← New search

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 →

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

Tires complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
40,000 miles · Jan 21, 2009
Power TrainTires

WHILE DRIVING IN MY CAR ONE DAY I INTENDED TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, BUT IT ONLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE. I CAN ONLY ASSUME SINCE THE NOISE PERSISTS EVEN WITH REV MATCHING THAT ITS A SYNCRO/CONE PROBLEM. I TRY TO SHIFT DURING THE PROPER RPM AREA, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL SHIFT WITHOUT A PROBLEM OTHER TIMES IT GRINDS. I HAVE NO IDEA …

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING IN MY CAR ONE DAY I INTENDED TO SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, BUT IT ONLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE. I CAN ONLY ASSUME SINCE THE NOISE PERSISTS EVEN WITH REV MATCHING THAT ITS A SYNCRO/CONE PROBLEM. I TRY TO SHIFT DURING THE PROPER RPM AREA, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL SHIFT WITHOUT A PROBLEM OTHER TIMES IT GRINDS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES ON IT THEN, NOW AROUND 70,000, STILL HAS THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255854

10,000 miles · Sep 12, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER SPORTMASTER GLT TIRES, SIZE 205/70R14. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WILL CALL COOPER TIRES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06T016000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNKNO…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER SPORTMASTER GLT TIRES, SIZE 205/70R14. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WILL CALL COOPER TIRES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06T016000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241938

172 miles · May 11, 2004
TiresVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE RPM WOULD GO TO 3000 WITH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WENT BACK TO NORMAL O…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE RPM WOULD GO TO 3000 WITH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WENT BACK TO NORMAL OF 950 RPMS. THE VEHICLE HAD 172 MILES AND WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRES, THEY WERE 24 LBS. THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE SHOULD OF BEEN 32 LBS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10066807

10 miles · Mar 18, 2004
TiresWheels

I PURCHASED MY 2004 CAVALIER LS WITH ONLY 4 MILES ON THE OD. I NOTICED THE VERY SAME DAY ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 & 75, AND DIDDNT TAKE IT IN RIGHT AWAY CAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE COULDNT POSSIBLY BE ANYTHING WRONG CAUSE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. WELL THIS CONT…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY 2004 CAVALIER LS WITH ONLY 4 MILES ON THE OD. I NOTICED THE VERY SAME DAY ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 & 75, AND DIDDNT TAKE IT IN RIGHT AWAY CAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE COULDNT POSSIBLY BE ANYTHING WRONG CAUSE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. WELL THIS CONTINUED AND GOT WORSE, SO AT 6,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR A ROTATION I HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THEY SAID THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. I DROVE IT AWAY BUT STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FINNALY TOOK IT BACK A MONTH LATER AND TOLD THE DEALER THIS WAS NOT NORMAL, SO THEY DID A FORSE VARATION BALENCE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I JUST THINK GM NEEDS A BETTER INSPECTION PROCESS, CAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT CORRECTLY BALENCED FROM THE FACTORY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062525

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.