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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
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2007
SeatsStructure

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

NHTSA ODI #10210240

73,000 miles · Nov 16, 2007
Electrical System

SPEEDOMETER STARTED RUNNING BACKWARDS AND NOW WILL STICK AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS REGARDLESS OF ACTUAL SPEED. I HAVE TO ESTIMATE ACTUAL SPEED ACCORDING TO RPM'S. CONSEQUENCES IS GETTING PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING BECAUSE I CAN NOT TELL HOW FAST NOR SLOW I AM GOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209188

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. ALWAYS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND SPEEDOMETER STICKS EVERYTIME IT RAINS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WE WERE AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO DEPLOY AND IF IT DID WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN IT WAS CONTINUED TO DRIVE, ALL THAT WAS SMELLED…

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ELECTRICAL FIRE IN A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. ALWAYS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON AND SPEEDOMETER STICKS EVERYTIME IT RAINS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WE WERE AFRAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO DEPLOY AND IF IT DID WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. WHEN IT WAS CONTINUED TO DRIVE, ALL THAT WAS SMELLED WAS SMOKE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT AND THE SMOKE BECAME HEAVIER AND ALL THE WIRES WERE DANGLING DOWN AND MELTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED AND NEEDS TO BE REWIRED AND THAT WILL COST ABOUT $1100.00. GOOD THING NO ONE WAS HURT AND IT DIDN'T ALL THE WAY CATCH FIRE. I NOW DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WHEN IT GETS FIXED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS THAT THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR AND HOW THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208223

60,000 miles · Nov 6, 2007
Power Train

MY 2004 CAVALIER HAS HAD TWO SLAVE CYLINDERS TO FAIL. CLUTCH GOES TO THE FLOOR FAILING TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208095

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH SAFETY ISSUES DEALING WITH THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER NEEDS A LIGHT TO BE ON TO FIND OUT. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INJECTORS AND IT WAS NOT THE INJECTORS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRAVELED ON TRIPS OVER 100 MILES LONG, THE TRAC…

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2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH SAFETY ISSUES DEALING WITH THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER NEEDS A LIGHT TO BE ON TO FIND OUT. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INJECTORS AND IT WAS NOT THE INJECTORS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRAVELED ON TRIPS OVER 100 MILES LONG, THE TRAC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED., FOLLOWED BY THE RPMS GOING UP, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BURNED A LOT OF OIL, BUT ONLY WHEN THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10208312

55,000 miles · Oct 12, 2007
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T...MY GAS GAUGE NEVER WORKS PROPERLY...THIS BEGAN TO HAPPEN AFTER I REACHED 55,000 MILES ON MY CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10205531

42,000 miles · Sep 4, 2007
Power Train

I HAVE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH LESS THAN 40K MILEAGE. ON AUGUST 31, 2007, THE CLUTCH PAD SUDDENLY DID NOT BACK UP ON MY WAY HOME. I CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND FOUND I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS ANOTHER CONSUMER. ALL THE LIQUID WAS COMING OUT FROM THE CLUTCH LINE BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER TO TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CHECKED THE LINE, I FOUND…

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I HAVE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH LESS THAN 40K MILEAGE. ON AUGUST 31, 2007, THE CLUTCH PAD SUDDENLY DID NOT BACK UP ON MY WAY HOME. I CHECKED THIS WEBSITE AND FOUND I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AS ANOTHER CONSUMER. ALL THE LIQUID WAS COMING OUT FROM THE CLUTCH LINE BETWEEN MASTER CYLINDER TO TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CHECKED THE LINE, I FOUND OUT THE CLUTCH LINE WAS TOUCHING THE WIRE BOX CORNER ALL THE TIME. THERE IS A HOLE IN THAT TOUCHING POINT. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM FOR THIS KIND OF CAR. THE GM CHEVY DEALER SAID THE PURCHASED DATE HAD PASSED THREE YEARS. NO WARRANTY AT ALL. WHEN I SEARCH THE WEB FOR HELP. I FOUND THE OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN THE SAME PROBLEM TOO. *TR UPDATED 10/24/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201764

61,056 miles · Sep 2, 2007
Electrical System

AT A ROUND 61000 KM'S (APPROX MAR 2007)THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STARTED GIVING INCORRECT READINGS, EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR ON THEIR OWN. THEY WILL PRETTY PRETTY MUCH SPIN AROUND AT DIFFERENT POINTS. THEN SOME TIMES THEY WILL WORK FINE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. TODAY (SEPT 2007), THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOW STARTED DO…

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AT A ROUND 61000 KM'S (APPROX MAR 2007)THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STARTED GIVING INCORRECT READINGS, EITHER AT THE SAME TIME OR ON THEIR OWN. THEY WILL PRETTY PRETTY MUCH SPIN AROUND AT DIFFERENT POINTS. THEN SOME TIMES THEY WILL WORK FINE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. TODAY (SEPT 2007), THE FUEL GAUGE HAS NOW STARTED DOING THE SAME, IT WENT OFF SCALE AND NOW IS COLLIDING WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THIS POSES A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR ME NOW, UP TIL NOW I WAS PUTTING UP WITH IT AS IT CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY THE DEALER AT A HIGH COST (OVER 500 CDN). HAVING AN INCORRECT FUEL READING CAUSES OBVIOUS PROBLEMS OF GETTING STRANDED, AND THE TEMP GAUGE OF ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10201699

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2007
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH LESS THAN 24K MILEAGE. ON AUGUST 4, 2007, THE CLUTCH PAD SUDDENLY DID NOT BACK UP ON MY WAY HOME. I CANNOT CHANGE THE SPEED. WHEN AAA GUY CAME TO TOW, HE FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO HYDAULIC LIQUID. I BOUGHT THE LIQUID AND ADDED IT INTO THE HYDRAULIC LIQUID RESERVOIR. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND PRESSED…

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I HAVE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH LESS THAN 24K MILEAGE. ON AUGUST 4, 2007, THE CLUTCH PAD SUDDENLY DID NOT BACK UP ON MY WAY HOME. I CANNOT CHANGE THE SPEED. WHEN AAA GUY CAME TO TOW, HE FOUND OUT THERE WAS NO HYDAULIC LIQUID. I BOUGHT THE LIQUID AND ADDED IT INTO THE HYDRAULIC LIQUID RESERVOIR. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND PRESSED THE CLUTCH, THE AAA GUY FOUND ALL THE LIQUID WAS COMING OUT FROM THE CLUTCH LINE BETWEEN MASTER CYCLINDER TO TRANSMISSION. WHEN I CHECKED THE LINE, I FOUND OUT THE CLUTCH LINE WAS TOUCHING THE WIRE BOX CORNER ALL THE TIME. THERE IS A HOLE IN THAT TOUCHING POINT. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM FOR THIS KIND OF CAR. THE GM CHEVY DEALER SAID THE PURCHASED DATE HAD PASSED THREE YEARS. NO WARRANTY AT ALL. WHEN I SEARCH THE WEB FOR HELP. I FOUND THE OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN THE SAME PROBLEM TOO. IF YOU NEED MORE DETAIL INFORMATION, I STILL KEEP THE BROKEN PART. I CAN SEND THE PICTURE OR THE BROKEN PART. THANKS, JUN SHEN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10199524

40,000 miles · Jul 16, 2007
Unknown Or Other

I HAVEN'T MADE A PAYMENT ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I CALL THE FINANCE COMPANY, BACK IN FEB 2007, TO FIND OUT WHY THEY HAVEN'T REPOSSESSED IT YET. THEY HAD TOLD ME THEY HAD REPOED THE CAR AND CONSIDERED IT A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THEY HAD DONE WRONG BY ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVE THE CAR IN QUESTION. IF THIS IS TRUE ABOUT WHAT THEY DI…

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I HAVEN'T MADE A PAYMENT ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I CALL THE FINANCE COMPANY, BACK IN FEB 2007, TO FIND OUT WHY THEY HAVEN'T REPOSSESSED IT YET. THEY HAD TOLD ME THEY HAD REPOED THE CAR AND CONSIDERED IT A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THEY HAD DONE WRONG BY ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVE THE CAR IN QUESTION. IF THIS IS TRUE ABOUT WHAT THEY DID, I WOULD LIKE 3 THINGS. A CLEAR TITLE SENT TO ME, A ZERO BALANCE, A GOOD CREDIT RATING AND IF ANY LEGAL FEES THEY PAY THEM. CAN YOU DO ANYTHING TO GET THIS CLEARED UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10196451

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.