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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

Electrical System complaints

185 reports
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72,004 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Electrical System

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT START. SO I TRIED AGAIN A FEW MORE TIME. THE VEHICLE DID START SO I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE NEXT WEEK WHICH WAS MY FIRST ATTEMPT. IT TOOK 2 MORE VISITS TO GET THE …

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT START. SO I TRIED AGAIN A FEW MORE TIME. THE VEHICLE DID START SO I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE NEXT WEEK WHICH WAS MY FIRST ATTEMPT. IT TOOK 2 MORE VISITS TO GET THE CAR FIXED CORRECTLY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR. JUST LIKE THE RECALL BY GM. BUT MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED, I HOPE IT WILL BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574473

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2014
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10574009

86,000 miles · Mar 18, 2014
Electrical System

SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL (FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE & TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT ALL! FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED! …

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SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL (FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE & TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT ALL! FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ALSO AS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573191

2,000,000 miles · Mar 14, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR DEFROSTER, IT STARTS POPPING VERY LOUD. AT ONE TIME IT STARTED POPPING WHEN I SET THE CAR AT IDLE, AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE OR DUST. I HAD TO AIR OUT THE CAR FOR A WHILE BEFORE I COULD DRIVE IT. THE DEFROSTER DOESN'T POP EVERY TIME, AND IT QUITS AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES EACH…

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WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR DEFROSTER, IT STARTS POPPING VERY LOUD. AT ONE TIME IT STARTED POPPING WHEN I SET THE CAR AT IDLE, AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE OR DUST. I HAD TO AIR OUT THE CAR FOR A WHILE BEFORE I COULD DRIVE IT. THE DEFROSTER DOESN'T POP EVERY TIME, AND IT QUITS AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES EACH TIME. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT NEEDED A NEW CONSOLE, SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT AND FLASH AT PEOPLE. WHEN THEY GO OUT, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON SO THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH AT PEOPLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569240

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

HORN WON'T BLOW, HAD IT SERVICED AND THEY SAID HORN WAS GOOD. THEY TRACK THE SITUATION BACK TO THE AIR BAG/HORN CONNECTION. NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE HORN WON'T BLOW. THE GUY THAT SERVICED IT , SAID THE CONNECTION FOR THE HORN IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND I WOULD NEED A NEW AIR BAG T…

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HORN WON'T BLOW, HAD IT SERVICED AND THEY SAID HORN WAS GOOD. THEY TRACK THE SITUATION BACK TO THE AIR BAG/HORN CONNECTION. NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE HORN WON'T BLOW. THE GUY THAT SERVICED IT , SAID THE CONNECTION FOR THE HORN IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND I WOULD NEED A NEW AIR BAG TO POSSIBLE FIX THIS ISSUE. WHAT COULD I POSSIBLE DO TO GET THIS CORRECTED? IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GETTING MORE WORRIED ABOUT IT LATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569185

85,000 miles · Mar 11, 2014
Electrical System

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION RECALL. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AT RANDOM TIMES, IF I TOUCHED THE KEYS WHICH WERE IN THE IGNITION, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT WOULD EITHER FLICKER OR ACTUALLY GO ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO A MINUTE BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF PULLING THEM SO THAT THE…

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I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION RECALL. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AT RANDOM TIMES, IF I TOUCHED THE KEYS WHICH WERE IN THE IGNITION, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT WOULD EITHER FLICKER OR ACTUALLY GO ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO A MINUTE BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF PULLING THEM SO THAT THEY ARE NOT SOLIDLY INSERTED, BUT DUE TO BEING JOSTLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, OR NOT RUNNING, AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, IN ITSELF, IS A PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS AN INDICATION THAT THIS MAY PROGRESS INTO A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568646

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

RECENTLY GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SOME OF THEIR CARS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS A LIST OF CARS CURRENTLY LISTED, BUT I WANT MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ADDED TO THE RECALL TOO: CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5, SATURN ION, CHEVROLET HHR, …

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RECENTLY GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SOME OF THEIR CARS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS A LIST OF CARS CURRENTLY LISTED, BUT I WANT MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ADDED TO THE RECALL TOO: CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5, SATURN ION, CHEVROLET HHR, PONTIAC SOLSTICE, AND SATURN SKY. MANY YEARS AGO I TRIED TO GET A LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THEY COULD NOT FIX IT, SO WE JUST KEPT DRIVING THE CAR. HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS GETTING DEPLOYED I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU SOONER. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO GET FIXED BY GM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON ALL MODELS LISTED INCLUDING MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE DEFECT ALLOWS THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MOVE FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" IF I HIT A BUMP OR I USE A HEAVY KEY CHAIN. THAT SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND MAY DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THE LOSS OF THE AIR BAG CRASH PROTECTION IS MY BIGGEST WORRY. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS FIXED AND WARN OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566345

109,000 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER STEERING GAUGES SHUT OFF EVERYTHING TURNED OFF BUT LIGHTS STAYED ON AND FLASHERS WORKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566028

90,000 miles · Dec 22, 2013
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING; TODAY'S EXAMPLE; WE WERE ENTERING AN INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATING TO THE 65 MPH POSTED SPEED LIMIT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER LOCKED AT 45 AND STAYED THERE. DID NOT CHANGE AND REMAINS THERE UNTIL WE GOT THE CAR HOME. THE WORST PART IS MY SON, A STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND HAD NO WAY TO KNOW HOW FAST H…

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SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING; TODAY'S EXAMPLE; WE WERE ENTERING AN INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATING TO THE 65 MPH POSTED SPEED LIMIT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER LOCKED AT 45 AND STAYED THERE. DID NOT CHANGE AND REMAINS THERE UNTIL WE GOT THE CAR HOME. THE WORST PART IS MY SON, A STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND HAD NO WAY TO KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS GOING AND HAD TO REMAIN THERE UNTIL WE COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND EXCHANGE PLACES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE, AND SEE MANY MORE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10556982

42,300 miles · Nov 18, 2013
Electrical System

MY INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INDICATING INCORRECT SPEEDS BEFORE IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE GAS, RPM, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES INDICATE INCORRECT INFORMATION AS WELL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552663

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.