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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
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

36,000 miles · Nov 4, 2008
Power Train

MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS PURCHASED MAY 2004 NEW OFF THE LOT. SINCE THEN, MY CLUTCH SYSTEM HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY YEAR. IT FIRST STOPPED WORKING AT 36,000 MILES, JUST 6,000 AFTER FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT. IT THEN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN WHILE STILL UNDER PART WARRANTY WHICH LASTS 12,000 MILES. IT AGAIN STOPPED WO…

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MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS PURCHASED MAY 2004 NEW OFF THE LOT. SINCE THEN, MY CLUTCH SYSTEM HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ALMOST EVERY YEAR. IT FIRST STOPPED WORKING AT 36,000 MILES, JUST 6,000 AFTER FACTORY WARRANTY RAN OUT. IT THEN STOPPED WORKING AGAIN WHILE STILL UNDER PART WARRANTY WHICH LASTS 12,000 MILES. IT AGAIN STOPPED WORKING JUST A FEW THOUSAND MILES AFTER THAT WARRANTY RAN OUT. AND NOW HAS GONE OUT FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN UNDER 3,000 MILES. I CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN THE SYSTEM IS BECOMING FAULTY AFTER ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES, HOWEVER DUE TO THE FACT THAT LABOR IS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY WARRANTY, I DRIVE IT UNTIL THE CLUTCH SYSTEM STOPS WORKING. THIS HAS NOT BEEN OF ANY BENEFIT TO ME OR MY CAR. HOWEVER, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACING ANY PART(S) THIS OFTEN, SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE ANSWER I GET TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ALWAYS THE SAME, THE SLAVE CYLINDER O RING IS "LEAKING LIKE A SIV" AND THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT. AND DUE TO THESE TWO ISSUES, IT EFFECTS THE QUALITY OF MY CLUTCH FLY WHEEL. I SEE NO END IN SIGHT FOR THIS PROBLEM, I CAN NOT EVEN GET REBUILT PARTS FOR THIS PROBLEM TO SAVE MYSELF MONEY AND AS STATED BEFORE, LABOR WILL NEVER BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NOW PAID FOR HALF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF MY CAR IN PARTS AND LABOR AS IT WAS NEW OFF THE LOT. THIS LEMON OF A CAR IS COSTING ME WELL OVER $1,100 EVERY YEAR IN REPAIRS TO THE CLUTCH SYSTEM AND I CAN NOT AFFORD IT ANY MORE. I HAVE NOT HEARD YET WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR CHEVY IS GOING TO DO FOR THIS BUT I FELT THAT THIS WAS WORTH YOU HEARING ABOUT SO AS TO HELP OTHERS AFTER ME WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO ALSO HELP ME WITH MY CURRENT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247640

18,000 miles · Oct 30, 2008
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE WINDOW IN A DOWNWARD POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE WINDOW IN A DOWNWARD POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY REPAIRED IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. RECENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM FAILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $590. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 11/24/08 *CN THE WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10247215

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

10,000 miles · Sep 12, 2008
Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER SPORTMASTER GLT TIRES, SIZE 205/70R14. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WILL CALL COOPER TIRES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06T016000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNKNO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER SPORTMASTER GLT TIRES, SIZE 205/70R14. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WILL CALL COOPER TIRES ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06T016000 (TIRES:TREAD/BELT) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10241938

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

84,100 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

FIRST, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BASE MODEL. 2.2 ECOTEC ENGINE. THE ABS, LOWTRAC, AND SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. CAR HESITATES AND WANTS TO SHUT DOWN EVERY TIME!! WHEN IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN, IT COULD BE SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED AND THE LIGHTS WOULD G…

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FIRST, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BASE MODEL. 2.2 ECOTEC ENGINE. THE ABS, LOWTRAC, AND SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. CAR HESITATES AND WANTS TO SHUT DOWN EVERY TIME!! WHEN IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN, IT COULD BE SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. NOW THEY ARE IS ON ALL THE TIME! I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHEN ON SLIPPERY ROADWAYS THE ABS DOES NOT WORK IN THE VEHICLE> I HAVE SLID SIDEWAYS AND THROUGH INTERSECTIONS . A HORRIBLE NOISE COMES FROM THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF IN THE CAR IF THEY DO NOT COME ON RIGHT AWAY. I APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THE AWFUL GROWLING AND NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE CAR IS VERY SCARY. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE EVEN DRIVE SOMETIMES. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP YET AS I AM WAITING TO SEE IF THIS IS A RECALL. IF IT IS, I CAN HAVE THE REPAIR DONE FOR NOTHING. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR NOTHING AS IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE TERRIBLE HARM OR EVEN DEATH IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241382

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.