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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

Electrical System complaints

185 reports
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35,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Electrical System

I STARTED THE CAR WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE WENT ABOVE THE FULL MARK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AT A HALF TANK, AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF AND RESTARTING IT A COUPLE TIMES IT EVENTUALLY CORRECTED ITSELF. A WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT CORRECT ITSELF THOUGH. THEN WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STARTED TO GIVE BAD R…

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I STARTED THE CAR WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE WENT ABOVE THE FULL MARK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AT A HALF TANK, AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF AND RESTARTING IT A COUPLE TIMES IT EVENTUALLY CORRECTED ITSELF. A WEEK LATER THIS HAPPENED AGAIN BUT IT WOULD NOT CORRECT ITSELF THOUGH. THEN WHILE DRIVING THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER STARTED TO GIVE BAD READINGS. THE TACHOMETER WAS READING AT BELOW ZERO RPMS WHILE AT IDLE AND IT WOULD GO UP TO ABOUT 6,000 RPM WHILE DRIVING, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ ABOUT 30-40 MPH OVER THE SPEED LIMIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WOULD SIT AT ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN I WAS AT IDLE. THE DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT REPLACING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249637

20,000 miles · Nov 24, 2008
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS STOPPED WORKING I HAVE NOTICED ALOT IF 2000 MODELS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10249621

Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2008
Electrical System

SO, THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER IN MY CAVALIER WOULD RANDOMLY FREEZE AND STOP WORKING. I NOTICED THAT ONCE I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE, AND IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF IT FREEZING UP LIKE THIS, I WAS REALLY G…

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SO, THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER IN MY CAVALIER WOULD RANDOMLY FREEZE AND STOP WORKING. I NOTICED THAT ONCE I WOULD TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON IT WOULD BE FINE, AND IT WOULD WORK PROPERLY FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK OF IT FREEZING UP LIKE THIS, I WAS REALLY GETTING TICKED OFF. ONE DAY IT STARTED WORKING FINE AND FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO IT WORKED PERFECT WITH NO ISSUES AT ALL. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO IT REALLY STARTED FREAKING OUT. IT SAID I WAS GOING 110 WHEN I WAS ONLY GOING LIKE 40, AND TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF DOES NOTHING. IT STAYS FROZEN NO MATTER WHAT IT DO. IF I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT ACTUALLY GOES PAST THE GAUGE LIMIT AND POINTS STRAIGHT DOWN WHERE MY ODOMETER IS AND STAYS THERE. IT IS SO ANNOYING! I DECIDED OVER THE WEEKEND I WOULD TAKE IT INTO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TOLD ME? THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $675 TO FIX IT, B/C THE WHOLE SPEEDOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM GOING TO PAY ALMOST $700 TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM THAT CHEVY CREATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248312

53,433 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Electrical System

MY SPEEDOMETER IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS SETTING ON 65 WHEN STOPPED. THEN WHEN DRIVING IT SETS ON 110+. THEN FOR NO REASON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE ONE CAR, I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK. BUT THIS IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS. NOT TO MENTI…

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MY SPEEDOMETER IS MALFUNCTIONING. IT IS SETTING ON 65 WHEN STOPPED. THEN WHEN DRIVING IT SETS ON 110+. THEN FOR NO REASON IT STARTS WORKING AGAIN. I TOOK IT IN TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, I AM STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE ONE CAR, I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK. BUT THIS IS SCARY AND DANGEROUS. NOT TO MENTION I COULD GET A TICKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248279

48,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Electrical System

MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER'S SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE CLUSTER TO A LARGER SHOP. I CANNOT BE WITHOUT MY VEHICLE AND IT WILL ALSO COST FROM 300.00 TO 600.00 AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE AT THE LARGER SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247750

82,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. LS . SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS, SHOW THE WRONG SPEED, GOES OFF THE GAUGE PAST THE HIGHEST SPEED ON THE GAUGE OR A SPEED BELOW THE ACTUAL SPEED. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES THE SAME THING. THE FUEL GAUGE SOMETIMES GOES PAST "FULL" WITH THE NEEDLE GOING INTO THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THERE SHOULD B…

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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. LS . SOMETIMES THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS, SHOW THE WRONG SPEED, GOES OFF THE GAUGE PAST THE HIGHEST SPEED ON THE GAUGE OR A SPEED BELOW THE ACTUAL SPEED. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES THE SAME THING. THE FUEL GAUGE SOMETIMES GOES PAST "FULL" WITH THE NEEDLE GOING INTO THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS CAR PROBLEM. NOT KNOWING THE CORRECT SPEED POSES A POTENTIAL HAZARD, ESPECIALLY TAKING A CURVE TOO FAST. THIS IS A GENUINE SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS THE LEGAL ASPECT IF YOU'RE TICKETED FOR SPEEDING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOUR ARE GOING! THIS ALSO POSES A HAZARD TO PEDESTRIANS AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246305

54,000 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED STICKING THEN IT STOPPED WORKING TOTALLY AND IS NOW STUCK ON 110 MPH. THEN MY TACH AND TEMP GAUGES STARTED STICKING OR NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE CAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR 2004 TRUCKS. THERE SHOULD BE ONE FOR THIS CAR AS W…

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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. FIRST THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED STICKING THEN IT STOPPED WORKING TOTALLY AND IS NOW STUCK ON 110 MPH. THEN MY TACH AND TEMP GAUGES STARTED STICKING OR NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE CAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR 2004 TRUCKS. THERE SHOULD BE ONE FOR THIS CAR AS WELL. I MEAN IT IS THE SAME FREAKING PROBLEM AS THEY HAD WITH THE TRUCKS. THERE IS TONS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. FIRST AND LAST TIME I EVER BUY A CHEVROLET UNLESS THEY SHOW ME THEY CARE ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243107

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2008
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2-DR COUPE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE GAS GAUGE POINTER WORKS ONLY PART OF THE TIME. IT WILL SHOW (0) ZERO GAS, EVEN AFTER A FILL-UP. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS THE SAME WAY, SOMETIMES, THE POINTER WILL MOVE AND SOMETIMES IT STAYS AT THE (0) TEMPERATURE POSITION, EVEN WH…

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I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2-DR COUPE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THE GAS GAUGE POINTER WORKS ONLY PART OF THE TIME. IT WILL SHOW (0) ZERO GAS, EVEN AFTER A FILL-UP. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WORKS THE SAME WAY, SOMETIMES, THE POINTER WILL MOVE AND SOMETIMES IT STAYS AT THE (0) TEMPERATURE POSITION, EVEN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE SPEEDOMETER POINTERS TURNS COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. THE ONLY GAUGE THAT SEEMS TO WORK PROPERLY SO FAR IS THE TACHOMETER GAUGE. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS ABOUT 53,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242903

75,000 miles · Sep 10, 2008
Electrical System

MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE FLUCTUATED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND THEN IT JUST MOVED TO THE BOTTOM AND POINTS TO THE BOTTOM PART OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND I CAN NOT TELL IF MY CAR IS OVERHEATING.,AND MY SPEEDOMETER LIKES TO FREEZE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241739

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2008
Electrical System

OUT OF NOWHERE MY TEMP. GAUGE WENT OUT FOLLOWED BY THE SPEEDOMETER, RPM, FUEL ALL MY GAUGES HAVE GONE OUT. CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITHOUT REPLACING THE WHOLE THING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241595

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.