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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
330Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 330 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 185 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 27 reports
  • Power Train: 23 reports
  • Visibility: 23 reports
  • Steering: 16 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
243
2001196
2002678
2003330
2004287
2005
Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
185Vehicle Speed Control
27Power Train
23Visibility
23Steering
16
All reported categories
Air Bags
15Engine And Engine Cooling
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Structure
13Unknown Or Other
13Fuel System, Gasoline
9Exterior Lighting
8Seats
8Engine
7Equipment
6Seat Belts
6Suspension
6Latches/locks/linkages
4Tires
4Wheels
4Fuel System, Other
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Visibility/wiper
2Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
3,800 miles · Sep 19, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WHICH HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS AND IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE PAINT ON THIS CAR, AND OTHER CARS LIKE IT, IS PEELING AND CHIPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR NO REASON. THE DOOR EDGES, BUMPERS, HOOD, AND FENDER ALL HAVE CHIPS OF PAINT MISSING OR ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE CLEAR COAT ON THE CAR IS ALSO VER…

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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WHICH HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS AND IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE PAINT ON THIS CAR, AND OTHER CARS LIKE IT, IS PEELING AND CHIPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR NO REASON. THE DOOR EDGES, BUMPERS, HOOD, AND FENDER ALL HAVE CHIPS OF PAINT MISSING OR ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE CLEAR COAT ON THE CAR IS ALSO VERY BAD AND IS SCRATCHED VERY EASILY AND WASHING THE CAR SOMETIMES DOES MORE BAD THAN GOOD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS AND DRUMS WARP VERY EASILY ON THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRUMS SOON. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH SUCH A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10137031

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE FAD AT SPEEDS OF HIGHER THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN DAMP. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND/OR SHOES ARE EITHER TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR OR THE MATERIAL IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY. I HAVE 2 OTHER CHEVROLET…

Read full complaint

I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE FAD AT SPEEDS OF HIGHER THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN DAMP. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND/OR SHOES ARE EITHER TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR OR THE MATERIAL IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY. I HAVE 2 OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ONLY MY 2004 CAVALIER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112661

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

POSSIBLE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR DEFECT IN 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS THREE INCHES HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10073368

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.