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
1,000 miles · Dec 29, 2004
Electrical System
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASE (PURCHASED NEW) CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AT TIMES, PRE-SET RADIO STATIONS CHANGE AT TIMES, AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF AT TIMES. …
Read full complaint
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASE (PURCHASED NEW) CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE AT TIMES, PRE-SET RADIO STATIONS CHANGE AT TIMES, AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL TURN ON AND OFF BY ITSELF AT TIMES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10104706
1,200 miles · Dec 7, 2004
Visibility
RECALL 03V159000 CONCERNING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10099572
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04002) REGARDING THE IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THE WORK!!! SERVICE MANAGER PATRICIA BARONA. *JB THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO BE DISREGUARDED BECAUSE INFORMATION WAS ON THE CONSUMERS 2001 THAT WAS TRADED FOR 2004. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10099059
7,126 miles · Oct 4, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE T-BONED AT 45 MPH AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS LOCATED INSIDE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10094963
9,700 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10089891
34 miles · Jul 14, 2004
Power Train
I HAVE AN EXCESSIVE GRINDING FEEL WITHIN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. A TSB FOR THIS HAS BEEN ISSUED AND SO FAR THE VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. 2 CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND ONE FLYWHEEL. THE ORIGINAL TSB STATES DO NOT REPLACE THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS AND FLYWHEEL BECAUSE THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM, WHY ARE YOU GOING AGA…
Read full complaint
I HAVE AN EXCESSIVE GRINDING FEEL WITHIN THE CLUTCH PEDAL. A TSB FOR THIS HAS BEEN ISSUED AND SO FAR THE VEHICLE IS 6 MONTHS OLD. 2 CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND ONE FLYWHEEL. THE ORIGINAL TSB STATES DO NOT REPLACE THE CLUTCH COMPONENTS AND FLYWHEEL BECAUSE THIS WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. GM, WHY ARE YOU GOING AGAINST YOUR OWN TECHNICAL EXPERTS ADVISE? WANT TO PREVENT A DEVASTATING RECALL BY HOODWINKING YOUR CUSTOMERS IN SAYING THE PROBLEM IS DESIGNED IN THE TRANSMISSION AS NORMAL? THIS HAS TO BE UP CHANNELED TO HIGHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. LEMON LAWS AND IGNORANT AND COMPLACENT CUSTOMERS WHO ARE AFRAID OF GOING THE DISTANCE WILL ONLY ALLOW THEIR INVESTMENTS TO BE TRADED OR JUST LIVE WITH THE COMPLAINT. LOOKING AT THE HISTORY OF 2000-2004 CAVALIERS, SUNFIRES AND MALIBUS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE COMBINATION IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. I WISH THERE WAS A FORUM TO ALLOW CROSS COMMUNICATION BETWEEN OWNERS FOR A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS AMERICA. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD I GET BETTER RETURN SERVICE AT WAL MART FOR DEFECTIVE MERCHANDISE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10081039
13,200 miles · Jul 10, 2004
Electrical System
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, EVERY MONTH OR SO IT WILL TURN OVER ONCE AND THE POWER WILL SHUT OFF AND WHEN I LET OFF THE KEY IT WILL COME BACK ON. THEN TRY TO START AGAIN AND IT WILL. MAYBE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION OR STARTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10080753
2,000 miles · Jun 22, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR 5 MINUTES, THEN IT SUDDENLY DIED DOWN. THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED TWO REAR END COLLISIONS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES, BUT THEY ONL…
Read full complaint
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR 5 MINUTES, THEN IT SUDDENLY DIED DOWN. THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED TWO REAR END COLLISIONS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES, BUT THEY ONLY WORKED ON IT 5 TIMES. THEY ALSO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR 44 MILES, NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10079607
10 miles · Jun 22, 2004
Electrical System
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT WHEN MANUALLY SHIFTING VEHICLE STALLED. THE KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALSO, SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SHIFTING TOO FAST. OCCASIONALLY, THE STALLING OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THIS TIME IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT WHEN MANUALLY SHIFTING VEHICLE STALLED. THE KEY HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALSO, SOMETIMES VEHICLE STALLED WHEN SHIFTING TOO FAST. OCCASIONALLY, THE STALLING OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. DURING THIS TIME IT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO HAVE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO DO THIS. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN TWELVE TIMES. *AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10073515
100 miles · Jun 17, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR IT BEGAN TO REV UP ON ITS OWN. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 9 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THEY EVEN INSTALLED AN ON BOARD COMPUTER AND WERE ABLE TO SEE THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS. THE MECHANIC SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER AND IS UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS …
Read full complaint
WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR IT BEGAN TO REV UP ON ITS OWN. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 9 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THEY EVEN INSTALLED AN ON BOARD COMPUTER AND WERE ABLE TO SEE THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS. THE MECHANIC SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER AND IS UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING, AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND HOPE THE ENGINE BLOWS UP. THIS IS NOW A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WE FILED A LEMON LAW CASE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. *JB
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
Illustration