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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

Power Train complaints

23 reports
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15,000 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS BEEN HAVING A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS ON DRY ROADS, IT WILL STALL AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE AUTO AIR CONTROL SYSTEM SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED AT A …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS BEEN HAVING A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS ON DRY ROADS, IT WILL STALL AND SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE AUTO AIR CONTROL SYSTEM SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAVE BOTH BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED AT A SERVICE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS SMOOTHLY, AND WILL REMAIN IN A LOWER GEAR AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI #10149859

45,000 miles · Nov 25, 2005
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THANKSGIVING I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH APPEARED STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE REMAINDER OF THE WAY HOME (30 MILES) IF I SLOWED DOWN THE WOULD STALL AS I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. THE CAR, A 2004 CAVALIER, HAS A TOTAL OF 42000 MILES ON IT. UPON GETTING THE CA…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THANKSGIVING I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH APPEARED STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE REMAINDER OF THE WAY HOME (30 MILES) IF I SLOWED DOWN THE WOULD STALL AS I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. THE CAR, A 2004 CAVALIER, HAS A TOTAL OF 42000 MILES ON IT. UPON GETTING THE CAR TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE SLAVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143646

34 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Power Train

I HAVE AN EXCESSIVE GRINDING FEEL WITHIN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. A TSB FOR THIS HAS BEEN ISSUED AND SO FAR THE VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. 2 CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND ONE FLYWHEEL. THE ORIGINAL TSB STATES DO NOT REPLACE THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS AND FLYWHEEL BECAUSE THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM, WHY ARE YOU GOING AGA…

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I HAVE AN EXCESSIVE GRINDING FEEL WITHIN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. A TSB FOR THIS HAS BEEN ISSUED AND SO FAR THE VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. 2 CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND ONE FLYWHEEL. THE ORIGINAL TSB STATES DO NOT REPLACE THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS AND FLYWHEEL BECAUSE THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM, WHY ARE YOU GOING AGAINST YOUR OWN TECHNICAL EXPERTS ADVISE? WANT TO PREVENT A DEVASTATING RECALL BY HOODWINKING YOUR CUSTOMERS IN SAYING THE PROBLEM IS DESIGNED IN THE TRANSMISSION AS NORMAL? THIS HAS TO BE UP CHANNELED TO HIGHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. LEMON LAWS AND IGNORANT AND COMPLACENT CUSTOMERS WHO ARE AFRAID OF GOING THE DISTANCE WILL ONLY ALLOW THEIR INVESTMENTS TO BE TRADED OR JUST LIVE WITH THE COMPLAINT. LOOKING AT THE HISTORY OF 2000-2004 CAVALIERS, SUNFIRES AND MALIBUS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMBINATION IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. I WISH THERE WAS A FORUM TO ALLOW CROSS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OWNERS FOR A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS AMERICA. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD I GET BETTER RETURN SERVICE AT WAL MART FOR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10081039

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.