SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← 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.

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

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

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.