Problems · by component
2000 Chevrolet Cavalier engine and engine cooling problems
54 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier cite engine and engine cooling, 17% of all 326 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
54
17% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine and engine cooling
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THIS CAR HAS BEEN LOVINGLY CARED FOR SINCE IT WAS NEW. THE UNDERBODY IS PERFECT BUT THE SUBFRAME (ENGINE CRADLE) IS BADLY RUSTED, WITH PITTING, SCALING AND A RUSTED THROUGH HOLE. I AM HEARTBROKEN! THIS CAR IS VERY NICE BUT NOW I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR”
“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). WE ARE BAFFLED WHY IT CANNOT RETAIN CONSTANT COOLANT LEVELS. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING SITUATION AS I AM LEFT WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE YET IT EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE YET IT STALLED A THIRD TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACTS PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 208,000.”
“CONSUMER 2000 CAVALIER STALL WHEN TURNING OR STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. *TS AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE FOR THE IGNITION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL. THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. TWO SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED. *NM”
“I PURCHASED MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 8,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY. EVEN THOUGH I FAITHFULLY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES I AM NOW EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH I AM STILL PAYING OFF. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT GMC HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE THAT IS IN MY VEHICLE. IT NOW HAS AN INTAKE VALUE FAILURE AND PISTON PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER VECHILES AND AS LONG AS I MAINTAINED THEM THEY RAN GREAT UNTIL 100,000 PLUS MILES. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE? NOT IMPRESSED. I THOUGHT GOING GMC WOULD GIVE ME A RELIABLE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE TO PUT IN OVER $1,000 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,000 TO $4,000. WHEN I GO TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHILE I WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND!!!!!”
“THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHIN 3 MINUTES TO START UP. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED 4 WEEKS AGO. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE DEXCOOLANT, BUT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEATED AGAIN. *AK THE HEATER COULD NOT BE TURNED ON OR THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. THE HEADGASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SC *JB”
Showing 6 of 54 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.