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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.

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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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36,505 miles · Dec 26, 2010
Electrical System

I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS WITH 36,531 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD "NO SPEEDOMETER" FUNCTION ---------- THE NEEDLE JUST SAT ON "0 MPH" NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I DROVE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE ALSO READ OF THE MANY HUNDREDS OF REPORTED FAILURES…

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I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS WITH 36,531 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY, I WENT TO DRIVE THE CAR AND HAD "NO SPEEDOMETER" FUNCTION ---------- THE NEEDLE JUST SAT ON "0 MPH" NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I DROVE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE ALSO READ OF THE MANY HUNDREDS OF REPORTED FAILURES OF THE SAME KIND CONCERNING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THESE AND MANY OTHER GM PRODUCTS BUILT DURING THE YEARS 2000 THROUGH 2005. WHY ARE THE TRUCKS/ SUV'S INSTRUMENT PANEL PROBLEMS A RECALL AND THE DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS OF THE CAVALIER (FOR THE SAME YEARS) NOT A RECALL? IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE RELATIVE COST OF EACH VEHICLE PLAYS A PART IN YOUR DECISION AND POSSIBLY THE END OF THE MANUFACTURING RUN OF CAVALIERS IN 2005 HAS SKEWED YOUR JUDGMENT. I FIND THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL PROBLEM A SERIOUS DRIVING CONCERN FOR ALL WHO SHARE THE ROAD. I ALSO HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A SUGGESTION FROM THE GM DEALERS THAT THE PROBLEMS OF THE "OLD GM" ARE NOT THE PROBLEMS OF THE "NEW GM (2009). SINCE MY TAXES PAY YOUR SALARY TO KEEP ME SAFE (WITHOUT BIAS) AND MY TAXES AND FUTURE EARNINGS MAKE ME A SHAREHOLDER OF THE OLD/NEW GM, IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THIS BIG PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED BETWEEN THE PARTIES BECAUSE WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SIDE AND IN THE SAME FAMILY. SHAME ON YOU FOR NOT DECLARING THIS A "RECALL" FOR THE CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL. I STILL HAVE THE CAR AND HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. I ALSO WILL NOT ALLOW MY FAMILY TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANY MORE AND I AM NOT SURE I WILL PAY THE APPROXIMATE $500.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE LACK OF A RECALL FOR THE 3.4LITER V-6 MOTOR THAT I HAD IN MY 2003 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WITH ALL OF ITS ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS WITH HEAD AND INTAKE GASKETS..... I PAID THE $1,500.00 TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET REPLACED....... HOPE THE NEW GM GETS ITS ACT TOGETHER FAST........AS FOR ME I WILL BE SPENDING MY HARD-EARNED DOLLARS ON JAPANESE .

NHTSA ODI #10372427

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS FLIPPED AND IS BLOCKING MY SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FROM READING CORRECTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10370575

32,000 miles · Dec 10, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS. SPEEDOMETER READS INCORRECT SPEED AND FAILS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET AS A RESULT. I REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH ONE FROM A JUNK YARD. THE PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH …

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2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS. SPEEDOMETER READS INCORRECT SPEED AND FAILS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, I RECEIVED A SPEEDING TICKET AS A RESULT. I REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WITH ONE FROM A JUNK YARD. THE PROBLEM IS TEMPORARILY FIXED. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369941

107,200 miles · Nov 23, 2010
Electrical SystemEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages

THE TRUNK LATCH ON MY CAVALIER WON'T LATCH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BROKE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE TRUNK LATCH ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO I RARELY USE MY TRUNK. ALSO THE DEFROST,VENT KNOB QUIT WORKING IT TURN BUT WON'T SWITCH TO DEFROST OR THE DIFFERENT VENT SETTINGS. THE CD PLAYER WON'T TAKE, OR PLAY CD'S. THERE …

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THE TRUNK LATCH ON MY CAVALIER WON'T LATCH. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS BROKE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE TRUNK LATCH ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO I RARELY USE MY TRUNK. ALSO THE DEFROST,VENT KNOB QUIT WORKING IT TURN BUT WON'T SWITCH TO DEFROST OR THE DIFFERENT VENT SETTINGS. THE CD PLAYER WON'T TAKE, OR PLAY CD'S. THERE WAS A FLY ON MY WINDSHIELD RIGHT AROUND A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND I BARELY TAPPED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ALL OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367334

100,988 miles · Nov 9, 2010
Electrical System

ALL GAUGES IN MY CAVALIER HAVE STOPPED WORKING (SPEEDOMETER, TEMP GAUGE, RPM'S..) THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING, DIES WHEN STOPPING. I ACTUALLY TRIED TO PULL MY CAR OVER BECAUSE IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE AND WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKES IT WAS TRYING TO GO!! VERY SCARY!!! COULD HAVE WRECKED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365140

70,000 miles · Nov 8, 2010
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDO STICKING. IT STARTED AROUND 5 MONTHS AGO IT SAYS YOUR GOING 110 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 30 MPH. NOW IT ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE TACH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK RIGHT EITHER SO YOU CANT GO BY THAT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TRYING TO GUESS YOUR SPEED. I HAVE LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND MANY PEOPLE HAVIN…

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2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDO STICKING. IT STARTED AROUND 5 MONTHS AGO IT SAYS YOUR GOING 110 MPH WHEN ONLY GOING 30 MPH. NOW IT ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE TACH DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK RIGHT EITHER SO YOU CANT GO BY THAT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TRYING TO GUESS YOUR SPEED. I HAVE LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CHEVY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL IF SOMEONE FREAKS OUT ON A HIGHWAY ALOT OF PEOPLE COULD REALLY GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED. IM SURE IF SOMEONE FROM CHEVY TEENAGER HAD A CAV DOING THIS OR GOT HURT BECAUSE OF THIS SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO GET THIS FIXED. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A BIG ISSUE BUT WHEN PEOPLE GET HURT THEN IT WILL BE.. PLEASE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD TELL GM THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10364966

170,000 miles · Oct 27, 2010
Electrical System

THE RPM AND THE MPH GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362572

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2010
Electrical System

IN THE WINTER MY CHEVY CAVALIER'S SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO BE DISFUNCTIONAL, IT WOULD READ SAY 30MPH WHILE I WAS IN PARK. OVER THE SUMMER THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND I HAD TO RESORT TO USING A GPS TO KNOW MY SPEED. THE PROBLEM ISN'T LIMITED TO THE SPEEDO THOUGH, I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356309

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2010
Electrical System

MY DASHBOARD DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. ALL OF THE GAUGES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ODOMETER, DOES NOT WORK. THIS INCLUDES FUEL, SPEEDOMETER, RPM, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES. IT STARTED WITH MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING WHEN IT REALLY WASN'T. THEN MY FUEL GAUGE WENT OUT. THEN IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GA…

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MY DASHBOARD DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. ALL OF THE GAUGES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ODOMETER, DOES NOT WORK. THIS INCLUDES FUEL, SPEEDOMETER, RPM, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES. IT STARTED WITH MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE. I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING WHEN IT REALLY WASN'T. THEN MY FUEL GAUGE WENT OUT. THEN IT WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM GAUGE. ALL OF THE GAUGES, EXCEPT FOR THE RPM, MOVE UP AND DOWN, BUT NONE OF THEM ARE ACCURATE. THE SPEEDOMETER CAN GET STUCK AT 0, 60 OR MOVE OFF OF THE GAUGE ENTIRELY. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT VERY SAFE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, OR IF YOUR CAR IS OVERHEATING OR NOT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE REPLACED, BUT I AM NOT 100% CERTAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353573

54,800 miles · Aug 30, 2010
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER STARTED GOING WACKY. AT FIRST IT STARTED RACING AS YOU WERE DRIVING. SHOWING 65 OR 70 WHEN YOU WERE GOING MAYBE 40. NOW IT RACED PAST 110 AND DROPPED DOWN BETWEEN 0 AND 110. LOOKING OVER THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, YET IT IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST. WHY? TH…

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER STARTED GOING WACKY. AT FIRST IT STARTED RACING AS YOU WERE DRIVING. SHOWING 65 OR 70 WHEN YOU WERE GOING MAYBE 40. NOW IT RACED PAST 110 AND DROPPED DOWN BETWEEN 0 AND 110. LOOKING OVER THE DIFFERENT WEBSITES, I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, YET IT IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST. WHY? THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, NOT TO MENTION YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TICKET BY GUESSING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING. MY CAR ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT, AND I SURE WASN'T EXPECTING ANY MAJOR REPAIRS AND THAT MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10352898

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.