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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.

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

What owners actually said

330 reports
50,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACH QUIT WORKING OR ARE READING THE WRONG SPEEDS ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I CAN BE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE GAGE SHOWS 40MPH. I CAN BE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT SHOWS 30 MPH. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE & SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THERE …

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THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACH QUIT WORKING OR ARE READING THE WRONG SPEEDS ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I CAN BE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE GAGE SHOWS 40MPH. I CAN BE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT SHOWS 30 MPH. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE & SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO APPARENT RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312459

60,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Power TrainCrash

CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED TO STOP SHORT. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH LIGHT SNOW I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO SHIFT GEAR BEFORE A SLIGHT TURN AND INCLINE THE PEDAL STAYED DOWN. THE LACK OF POWER TO THE WHEELS WITHIN 5 SECONDS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE EVEN WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AND GO INTO THE SPIN T…

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CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED TO STOP SHORT. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH LIGHT SNOW I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO SHIFT GEAR BEFORE A SLIGHT TURN AND INCLINE THE PEDAL STAYED DOWN. THE LACK OF POWER TO THE WHEELS WITHIN 5 SECONDS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE EVEN WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AND GO INTO THE SPIN TO CORRECT. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND GOING BACKWARDS THEN THE FRONT END TRIED SWINGING BACK AND HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN DAMAGING THE FRONT END-BUMPER RIPPED OFF, REINFORCEMENT BENT/FOLDED, FENDERS WARPED, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BROKEN, CONDENSER SLIGHTLY FOLDED TO LEAK, RADIATOR SUPPORT WARPED, FRAME BENT. THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING...AGAIN THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME. PEDAL WOULD START TO STOP SHORT THEN THE SLAVE WOULD START TO LEAK. FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SLAVE AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING. THEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS "JUST OUT OF THE REPAIR WARRANT BY 800 MI THEY-THE DEALER- WAS "LIABLE FOR NOTHING" AND WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP." THE VEHICLE'S SLAVE WAS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING-WITH THE CLUTCH-WHEN IN 2009 THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN...AGAIN...AGAIN AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED.-PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE......THIS WHOLE ISSUE SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED WHICH CAUSED THE SECOND FAILURE AND THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312149

45,000 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN A TRUCK CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. SHE ALSO CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL THE FOLLOWING DAY. TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN A TRUCK CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. SHE ALSO CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE POLICE WAS THERE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SCHEDULED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY NEVER CAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03/05/10

NHTSA ODI #10311397

45,000 miles · Feb 17, 2010
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH SEAT AND AIRBAG FAILURE ON 5-23-08. REPORTED TO GM 5/27/08 CASE. SPOKE WITH GM REP THEN TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO SAID HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH DISTRICT MANAGER. ON 1/8/10 I AGAIN CALLED FOR FOLLOW-UP. THE PREVIOUS CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED AND A NEW ONE OPENED AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED. I F…

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VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH SEAT AND AIRBAG FAILURE ON 5-23-08. REPORTED TO GM 5/27/08 CASE. SPOKE WITH GM REP THEN TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO SAID HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH DISTRICT MANAGER. ON 1/8/10 I AGAIN CALLED FOR FOLLOW-UP. THE PREVIOUS CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED AND A NEW ONE OPENED AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED. I FOLLOWED UP ON 2/16/09 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BEING HANDLED BY MOTORS LIQUIDATION. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN WAS SAFETY BASED - NOT MONEY BASED, STILL HAD THE VEHICLE FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THE REP. EXPLAINED BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE "NEW" GM THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I EXPLAINED THE ACCIDENT DATE WAS OF NO CONCERN TO THE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AS THERE ARE STILL THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THEY FAILED TO REPORT TO YOU ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS GM'S POLICY OF REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING SAFETY ISSUES. IF MINE IS AN EXAMPLE, HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED OR DISCARDED BECAUSE OF THE BANKRUPTCY FILING? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEN WE CAN ASSUME IT MAY BE AN ISSUE OF RECALL NOW REGARDLESS OF "NEW" OR "OLD" GM STATUES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THIS BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. WE STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR BACK YARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE. AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO DISPOSE OF IT AND MOVE ON. I JUST FEEL A MORAL OBLIGATION - WHERE OBVIOUSLY GM DOES NOT. I AM HAPPY TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. PLEASE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY - I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THE INJURIES WE HAVE - ESPECIALLY IF IT IS PREVENTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311377

72,506 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Electrical System

THE EASIEST WAY TO PUT THIS IS THE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS MESSED UP, IT FIRST STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 40MPH WHEN I WAS IDLING, AND NOW THE NEEDLE IS BURIED PAST 110MPH EVEN WHEN IM GOING 20MPH. NOW THE GAS GAUGE HAS GOTTEN MESSED UP TOO ITS NEEDLE IS BURIED BLOCKING T…

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THE EASIEST WAY TO PUT THIS IS THE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS MESSED UP, IT FIRST STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 40MPH WHEN I WAS IDLING, AND NOW THE NEEDLE IS BURIED PAST 110MPH EVEN WHEN IM GOING 20MPH. NOW THE GAS GAUGE HAS GOTTEN MESSED UP TOO ITS NEEDLE IS BURIED BLOCKING THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE FROM ADVANCING WHICH WOULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND BRAKING PROBLEMS. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNOWS IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME IT WOULD BE $500.00 TO REPAIR IT. HONESTLY I AM KIND OF SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT DUE TO CHEVY NOT WANTING TO REPLACE THIS WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM, I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME FOR READING THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310956

62,000 miles · Feb 13, 2010
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT GIVING THE RIGHT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AND THE TACH IS NOT GIVING THE RPMS IT STAYS ON 0. SPEED NEEDLE GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND AS TO AS FAR IT CAN GO AND IT STAYS THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310213

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2010
Electrical System

I NOTICED IN THE COLD MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD SHOW THE INCORRECT SPEED OR JUST STOP. OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 6 MONTHS MY TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING. FOLLOWED BY MY RPM GAUGE, THEN THE GAS GAUGE. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TO GET A WHOLE NEW CLUSTER WHICH IS A BIT PRICEY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308860

34,500 miles · Feb 3, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER RUNS UP TO EXTREME LIMIT AT ANY SPEED AND TACHOMETER FREEZES UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10304327

51,000 miles · Jan 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

IDLE MISS WHILE AUTO IS IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC). INITIAL OCCURRENCE 15000-20000 MILES. STARTED WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT YOU COULD FEEL THE MISS IT WAS EVERY 30-45 SECONDS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEM. HAS GOTTEN WORSE, STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW IT STALLS AND YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER DROP 25-50 RPM. TOOK IT T…

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IDLE MISS WHILE AUTO IS IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC). INITIAL OCCURRENCE 15000-20000 MILES. STARTED WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT YOU COULD FEEL THE MISS IT WAS EVERY 30-45 SECONDS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEM. HAS GOTTEN WORSE, STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW IT STALLS AND YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER DROP 25-50 RPM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY @ 512010 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. CHANGED IGNITION MODULE & COIL PACK. I PICKED IT UP AND DRIVE IT 1.5 MILES AND IT WAS THE SAME. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SWAPPED INJECTORS WITH ANOTHER CYLINDER AND SPARK PLUGS, CHANGED FUEL FILTER. PICKED IT UP AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED EVERY TIME CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD THE SERVICE WRITER AND THE ACTUAL MECHANIC IN THE CAR WITH ME EACH TIME AND THEY AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AS OF THIS DATE 1-18-10 PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300295

82,000 miles · Jan 6, 2010
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER GAUGE CLUSTER FAILED AT 82000 MILES. UNSAFE. CANNOT DETERMINE MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298483

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.