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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 · Aug 1, 2006
Visibility

IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROST WILL NOT BLOW AIR IN ORDER TO DEFROST THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSES VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT WITH OUT APPROVAL OF A LOT OF HOURS FOR LABOR AND TAKING APART A LARGE PORTION OF…

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IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. THE FRONT WINDOW DEFROST WILL NOT BLOW AIR IN ORDER TO DEFROST THE WINDOW. THIS CAUSES VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO FIX IT WITH OUT APPROVAL OF A LOT OF HOURS FOR LABOR AND TAKING APART A LARGE PORTION OF THE FRONT END. WHICH MOST PEOPLE CAN NOT AFFORD ALL AT ONE TIME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164074

25,500 miles · Jul 5, 2006
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL EITHER UP OR DOWN. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE TRUNK; WATER CONTINUALLY LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKES; THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING AT ONLY 25000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLU…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL EITHER UP OR DOWN. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE TRUNK; WATER CONTINUALLY LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKES; THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING AT ONLY 25000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE AS SOON AS BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRUNK WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER FIXED THE TRUNK, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN IT RAIN, WATER STILL LEAKS IN THE TRUNK. THE WATER LEAK HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE JULY 2003.

NHTSA ODI #10161471

40,000 miles · Jun 4, 2006
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE GRINDING SINCE I BOUGHT MY 04 CAVALIER. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY RUST BUILD UP AND IT WAS SANDED OFF ONLY TO RECCUR. THE LAST TIME IN THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IF I WANTED A BRAKE JOB DONE IT WOULD BE IN…

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I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE GRINDING SINCE I BOUGHT MY 04 CAVALIER. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY RUST BUILD UP AND IT WAS SANDED OFF ONLY TO RECCUR. THE LAST TIME IN THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IF I WANTED A BRAKE JOB DONE IT WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $140.00...THIS...WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE CAR WAS IN FOR THE PREVIOUS 2 TIMES AND NO NEW BRAKES INSTALLED..ONLY THE RUST GROUND OFF. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PERIODICALLY GOES OFF AND ON AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE WHY. I NO LONGER HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON MY RADIO/CD PLAYER..I CAN PLAY CD'S AND USE THE RADIO BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT STATION ETC I AM ON. SHORTLY AFTER THIS OCCURRED IN LIKE 2 WEEKS, I LOST MY SPEEDOMETER...IT WORKS BRIEFLY AND THEN STICKS AT 90 MPH ( THE ODOMETER WORKS HOWEVER) THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED FUSES AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. THEY SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A CLUSTER MODULE AND EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, THE LABOR WOULD BE THE MOST BECAUSE IT ENTAILED THEM REMOVING THE DASH BOARD. THE COST FACTOR OF OVER $400 WAS VERBALLY GIVEN TO ME. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND GIVEN MY CAR IS OFF WARRANTY, I WOULD NEED TO ABSORB THIS COST MYSELF. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND FEEL THAT AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF OWNING IT, THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I GAVE AN ESTIMATED ACCOUNT OF DATES OF INCIDENT BEEN THEY HAVE BEEN ON GOING AND CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AS I HAVE TAKEN IT NO WHERE ELSE FOR SERVICE. I AM REGISTERED WITH CARSTATS AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THINGS I AM EXPERIENCING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158938

26,500 miles · May 25, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURES ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE VE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURES ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THE BRAKES FAILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI #10158281

41 miles · May 9, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE (CHEVY CAVALIER 2004) AND HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AGAINST THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. DURING THE IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROVOKING MINOR INJURIES IN THE FACE TO THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING OVER A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH UNDER HEAVY RAIN CONDITIONS, I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE (CHEVY CAVALIER 2004) AND HAD A FRONTAL CRASH AGAINST THE CONCRETE MEDIAN. DURING THE IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY PROVOKING MINOR INJURIES IN THE FACE TO THE ONLY OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE. TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I FILLED OUT A REPORT WITH GMC AND THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR TO TAKE THE INFORMATION FROM THE "BLACK BOX" AND SOME PICTURES OF THE FINAL CONDITION OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE REPRESENTATIVE IN CHARGE (TRACY SAVERINO) FOR WEEKS, I LEFT SEVERAL VOICE MESSAGES TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE DAMAGED VEHICLE, ALREADY BEING REPAIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN FOR KEEPING THIS VEHICLE IN OPERATION AFTER THE SAFETY SYSTEM'S TEST IN REAL CONDITIONS. RECENTLY I WAS NOTIFIED BY A LETTER THROUGH THE GMC CLAIMS DEPARTMENT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM AND THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION OR EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSES THAT ORIGINATED THE MALFUNCTION. THEY ENCOURAGE ME TO PRESERVE IN THE IMMEDIATE POST-ACCIDENT CONDITION THE VEHICLE IF I WISHED TO SUPPORT WITH EVIDENCES MY CLAIM WHEN THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS IN THE POST-ACCIDENT CONDITION BY THE DAY OF THE INSPECTION. THIS BEHAVIOR CONSTITUTES A DISRESPECT AND IS A FORM OF ABUSIVE TREATMENT CONSIDERING THAT THE COMPANY WAS RELUCTANT TO ANSWER MY PHONE CALLS AND INTENTIONALLY PROTRACTED THE PROCEDURE TO ALLOW THE CUSTOMER TO START WITH THE REPAIRS AND DODGE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND CONCEAL A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND PROBABLY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME COMPONENT SERIAL NUMBER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157126

37,115 miles · May 1, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE CLUTCH DID NOT ENGAGE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CLUTCH ENGAGED AND THE GEARS WERE SWITCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10156537

30,000 miles · Mar 23, 2006
Visibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE. THE DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIRS TWICE; THE MOTOR AND REGULATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW IS INOPERATIVE AGAIN. UPDATED 04/11/06 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10153494

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN HAVING MY BRAKES CHANGED IT WAS NOTICED THAT ON THE REAR BRAKES ONLY HALF THE PAD TOUCHES THE DRUM, THE LOWER HALF DOES NOT TOUCH IT ONLY THE TOP. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152914

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2006
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 CAVALIER APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2004. SINCE PURCHASE DATE,CAR HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD GRINDING NOISES IN BRAKES 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME TO BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN THE NOISES ARE RUST BUILDUP ON SHOES AND PADS. THE REMEDY WAS TO SAND THE RUST, IT W…

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BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 CAVALIER APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2004. SINCE PURCHASE DATE,CAR HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD GRINDING NOISES IN BRAKES 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME TO BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN THE NOISES ARE RUST BUILDUP ON SHOES AND PADS. THE REMEDY WAS TO SAND THE RUST, IT WORKED BUT TEMPORARILY. I HAD THE CAR IN AGAIN NOVEMBER 2005 FOR THIS SAME THING & MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TECH TOLD ME I HAD RUST & THE ROTORS WERE " A LITTLE OUT OF ROUND". HE TOLD ME THE CAR HAD 30,000 MILES ON & THEY COULDN'T DO NEW BRAKES AS WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $140.00. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ATTRIBUTED IT TO HAVING SOME FLOATS IN TANK FROM GAS THAT AFFECTED A SENSOR. WOULDN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS THEY SAID & IT STILL HAPPENS. THE 2ND VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY FIX A SIDE MIRROR & DEFROSTER..DIDN'T WORK. 1 WEEK AGO, I HAVE USE OF RADIO & CD PLAYER ONLY NO LIGHTS/RADIO NOW. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED CAR UP MY & SPEEDOMETER SAYS 35 MPH IDLING. GOING WITH TRAFFIC FLOW IT REGISTERED 105 & IS NOW STOPPED THERE. MILEAGE GAUGE, GAS AND OTHER LIGHTS STILL WORK AS DOES GAS GAUGE. I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP NEAR ME & INQUIRED AS TO AN APROX. COST TO HAVE RADIO & SPEEDOMETER FIXED/LOOKED AT. WARRANTY NOW IS OFF. I WAS TOLD LABOR BE THE EXPENSIVE PART..LOOKING AT $400 OR MORE. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME & CAN'T AFFORD THIS. BRAKES/RADIO/SPEEDOMETER ARE NOTHING I CAUSED. I WAS NEVER OFFERED TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED. SPEEDOMETER ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHECKED WEBSITES TO SEE IF THERE WERE COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE& THERE ARE. I HAVE GUESSED THE INCIDENT DATE I CANNOT RECALL EXACT DATE I TOOK CAR IN FOR THE 1ST BRAKE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151841

39,925 miles · Mar 3, 2006
Suspension

NOTICED SQUEAKING NOISE ON FRONT WHEELS WHEN TURNING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151745

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.