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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
63,087 miles · Jul 12, 2015
Structure

THE GARNISH MOLDING-WINDSHIELD PILLAR-DRIVER'S SIDE FELL PARTLY OFF BLOCKING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. IT WAS NEVER TOUCHED AND FOR NO REASON IT FELL OFF AND TO THIS DAY I AM UNABLE TO REATTACH IT..

NHTSA ODI #10733490

100,000 miles · Jun 29, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START PROPERLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START PROPERLY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED; HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10731076

100,000 miles · Jun 19, 2015
SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10726245

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2015
Exterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10717248

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

AT TIMES, DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD TO START. HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY RE-START. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVY CAVAL…

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AT TIMES, DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD TO START. HAD THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. RECENTLY, THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK 15 MINUTES TO FINALLY RE-START. I HAVE READ ONLINE WHERE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS OF CHEVY CAVALIERS- HARD TO START AND STALLS OUT SOMETIMES. NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THERE IS NO CODE TO DIAGNOSIS/READ. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712311

109,000 miles · Apr 3, 2015
Power Train

BOUGHT USED HAD 109000 FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON ME I WAS EXHILARATING TO MOVE INTO HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND IT GOES OUT, ESPECIALLY AS A YOUNG WOMAN I WAS VERY SCARRED FOR MY LIFE TO THIS DAY I HAVE NIGHTMARES, GOT IT FIXED BUT NO REALLY CAUSE IT STILL DOES IT WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING DOT 3 AT THE CLUTCH LINE. ITS…

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BOUGHT USED HAD 109000 FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON ME I WAS EXHILARATING TO MOVE INTO HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC AND IT GOES OUT, ESPECIALLY AS A YOUNG WOMAN I WAS VERY SCARRED FOR MY LIFE TO THIS DAY I HAVE NIGHTMARES, GOT IT FIXED BUT NO REALLY CAUSE IT STILL DOES IT WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP PUTTING DOT 3 AT THE CLUTCH LINE. ITS ANNOYING, A WASTE OF TIME, WASTE OF MY MONEY, AND HAS CAUSED DOMESTIC DISPUTES. COME ON DO SOMETHING PLEASE!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703449

125,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
StructureFire

I LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING IN DRIVEWAY FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS FULL OF BLACK SMOKE AND WITHIN MINUTES WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694745

58,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY SPEEDOMETER FOR STUCK. I KNOW I WAS GOING 60 WHEN IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS STUCK AT.IT ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WINDOWS, AND ENGINE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691973

104,000 miles · Jan 31, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD HAS STOPPED, WORKING AND APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM ON SEVERAL MODELS (CAR AND TRUCK) BETWEEN 1998-2009. ALSO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. WINDOW DOORS ARE NOT WORKING AND APPEARS TO ALL RELATED TO THE CLUSTER PANEL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL ABS SENSORS,…

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THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD HAS STOPPED, WORKING AND APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM ON SEVERAL MODELS (CAR AND TRUCK) BETWEEN 1998-2009. ALSO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. WINDOW DOORS ARE NOT WORKING AND APPEARS TO ALL RELATED TO THE CLUSTER PANEL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL ABS SENSORS, NEW BRAKES PADS, ROTORS, AND EVEN FRONT BEARINGS. THE ENGINE ITSELF WORKS GREAT AND IS FINE AND APPEARS THAT GM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN THIS PART. THE CLUSTER PANEL AND WIRING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED IN THESE MODELS. POOR GROUND WIRING AN CLUSTER PANELS CAN CAUSE CONSUMERS TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND STILL RESULTING IN THE SAME PROBLEM. CLUSTER PANEL REPLACEMENT CAN BE FROM $300 TO $800 DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCAL MECHANIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING DUE TO THE LONG LIST OF ISSUES. I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON CLUSTER PANELS FOR ALL CAVALIERS AND MODULES, WIRING AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680134

57,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Electrical System

THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE (SHOWED THAT THE CAR WAS ALWAYS OVERHEATING) AND THEN EVENTUALLY STOPPED MOVING AT ALL. NEXT, THE RPMS STOPPED MOVING AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN SHOWING THAT WE WERE GOING 100 WHEN WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOING MORE THAN 35. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. SO, AT TH…

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THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE (SHOWED THAT THE CAR WAS ALWAYS OVERHEATING) AND THEN EVENTUALLY STOPPED MOVING AT ALL. NEXT, THE RPMS STOPPED MOVING AND THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN SHOWING THAT WE WERE GOING 100 WHEN WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOING MORE THAN 35. NOW THE SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. SO, AT THIS POINT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING, IF THE CAR IS OVERHEATING, OR WHAT THE RPMS ARE. CURRENTLY THE FUEL GAUGE WORKS MOST OF THE TIME, BUT OCCASIONALLY AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK THE GAUGE WILL MOVE TO THE FAR RIGHT (AS IF IT'S TELLING US THAT THE TANK IS OVERFILLED), TO WHERE IT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE OTHER GAUGES (IF THEY WERE WORKING). I FEEL THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM AND AT THE VERY LEAST IS VERY ANNOYING (ALREADY BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE FOR GOING 10 MILES OVER, BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST I WAS GOING). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671512

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.