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2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cavalier years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 140.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

264 reports with mileage · 66 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 185 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports6 fire reports15 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

15 reports
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81,000 miles · Dec 2, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 02/19/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10294272

41 miles · May 9, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE (CHEVY CAVALIER 2004) AND HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AGAINST THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. DURING THE IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROVOKING MINOR INJURIES IN THE FACE TO THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE (CHEVY CAVALIER 2004) AND HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AGAINST THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. DURING THE IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROVOKING MINOR INJURIES IN THE FACE TO THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I FILLED OUT A REPORT WITH GMC AND THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO TAKE THE INFORMATION FROM THE "BLACK BOX" AND SOME PICTURES OF THE FINAL CONDITION OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE REPRESENTATIVE IN CHARGE (TRACY SAVERINO) FOR WEEKS, I LEFT SEVERAL VOICE MESSAGES TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE DAMAGED VEHICLE, ALREADY BEING REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN FOR KEEPING THIS VEHICLE IN OPERATION AFTER THE SAFETY SYSTEM'S TEST IN REAL CONDITIONS. RECENTLY I WAS NOTIFIED BY A LETTER THROUGH THE GMC CLAIMS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM AND THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION OR EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSES THAT ORIGINATED THE MALFUNCTION. THEY ENCOURAGE ME TO PRESERVE IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-ACCIDENT CONDITION THE VEHICLE IF I WISHED TO SUPPORT WITH EVIDENCES MY CLAIM WHEN THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN THE POST-ACCIDENT CONDITION BY THE DAY OF THE INSPECTION. THIS BEHAVIOR CONSTITUTES A DISRESPECT AND IS A FORM OF ABUSIVE TREATMENT CONSIDERING THAT THE COMPANY WAS RELUCTANT TO ANSWER MY PHONE CALLS AND INTENTIONALLY PROTRACTED THE PROCEDURE TO ALLOW THE CUSTOMER TO START WITH THE REPAIRS AND DODGE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND CONCEAL A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPONENT SERIAL NUMBER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157126

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

I'M FILING THIS FOR MY DAD. HE WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPUTER. A MAN STOLE A VEHICLE AND WAS BEING CHASED BY POLICE IN KANSAS CITY WHEN MY DAD WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE WRONG TIME AND WAS HIT SQUARE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF HIS CHEVY CAVALIER. I'M NOT SURE OF THE YEAR, BUT IT'S LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. HE HAD HIS SEAT BEL…

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I'M FILING THIS FOR MY DAD. HE WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPUTER. A MAN STOLE A VEHICLE AND WAS BEING CHASED BY POLICE IN KANSAS CITY WHEN MY DAD WAS IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE WRONG TIME AND WAS HIT SQUARE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF HIS CHEVY CAVALIER. I'M NOT SURE OF THE YEAR, BUT IT'S LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. HE HAD HIS SEAT BELT ON, BUT THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. THE CRASH WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT HE HAS 7 FRACTURED RIBS, LEFT PELVIC FRACTURE, LEFT ACETABULAR FRACTURE, LEFT TIBIA/FIBULAR FRACTURES AND 2 FRACTURES IN THE ANKLE OF HIS LEFT FOOT. HE'S STILL IN REHAB. I'M NOT SURE THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. I JUST CLICKED NO ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE ABOUT RELEASE OF MY DAD'S INFORMATION SINCE YOU'D HAVE TO ASK HIM THAT QUESTION. THANKS FOR LOOKING INTO THIS. MY NUMBER IN SAN ANTONIO IS 210-492-7653 (BARBARA ROACH). *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151583

15,203 miles · Jan 28, 2005
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE EXPLODED AND/ BLEW OUT THE WINDSHIELD/CRACKED THE DASHBOARD, AND SENT METAL THROUGH THE GLASS DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SINCE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10109182

7,126 miles · Oct 4, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE T-BONED AT 45 MPH AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10094963

Official recalls

1

04V300000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

Jun 23, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, 'SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.' THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR SAFETY BELT MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH AN INCORRECT NUT AND BOLT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE AND INSTALL A NEW NUT AND BOLT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.