didn't have any problems with its frame. i've read that other people have had this same issue with their 2003 chevy cavaliers. why is this? why has there not been a recall? my family has owned several new and used vehicles, all gm, and we have never seen a sub-frame rust to this extent. we are a gm family and are extremely disappointed in gm's lack of response to this safety hazard.

Instrumet cluster problems for a few years. fuel sending unit has been replaced at about 52,000 miles after quiting twice while driving highway speed of 55 mph. dealer claimed the car quit because of a bad battery the first time and did not diagnose the problem correctly. it was not the battery. the fuel sending unit intermittently reads well beyond full and interfears with the temperature gage function. now speedometer is stuck at 85 mph while turned off. i was driving with the cruise doing 67 mph, i slowed down to make a turn at an at grade insection to a road posted at 55 mph. i completed the turn and sped up. the speedometer read 58 mph but it felt llike i was gong about 30 mph. i stopped at another intersection and the speed dropped to 40 mph. i made the turn and acelerated and the speed went to 110 mph but i was not going near that fast. the car is in driveway turned off but the speedometer reads 85 mph. most recent issue is steering rack and k-frame rusted out and needed to be replaced. mechanic stated he never saw a steering rack rust out or a k frame rusted as bad as the one on this vehicle. we are the original owners.

I have noticed a lot and i mean a lot of these cavaliers have had horrible frame problems i use to work on cars everyday until the last year when i got out of the mechanics field an now i own a 03 chevy cavalier its a two door 5 speed 2.2 i was on my way home from the store and i felt something rubbing so i stopped an got out to find out my k frame was horribly rotted an broke now this vehicle is 13 years old but as rotted out as it was it wasn't something that just happened its been bad i was just the lucky owner that the frame gave out on an i demand to know why this isn't a recall another thing is i owned a 98 ford f150 which had recalls an when i was sent the letter about the recalls i asked ford why the frames on the f150 or ranger wasn't a recall they had no answer. i put my child in these auto makers cars and trust their work to keep him safe but they have no answer for why one of the most important part on the whole vehicle is falling apart. i don't know if they need to use stainless steel, aluminum, or what but it needs fixed or the vehicles need reimbursed an crushed. i could of been doing 70 mph down the highway with my woman an son in the car an the frame could of went and killed us all. is that what its gonna take to get this [xxx] fixed someone else to die/hurt. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Metal on metal noise found out shoes and rotors are damageddamaged. i have no money. v can't fix this. smell inside of leak. temp running high. 200.

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 chevrolet cavalier. the contact's daughter had a flat tire and went to a tire shop. both rear tires had to be replaced because they were worn down to the metal. the auto shop could not align the vehicle because the rear axle was bent. since the vehicle was purchased in november of 2007, both rear tires have been replaced twice. the rear axle was bent beyond the point where it could be adjusted; therefore, it needs to be replaced. the axle was the cause of the rear tire failure. the current mileage was 52,000 and failure mileage was 49,238.

I have had a continuing problem with a single part on this vehicle that is prematurely wearing out. i called chevrolet to express my concern about this issue and that i was 99% sure that it had failed again (for the 4th time), and was in need of replacement (for the 4th time). because i had the 'right upper strut mount & bearing' replaced 3 previous times, i felt that chevrolet should be made aware of a defective part and also hoped that chevrolet would pay for this replacement. it is my opinion (and have not been proven otherwise by chevrolet or anybody at chevrolet), that the upper strut mount is an automotive part that should at least last 100,000 miles if not longer. it is also my opinion that this part should not have to be replaced 4 times in less than 60,000 miles. *tr

2003 chevrolet cavalier- at 64,000 miles fuel pump died while parked at a store upon restart $700.00 replacement. at approximately 60,000 miles front clunking noise started, dealer could never find a problem, now at 76,000 miles, having front upper strut mounts replaced. found alot of complaints online about same issues. i determined cause of front clunk on my own. also, was in collision that involved front driver side, down driver side front fender, airbags did not deploy, don't know if they should have. noone was hurt, was slow speed crash. still cannot believe no recall on fuel pump or front suspension. apparently gm doesn't want to foot the 700.00 bill for the fuel pump defect. *tr

1. vehicle made a moaning noise when turning at approximately 55,000 kms (and 3 years old). replaced power steering pump and steering rack. 2. random clunking from the front end at approx. 56,000 kms. replaced front bearings and transmission mount. 3. car lost power, had to be towed to dealership. dealer couldn't find a problem, insisted the car was fine. i insisted on them taking it out again. car broke down, had to be towed back to dealer again. replaced catalytic converter and fuel ignition switch. 4. burned through 4l of oil and puffed out black smoke. dealer couldn't locate problem. happened again approx. 2000 kms later. faulty piston rings, engine replaced entirely. at 61,000 kms. now at over $11,000 cdn warranty repairs on a well maintained low mileage car. 5. random clunking noise in front is back. going to dealer tomorrow. warranty: expired. *jb

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

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

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. now my brakes are shot. the car had only 6500 hundred miles on it when i first called in december of 2003. in june of 2003, i bought this car and test drove it. the car seemed to be a good car, except for the noise that i heard coming from the front left tire area. it sounded like a rubber band when it snaps. i brought it up to my salesmen rocky from the chevy department. he told me that it's a new car. now when the front tires are turned to the right, it makes a crunching noise. when i drive over any bump at any speed, it feels like there are no shocks or struts on this car and makes a bad clunking sound. *nm

When i am on a hill and either get out of the car or put on the emergency brake there is an awful creak from the back end of the car. i took to dealership and they said there was nothing that could be done, it was the way the car was made!!??*ak

There was a knocking noise in the front end of the vehicle near the tires. the dealer was unable to locate the problem. *jb

With only .5 inches of snow my car (a 2003 chevy cavalier) lost complete control and smashed into the curb. this was while traveling at less than 10mph. i feel the combination of 16" tires and the sports suspension (both standard on the car) was the cause of the accident. *ak

Vehicle currently at dealership for multiple reasons. front end has popping noises when turning. rear end make loud noise when weight in put on it (ex. entering and departing vehicle cabin). also have had trouble with vehicle stalling when slowing down (manual...put in neutral and rpm's drop-off causing a stall). technicians have not been able to duplicate latter problem.

The consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer for a regular oil maintenance and the dealer stated the vehicle needed front alignment. the dealer replaced the front struts. the vehicle had 3700 miles. *ak noise had come from the dashboard, when the left door was closed, when the vehicle was driven over bumps, and when the door was closed. there was static in the radio due to looseness, and there was a rattle noise in the rear, near the exhaust, when closed. *scc the hinges were repaied, due to a noise in the door. *jb

I own a new 2003 chevy cavalier with several problems. had to replaced 2 spacers, a strut mount, several steering parts and part of the rear light. *bf the consumer stated that she can slightly rock the steering wheel from side to side. the consumer asked if an occasional popping in the steering is normal in her vehicle after testing four of the same models. *tc

I've owned my 2003 cavalier for 1 yr. 3 months. i'm very irritated with having to go to the dealership every other month for the same problem. i've had my car in 7 times to get the taillight fixed. the first 2 times the light blew out, my radio completely wiped out my preset stations. i also had my car in 2 months after i bought it because there was a bad snow and as i was driving 5 mph i bumped over a pot hole which ended up cracking my spring and strut on the front pass. side. i had to pay out of pocket because the repair was $100 less than my deductible. and i was in the service dept. a week before complaining of a squeak coming from my front tire that they put off as the wheel cover.coincidence?there was no reason that the spring and strut should have cracked like that! i've also, just for the record, asked them twice to check my brakes because as i come to a stop they begin to pulsate. the service dept. told me i needed new brakes.i've only had my car for 1 year, 24,000 mostly highway miles!!! they want $250.00 to fix my brakes and they should still be under warranty. even midas gurantees their brakes w/ a lifetime warranty. you'd think the manufacturer would for an original owner.it's only 2 pads for goodness sake! if i knew how, i'd do it myself. a service tech told me that gm is well aware of these safety hazards that other gm customers like myself are experiencing, yet they aren't doing a recall. something needs to be done before something bad happens to someone while in their vehicle. not doing anything is bad business!! customers should be first priority. as a manufacturer, your responsibility is toward your customer if something you sell or manufacture is defective!!!*ak

The tires shake and vibrate around sixty miles/hr. so i took them to sam's club to their tire center in december of 2003. they rotated and balanced the tires. i drove the car for one month, then the tires started doing the same thing over again. about one month later, i went back to sam's club and they balanced my tires again. so here it is march of 2004, the tires are doing the same thing again shaking and vibrating around sixty miles/hr. i called goodyear , they told me to bring the car in. they looked at the tires, and said that the rear tires were worn on the inside, and that i would have to take the car back to the dealership to get the tires fixed. they could not diagnose the specific origin of the vibration. basically, for a brand new car, we should not have these kind of problems at 24,000 miles (as stated by mechanics from goodyear, sam's club and firestone). 5. cruise control switch- if right turn signal is used when cruise control is activated, the cruise control will automatically deactivate itself. 6. power failure- car all of a sudden lost power while at a stoplight. 7. a/c & heater- a/c and heater make loud noise. 8. rear turn signal light bulbs burned out 4 times on each side. gm replacement bulbs last only 1 to 1 1/2 month. *nm

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. the car went back to the dealer , and she did not have the tightness to the steering. but, the car was still pulling to the right. the brakes were spongy. there was a popping sound in the front wheel. there was a delay in the speed of the car. and almost had a collision. *ak

When driving at 70mph vehicle would shake. dealer notified.*ak

A noise emitted from the front of the vehicle, the dealer stated the frame was loose, however seconds later, the same popping noise recurred, the dealer then stated the control arm was the problem. *jb