Chevy Cavalier

In 2000 I purchased a 1997 Coupe Cavalier, sold it last summer 2008, to purchase a 2003 Cavalier 4 dr. My 1997 is still going strong(sold to a friend who loves it) and the 2003 has had nothing but problems. I loved the cavalier and chevy prior to this vehicle but would not purchase another chevy. It has been in the garage as much as with me. Spring on rear wheel was first to go. Soilnoid was the second. Battery next. Computer, wiring, fuel filter completely disolved, struts. You name it, it will probably be replaced. It is on the way to the garage again on Monday with a recurring problem of not starting. This will be third trip for this problem and they still have not figured it out. It is a sad fact the chevy has lost the good name it once had. I have never owned anything other than chevy but would never purchase another one. America at one time built quality items. We are now faced with built in obsolescence that gets shorter as time goes by. Consumers need to make th... Read more

Ewwww and garbage! Since 2002 they have gone way downhill, you know why the cavalier name got taken off the market after 04? Because they messed them up so bad they had no recourse but to kill it. I had a cavalier that was purchased new in 2000, 4 door and a very decent car..so when I sold it to buy a new one in 04 I did not even consider reading the reviews on the newer years- they had been pretty good for cost vs. performance in the past- that was a HUGE mistake- Piece of crap- electrical and many other "mystery" problems that could not be fixed. intermittent electrical draining, alternator replaced 3 times (in 4 years), horn issues, electrical shorts, light issues, battery drainage, etc etc etc- and thats only the electrical part of it, door latches fail often- twice replaced, trunk latch has been replaced twice, electric windows failed- window main power supply AND motor, suspension issues, steering column issues- I will run out of room before I name them all- and that is only in a... Read more

The Cavalier gets slammed repeatedly, however you still see many older ones on the road.  That says something positive.

I had the Pontiac version (Sunbird) for graduate school due to a death in the family.  This isn't meant to give the standard bash-the-American-car rant, but this was an inferior product on all levels compared to imported counterparts.  Alternator had to be replaced.  Plastic interior parts broke.  Head gasket went out prematurely.  Noisy.  Bad fuel efficiency compared to other cars.  Electric fan had to be replaced.  [And for those who have survived graduate school, these things take time- a commodity usually unavailable.] There were pluses- transmission and air-con were solid and it never really left me for dead.  But this car was a classic exhibit of something a college student would drive that causes the following response: "Detroit has a loooong way to go to get me back."

Let's put it this way, you are not going to see any Car and Driver awards here!

i have had this car for 5 years and not a single thing wrong with it, it is a good car and does my heart sad to see all the bad things said about it

This car SCREAMS cheap!

Nothing but problems. Electrical shorts of all sorts, windshield wipers have broken 5 times, always at times of most need. Engine runs rough when cool and damp outside. Timing chain broke and cost 2,500 to repair. Engine makes loud ticking noises and has a sound like metal rubbing. this is what i hear on most Cavaliers and Sunfires. Don't waste your money on this POS

RICK: I HAVE A 2002 CAVALIER LS WITH THE 2.2 ECO-TECH ENGINE. I CAN SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS CAR AND GM'S DESIGN. I WILL SAY IT IS A KEEPER. PROBLEM FREE FOR 65,000+ MILES. PERFORMANCE IS UP THERE WITH THE BEST OF THEM. GOOD JOB GM!

Farewell, old friend.

****CHECK YOUR CHEVY BOOKLETS******** We just recently purchased a Chevy Cavalier. It was raining and we were heading home on a highway in Massaachusetts. Suddenly without any warning...our windshield wipers stopped working out of nowhere! Through the pelting rain, we managed to pull over to the side of the road. When we took out our booklet and looked up 'winshield wipers' we were shocked at what we read. It read that: Winshield wipers will stop when its motor is overheated.(we had just got in the car) I mean...what's with that? That is very dangerous! We could have gotten killed if we didn't find a place to pull over. I mean what good is a windshield wiper if you can't use it in the rain? What about long trips? I'm very scared to drive this vehicle in the rain. PLEASE CHECK YOUR BOOKLETS!!! We are lucky to be alive.

With the gas prices of todays market a 4 cyclinder engine is the best way to go, with the handling and response of cat like skills the Cavalier is the best out there today