MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS "SQUIRRELLY GAUGES" . NONE OF THE GAUGES READ CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, ONCE IN A WHILE ONE OR MORE GAUGES DO APPEAR TO BE READING CORRECTLY. MY GAS GAUGE IS NEVER ACCURATE. MY SPEEDOMETER IS OFTEN PEGGED OVER TO TOP SPEED OR READS 45 MPH WHEN I'M DOING 65. THE ONLY ACCURATE GAUGE IS THE ODOMETER. TH…
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MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS "SQUIRRELLY GAUGES" . NONE OF THE GAUGES READ CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, ONCE IN A WHILE ONE OR MORE GAUGES DO APPEAR TO BE READING CORRECTLY. MY GAS GAUGE IS NEVER ACCURATE. MY SPEEDOMETER IS OFTEN PEGGED OVER TO TOP SPEED OR READS 45 MPH WHEN I'M DOING 65. THE ONLY ACCURATE GAUGE IS THE ODOMETER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 2-3 YEARS. (NO I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR IT) RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I SEARCH GOOGLE FOR THE SYMPTOMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I LOOK ON EBAY AND FIND VENDORS WHO REPAIR "SQUIRRELLY GAUGES". MY COMPLAINT IS NOT UNIQUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10398513
65,000 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Electrical System
MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A WHILE WAS JUST THE SPEEDOMETER NOW THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT WORKING I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10396038
162,000 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Electrical System
DASH CLUSTER ABNORMAL OPERATION, IN REGARDS TO FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE SAYS I AM CURRENTLY TRAVELING MORE THE 110 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STATE OF REST. FUEL GAUGE ALSO INACCURATE STICKS WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, WHEN RESTARTED THE FUEL GAUGE MOVES IN EXCESS OF ITS LIMITS PINNING AGAINST TEMPERATUR…
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DASH CLUSTER ABNORMAL OPERATION, IN REGARDS TO FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER. SPEEDOMETER IS INACCURATE SAYS I AM CURRENTLY TRAVELING MORE THE 110 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STATE OF REST. FUEL GAUGE ALSO INACCURATE STICKS WHEN ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, WHEN RESTARTED THE FUEL GAUGE MOVES IN EXCESS OF ITS LIMITS PINNING AGAINST TEMPERATURE GAUGE. DURING WARMER WEATHER THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T WORK AND NEITHER WILL THE TACHOMETER. VERY DISAPPOINTED. CONTACTED GM AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. CUSTOMER CARE NOTED THAT NO ONE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DEFECT ON THESE VEHICLES. VERY UNSAFE, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE AND HAVE RESORTED IN USING A GPS FOR SPEED REFERENCE. RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10396022
40,000 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Electrical System
MY CAR FAILED TO START 8/21/08 SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THANK GOODNESS. HE DETERMINED IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL. SINGLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, I KNEW THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH TO THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED NE…
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MY CAR FAILED TO START 8/21/08 SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND WAS STILL UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY THANK GOODNESS. HE DETERMINED IT WAS MY IGNITION SWITCH. SINCE I AM THE ORIGINAL. SINGLE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, I KNEW THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL IGNITION SWITCH TO THE CAR WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN 2004. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE SWITCH WITH A NAPA OE PART. NOW, ON 3/29/11, MY CAR FAILED TO START AGAIN AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND THEN FIND A WAY HOME FROM WORK. I THEN HAD TO BORROW A FRIEND'S CAR JUST TO GET TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. AS DISCOVERD BY MY MECHANIC, IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN. THIS REPAIR COMPLETED ON 3/30/11 WAS WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS PURCHASED FROM A CHEVY DEALER HOPING THIS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CARS AND NOT ONE TIME HAVE I EVER HAD TO REPLACE AN IGNITION SWITCH IN ANY OF THEM MUCH LESS TWICE IN JUST 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS LIKE HAVE HAD TO WITH THIS CAR! THIS REPAIR COST ME $280 THIS TIME AND THE INCOVENIENCE OF FINDING AN ALTERNATE WAY TO AND FROM WORK. I AM DISGUSTED AT THE FAULTINESS OF THIS CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES INCLUDING HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND REPLACING THE ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH TWICE. I TRULY FEEL CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS MY ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10393861
100,000 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Electrical System
ENTIRE DASH CLUSTER DOESN'T WORK!! SPEEDOMETER SAYS GOING 80MPH WHEN SITTING STILL. TEMP GAUGE SAYS IT'S OVERHEATING WHEN CAR IS OFF. GAS GAUGE IS NOW GOING HAYWIRE. GOING ON VACATION IS HARD WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A CLUSTER FOR THIS CAR IS $270. THEN…
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ENTIRE DASH CLUSTER DOESN'T WORK!! SPEEDOMETER SAYS GOING 80MPH WHEN SITTING STILL. TEMP GAUGE SAYS IT'S OVERHEATING WHEN CAR IS OFF. GAS GAUGE IS NOW GOING HAYWIRE. GOING ON VACATION IS HARD WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW FAST YOU'RE GOING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE A CLUSTER FOR THIS CAR IS $270. THEN PAY SOMEONE TO PUT IT IN. THERE ARE TOO MANY 2004 CAVALIERS HAVING THIS ISSUE FOR THIS TO NOT BE RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386852
60,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Electrical System
2004 CHEVY CAVALIER LS SPORT WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR THE SPEEDOMETER SHOOTS UP PAST 80MPH AT STANDSTILL. THIS OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR. NEVER KNOW HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY SIT THERE AND COUNT. TAKES ABOUT 4 OR 5 DAYS BEFORE THE SPEEDOMETER MAKES ITS WAY BACK TO 0MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10384854
100,000 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 04/15/11*LJ UPDATED 05/02/11
NHTSA ODI #10384195
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2011
Electrical System
2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER STATES TEMP GAUGE LOOSES ITS BEARINGS AND ENDS UP OVER IN THE SPEEDOMETER AREA AND SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT GO PASS 11 MPH *TGW
NHTSA ODI #10379224
107,000 miles · Jan 17, 2011
Electrical System
GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTION 1MONTH AGO, WENT HALF WAY TO THE RIGHT OF FULL UPON FILL UP, HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF GAS BY TRIP MILES.THIS FUEL GAUGE IS HALTING THE TEMP GAUGE FROM RISING TO NORMAL. TODAY 1/17/11 STARTED CAR THIS MORNING AND SPEED GAUGE IS POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN TO STEERING WHEEL. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE 8 MINUTES TO WORK…
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GAS GAUGE MALFUNCTION 1MONTH AGO, WENT HALF WAY TO THE RIGHT OF FULL UPON FILL UP, HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF GAS BY TRIP MILES.THIS FUEL GAUGE IS HALTING THE TEMP GAUGE FROM RISING TO NORMAL. TODAY 1/17/11 STARTED CAR THIS MORNING AND SPEED GAUGE IS POINTING STRAIGHT DOWN TO STEERING WHEEL. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE 8 MINUTES TO WORK ALL THE TIME THE DASH WAS GOING CRAZY THE MILEAGE SPOT HAD THE WORD ERROR ON IT,& EVERY LIGHT WAS ON, THE DASHBOARD- ALL OF THEM. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOMETIME WITH THIS CAR. GM IS AWARE AND DOING NOTHING.I HAVE FOUND OUT BY LOOKING IT UP ON THE INTERNET TONIGHT. THROUGH MY RESEARCH IM GUESSING I NEED A DASH CLUSTER AT THE COST OF 500.00. I FEEL A SPEEDOMETER SHOULD LAST FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS, MY CAR IS 6YRS OLD. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376981
60,000 miles · Jan 4, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS A WRONG SPEEDOMETER INDICATION. IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING 60 MPH WHILE NOT BEING MOVED AT ALL. WHEN THE CAR REACHES HIGH SPEEDS AT THE FREEWAY IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING AT 120 MPH AND HITS THE TOP OF THE GAUGE. THE OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATION ALSO SHOWS 190 DEGREES WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING, AND WIT…
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MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS A WRONG SPEEDOMETER INDICATION. IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING 60 MPH WHILE NOT BEING MOVED AT ALL. WHEN THE CAR REACHES HIGH SPEEDS AT THE FREEWAY IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING AT 120 MPH AND HITS THE TOP OF THE GAUGE. THE OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATION ALSO SHOWS 190 DEGREES WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING, AND WITH ENGINE RUNNING IT GOES TO RED BAND INDICATION. *TR
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.
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year