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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
51,000 miles · Dec 20, 2009
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS FAILED AT THE 50,000 MILE MARK. THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO TELL THE ACCURATE SPEED I AM DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296500

81,000 miles · Dec 2, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND CRASHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD, NECK AND SHOULDERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPDATED 02/19/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10294272

49,000 miles · Sep 7, 2009
Electrical System

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER ALL GAUGES ON DASH DO NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283108

46,000 miles · Sep 6, 2009
Electrical System

THE DASH BOARD CLUSTER IN MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER COUPE HAS PROBLEMS. THE DIALS OF MY GAUGES ARE INACCURATE. THE ENGINE HEAT GAUGE DIAL CAN CROSS OVER INTERMITTENTLY INTO MY SPEEDOMETER CAUSING THAT TO GET STUCK AND NOT WORK. THE HEAT GAUGE DIAL HAS ALSO BEEN POINTED TOWARDS MY STEERING WHEEL, POINTING DIRECTLY DOWN. MY RPM GAUGE…

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THE DASH BOARD CLUSTER IN MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER COUPE HAS PROBLEMS. THE DIALS OF MY GAUGES ARE INACCURATE. THE ENGINE HEAT GAUGE DIAL CAN CROSS OVER INTERMITTENTLY INTO MY SPEEDOMETER CAUSING THAT TO GET STUCK AND NOT WORK. THE HEAT GAUGE DIAL HAS ALSO BEEN POINTED TOWARDS MY STEERING WHEEL, POINTING DIRECTLY DOWN. MY RPM GAUGE RARELY WORKS CORRECTLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO A REPAIR SHOP TO BE LOOKED AT AND WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIRMAN THAT HE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CLUSTER ON HIS CAVALIER. HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AS I DESCRIBED IT. HE TOLD ME HOW TO TEMPORARILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DONE BY CONTINUALLY TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SLIGHTLY, UNTIL THE DIALS RETURN THE NORMAL POSITION, I HAVE TO DO THIS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. HE QUOTED ME A REPAIR PRICE OF $500.00. I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX THIS AND BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE DONE SOME INVESTIGATING OF MY OWN ON-LINE AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IN THE WINTER THIS PROBLEM IS WORSE. HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283025

52,000 miles · Aug 21, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON. OCCASIONALLY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MOVED RAPIDLY AND REGISTERS 0. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FOR …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED WHEN SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON. OCCASIONALLY THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MOVED RAPIDLY AND REGISTERS 0. A LOCAL MECHANIC REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE FOR $125. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10281315

93,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Power Train

THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS. CLUTCH PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY HYDRAULIC LINE IN A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED MAY 1ST WHEN THE MASTER TO SLAVE HYDRAULIC HOSE SPLIT OPEN (WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR PERSON THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED). THIS WAS A DEALER ONLY PART AND THERE ARE NO USE…

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THIS IS THE SECOND PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS. CLUTCH PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY HYDRAULIC LINE IN A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED MAY 1ST WHEN THE MASTER TO SLAVE HYDRAULIC HOSE SPLIT OPEN (WAS TOLD BY THE ASE CERTIFIED REPAIR PERSON THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED). THIS WAS A DEALER ONLY PART AND THERE ARE NO USED PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS. NOW THERE ARE NO LEAKS, BUT CLUTCH STILL STICKS TO THE FLOOR. DRIVING FINE, THEN NO CLUTCH TO PUT CAR INTO CORRECT GEAR. HAD HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, BUT TODAY I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHEN CAR STALLED AFTER IDLING REALLY LOW. SHUT OFF CAR WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT-- FINALLY AFTER A FIGHT WITH THE STICKSHIFT, GOT INTO GEAR SO I COULD GET TO A PARKING LOT. AFTER LOOKING ON-LINE FOR SOLUTIONS AND A CLOSER REPAIR SHOP, REALIZING THIS HAPPENS QUITE A BIT TO OWNERS. I'M SCARED TO HAVE MY 4 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER IN MY CAR AND WOULD RATHER HAVE HER IN A 1988 MAZDA THAT THE SEATBELTS DON'T CLICK BACK. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY SINCE IT HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD SOME QUICK THINKING ON MY PART, I PROBABLY WOULD BE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280611

39,000 miles · Aug 12, 2009
Electrical System

DASH CLUSTER FAILURE. RPM GAUGE RUNNING BACKWARDS AND STICKING, FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR INCORRECT, SPEEDOMETER SOMETIMES INCORRECT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE TO SEE IF I COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280228

50,000 miles · Aug 12, 2009
Exterior Lighting

2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT AND BACK TURN SIGNAL ARE NOT FUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280188

110,000 miles · Aug 8, 2009
Fuel System, GasolineCrashInjury

MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER 2.2L BASE/SEDAN IS WELL MAINTAINED. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WARRANTY PERIOD OVER. COST ME $896. RECENTLY THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TUR…

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MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER 2.2L BASE/SEDAN IS WELL MAINTAINED. THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. A YEAR LATER THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AGAIN. WARRANTY PERIOD OVER. COST ME $896. RECENTLY THE FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AT THE INTERSECTION AND PROCEEDED TO MAKE THE LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STALLED AND STEERING FROZE FORCING ME INTO THE LIGHT POST AFTER THE TURN. THIS CAUSED TWO OTHER VEHICLES TO COLLIDE TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE SERVICE GARAGE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FUEL PUMP. COST ME $750 AND $1900 FOR FRONT END DAMAGE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP HEAD OFFICE AND THE DECLINED COMMENT. INSTEAD THEY BLAMED BE FOR NOT REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER. AGAIN, THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE FILTER/FUEL PUMP. MY FRIEND HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE 2 YRS AGO AND GAVE ME THIS WEBSITE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. 2 YRS AND NOTHING YET? THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE MANUFACTURERS AND ALL INVOLVED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS! AFTER DOING RESEARCH, THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WILL NOT SELL THIS VEHICLE AND WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM FATALITIES. THIS VEHICLE IS GOING STRAIGHT TO THE JUNKYARD. GOD BLESS AMERICA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279773

31,000 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 30,000 MILES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274652

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.