Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
430–25K
7225–50K
6150–75K
3475–100K
36100–150K
18150K+
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
25,000 miles · May 23, 2010
Electrical System
MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE OVEREXTENDED CLOCKWISE PAST THE MAXIMUM TEMP THRESH HOLD UNTIL THE NEEDLE WAS POINTING DIRECTLY RIGHT (TOWARD PSGR). THE TIP OF THE NEEDLE, BEING STUCK IN THAT POSITION, PHYSICALLY BLOCKED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FROM GOING ANY HIGHER THAN 10 MPH. EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER JUST FAILED, THE TEMPERATURE GA…
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MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE OVEREXTENDED CLOCKWISE PAST THE MAXIMUM TEMP THRESH HOLD UNTIL THE NEEDLE WAS POINTING DIRECTLY RIGHT (TOWARD PSGR). THE TIP OF THE NEEDLE, BEING STUCK IN THAT POSITION, PHYSICALLY BLOCKED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FROM GOING ANY HIGHER THAN 10 MPH. EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER JUST FAILED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL CONTINUED TO NOT WORK, AND APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER THAT THE GAS GAUGE FAILED AS WELL (THAT NEEDLE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE). THE ONLY GAUGE IN THE CLUSTER THAT IS WORKING IS THE TACHOMETER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR DEFECT FOR THIS CAR, AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS-SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM GM. VERY UNHAPPY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331802
130,012 miles · May 14, 2010
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT SPEEDS OF 8 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL INTO THE CONTACTS LAP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE SCR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT SPEEDS OF 8 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL INTO THE CONTACTS LAP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE SCREWS MISSING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,012.
NHTSA ODI #10330483
35,891 miles · May 14, 2010
Electrical System
MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUES. THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ MANY POST FROM CAVALIER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330479
60,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Electrical System
GAUGE CLUSTER NOT READING CORRECTLY ON AND OFF ON 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10319698
90,000 miles · Mar 7, 2010
Electrical System
ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CAVALIER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, IT WILL STICK AT RANDOM PLACES ON THE DIAL, EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WILL POINT STRAIGHT DOWN AT THE ODOMETER AND STICK THERE ALSO. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET BETTER WITH WARM WEATHER, BUT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. NOW IF THAT W…
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ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CAVALIER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, IT WILL STICK AT RANDOM PLACES ON THE DIAL, EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WILL POINT STRAIGHT DOWN AT THE ODOMETER AND STICK THERE ALSO. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET BETTER WITH WARM WEATHER, BUT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. NOW IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, THE TACHOMETER HAS STARTED TO STICK AND NOT REGISTER AT ALL WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER THOUGH, THE TACHOMETER WORKS BETTER IN WARMER WEATHER. COOLANT TEMP. GAUGE STICKS ALSO WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY REPAIRABLE, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM YET! THIS IS SURELY A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE GM DO A RECALL ON THESE CARS BEFORE YOU PULL OFF A "TOYOTA." *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317504
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2010
Electrical System
SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317325
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Steering
I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER LS, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING FOR A FEW YEARS. THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE AND STEER FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE A LOW GRUMBLING NOISE WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TURN. THE STEERING BECOMES STEADILY MORE DIFFICULT. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT…
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I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER LS, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING FOR A FEW YEARS. THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE AND STEER FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE A LOW GRUMBLING NOISE WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TURN. THE STEERING BECOMES STEADILY MORE DIFFICULT. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A SLOW LEAK IN MY STEERING FLUID AND INSTEAD OF PAYING TO FIX IT, TO KEEP FILLING IT WITH FLUID WHENEVER I START HEARING THE NOISE. SO FAR, I'VE ONLY LOST THE POWER STEERING ONCE - LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. FILLING THE POWER STEERING WORKS AS A QUICK FIX FOR A FEW WEEKS. I'VE ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN I GOT TO OPEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID CAP - IT APPEARS THAT THE FLUID HAS BEEN "BOILING" OR FOAMING FOR A WHILE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT HELPS, BUT IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED. THANKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315775
35,000 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Electrical System
THE GAUGES ON MY CAVALIER ARE ALL MESSED UP. SOMETIMES THE ONLY GAGE THAT WORKS ARE MY RPM GAUGES. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES: THE GAS GAGE, THE THERMOMETER GAUGES AND THE MPH GAGE NEVER WORK RIGHT. I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR OR IF IT'S GOING TO OVERHEAT ON ME OR NOT. IT WILL NOT RESET. THIS HAS…
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THE GAUGES ON MY CAVALIER ARE ALL MESSED UP. SOMETIMES THE ONLY GAGE THAT WORKS ARE MY RPM GAUGES. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES: THE GAS GAGE, THE THERMOMETER GAUGES AND THE MPH GAGE NEVER WORK RIGHT. I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR OR IF IT'S GOING TO OVERHEAT ON ME OR NOT. IT WILL NOT RESET. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315647
12,000 miles · Mar 1, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SHE STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE CLUSTER, A FUSE OR THE WIRING COULD BE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. NO REPAIRS MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SHE STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE CLUSTER, A FUSE OR THE WIRING COULD BE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. NO REPAIRS MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,075.
NHTSA ODI #10315190
45,294 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45294.
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