IllustrationTAKATA RECALL WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE BROKEN WHILE CAR IN MOTION ON A RAINY DAY AND MY CAR STALLS EVERYDAY WHILE AT LIGHT EVEN SHUTS OFF IF I'M AT LIGHT
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
430–25K
7225–50K
6150–75K
3475–100K
36100–150K
18150K+
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 reportsI HAVE HAD MY USED CHEVY CAVALIER 2004 CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ENGINE HAS JUST STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE TIME SPAN OF 5 MONTHS. NO ONE ( AUTO SHOPS) CAN FIND THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ZERO ANSWERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE BANNED FROM THE INTERNET IF I SAID WHAT …
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I HAVE HAD MY USED CHEVY CAVALIER 2004 CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ENGINE HAS JUST STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE TIME SPAN OF 5 MONTHS. NO ONE ( AUTO SHOPS) CAN FIND THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ZERO ANSWERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE BANNED FROM THE INTERNET IF I SAID WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY TO CHEVY. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY...AUG 3RD 2017.
I'VE OWNED THE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SINCE IT HAD 2000 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 85000. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2017 A GREASY BOLT CAME FLYING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAULTY "PINS" THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT. NOW MY 2004 CH…
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I'VE OWNED THE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER SINCE IT HAD 2000 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 85000. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2017 A GREASY BOLT CAME FLYING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I'VE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAULTY "PINS" THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHT. NOW MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER STEERING WHEEL MOVES TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS OCCURRED IN MANY GM/ CHEVROLET CARS. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND BEING CHECKED OUT.
SPEEDOMETER HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN NO LONGER TELL HOW FAST I AM DRIVING. *TR
CLUSTER PANEL TEMP GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING NOW THE GAUGE IS STAYING IN ONE SPOT SO HAVE NO IDEA IF TEMP IS GOOD OR NOT. WHAT IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE I WILL NOT KNOW WITHOUT THIS WORKING. HAVE TAKEN TO TWO GARAGES THEY BOTH SAY ITS THE CLUSTER PANEL. STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING ,GAGE STAYS THE SAME.THIS STARTED ABOU…
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CLUSTER PANEL TEMP GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING NOW THE GAUGE IS STAYING IN ONE SPOT SO HAVE NO IDEA IF TEMP IS GOOD OR NOT. WHAT IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE I WILL NOT KNOW WITHOUT THIS WORKING. HAVE TAKEN TO TWO GARAGES THEY BOTH SAY ITS THE CLUSTER PANEL. STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING ,GAGE STAYS THE SAME.THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WITH ONLY 68,500 MILES ON IT. *TR
1. SEAT BELT WON'T RETRACT. 2. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT DROPPED WILL NOT GO BACK TO UPRIGHT POSITION.
MY CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING A WHILE AGO. SINCE I DIDN'T GET A RECALL ON IT I WAS UNAWARE OF PEOPLE DID COMPLAIN ABOUT IT UNTIL MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHERE THE CLUSTER IS AND ALL THE WIRES ARE TOTALLY BURNED UP. I AM FURIOUS. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SOME PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD NOT READ ALL OF THEM SO, I DON'T KNO…
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MY CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING A WHILE AGO. SINCE I DIDN'T GET A RECALL ON IT I WAS UNAWARE OF PEOPLE DID COMPLAIN ABOUT IT UNTIL MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHERE THE CLUSTER IS AND ALL THE WIRES ARE TOTALLY BURNED UP. I AM FURIOUS. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SOME PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD NOT READ ALL OF THEM SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THANK GOD I DIDN'T GET INJURED OR DEATH. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE HELP.
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING TELEPHONE POLE. SNAPPED IN HALF, CAR TOTALED. STATE ROAD 252 MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA. CAR IN MOTION.
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING TELEPHONE POLE. SNAPPED IN HALF, CAR TOTALED. STATE ROAD 252 MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA. CAR IN MOTION.
IN MOTION. 2004 CAVALIER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY AFTER IMPACT WITH TELEPHONE POLE. PICTURE OF POLE SNAPPED IN HALF. STATE ROAD 252 MARTINSVILLE INDIANA. PICTURE OF POLE CAR IS TOTALED.
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.