THE GARNISH MOLDING-WINDSHIELD PILLAR-DRIVER'S SIDE FELL PARTLY OFF BLOCKING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. IT WAS NEVER TOUCHED AND FOR NO REASON IT FELL OFF AND TO THIS DAY I AM UNABLE TO REATTACH IT..
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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.
Structure complaints
13 reportsI LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING IN DRIVEWAY FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS FULL OF BLACK SMOKE AND WITHIN MINUTES WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHANGING THE OIL SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHANGING THE OIL SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HOOD FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HOOD FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AND CORROSION STARTED TO DEVELOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AND CORROSION STARTED TO DEVELOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. BACK DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSE. I HAVE IT LOCKED NOW BUT CAN NOT OPEN IT. I AM AFRAID WHILE MY CHILD IS SITTING BACK THERE THE DOOR WILL SWING OPEN. PLEASE HELP! *TR
WE HAVE THREE CHEVROLET CAVALIERS (YEARS: 1999, 2000, 2004). ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AT LEAST ONE CRACK IN THE PART OF THE DASH THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONCERN IS IN A SIGNIFICANT CRASH IF THIS CRACK WOULD CAUSE FACIAL OR UPPER BODY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. IN ADDITION, ONLY THE 2004 CAVALIER H…
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WE HAVE THREE CHEVROLET CAVALIERS (YEARS: 1999, 2000, 2004). ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AT LEAST ONE CRACK IN THE PART OF THE DASH THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONCERN IS IN A SIGNIFICANT CRASH IF THIS CRACK WOULD CAUSE FACIAL OR UPPER BODY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. IN ADDITION, ONLY THE 2004 CAVALIER HAS HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT -- SPRINGS ARE COMING THROUGH THE REAR UPPER PORTION OF THE SEAT, THE SEAT CUSHION IS LESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT THAN THE RIGHT AND THE RECLINER HANDLE HAS BROKEN TWICE (WAS REPAIRED ONCE BY TINCHER WILLIAMS CHEVROLET IN LONDON, KY; BUT REMAINS BROKEN TODAY). TODAY'S DATE WAS USED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTUAL INCIDENT. *TR
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
DT: THE SUN VISORS DO NOT HAVE THE SNAP TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO SLIP DOWN WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 6-1-05. *AK *NM
DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS A WATER LEAK IN HIS TRUNK CAUSED BY THE CAR NOT BEING PROPERLY WELDED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE WATER LEAK CAUSES MOLD AND MILDEW TO FORM ON THE CARPETING AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MOLD AND MILDEW IS CAUSING ILLNESS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER APPLIED SEAM SEALE…
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DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS A WATER LEAK IN HIS TRUNK CAUSED BY THE CAR NOT BEING PROPERLY WELDED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE WATER LEAK CAUSES MOLD AND MILDEW TO FORM ON THE CARPETING AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MOLD AND MILDEW IS CAUSING ILLNESS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER APPLIED SEAM SEALER TO THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR AND CARPET HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO USE THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE WATER HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE INTERIOR AND CARPET AGAIN. THIS SERVICE DEALER CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, AND STATED THEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE TOO EARLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Official recalls
104V300000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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