2004 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
330 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 263 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 109 of 330 complaints (33.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 18 | 5.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 109 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 67 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 |
| Steering | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
Electrical System: 109; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 67; Vehicle Speed Control: 24; Steering: 13; Unknown Or Other: 13; Air Bags: 11; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 43 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 72 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 61 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 34 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 43; 25,000 to 49,999: 72; 50,000 to 74,999: 61; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 17
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (72). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 36 |
| 2009 | 22 |
| 2010 | 55 |
| 2011 | 34 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2004: 21; 2005: 26; 2006: 21; 2007: 14; 2008: 36; 2009: 22; 2010: 55; 2011: 34; 2012: 22; 2013: 8; 2014: 30; 2015: 17; 2016: 10; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10058199 · 2004-02-15 (February 15, 2004)
ON INTERMITTENT SETTING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY MOVE ACROSS WINDSHIELD IN SPURTS, STOPING EVERY SECOND. WORKS NORMALLY ON HIGH SETTINGS. ON PREVIOUS REPAIR, WIPER LINKAGES FAILED RESULTING IN ONE WIPER REMAINING PARKED AT ALL TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062525 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
I PURCHASED MY 2004 CAVALIER LS WITH ONLY 4 MILES ON THE OD. I NOTICED THE VERY SAME DAY ON THE WAY HOME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VIBRATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65 & 75, AND DIDDNT TAKE IT IN RIGHT AWAY CAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE COULDNT POSSIBLY BE ANYTHING WRONG CAUSE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. WELL THIS CONTINUED AND GOT WORSE, SO AT 6,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR A ROTATION I HAD THEM CHECK IT AND THEY SAID THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE. I DROVE IT AWAY BUT STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I FINNALY TOOK IT BACK A MONTH LA…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062531 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
I DISCOVERED AT 1500 MILES MY 2004 CAVALIER LS HAD A LEAK APPARENT IN THE ROOF LINER. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TURNS OUT THE REAR BACK WINDOW SEAL WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AND WAS CRIMPED UPON INSTALLATION AT THE FACTORY. THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BY GM AND WAS FIXED TO MY SATISFACTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063287 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE TO WARM IT UP AND WENT BACK INTO THE OFFICE. VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES WITHIN 10 MINUTES. THE FLAMES WERE UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,208 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063855 · 2004-03-25 (March 25, 2004)
UPON DELIVERY OF NEW 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT HOLD THE TRUNK LID TO THE VEHICLE WERE BROKEN COMPLETELY OFF. ALSO, THE REAR WINDOW HAD TO BE REMOVED AND NEW WEATHER STRIPPING HAD TO BE APPLIED BY THE DEALER BODY SHOP. THE WEATHER STRIPPING THAT WAS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY IN LORDSTOWN WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE TRUNK AND REAR SEAT WAS SOAKED WITH RAIN WATER THE DAY AFTER DELIVERY TO ME. THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS IN THE BODY SHOP FOR A TOTAL OF 6 DAYS. CHEVROLET WAS NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065047 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER FOUND IT HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT STEERING FLUID WAS COVERING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE HOSE CONNECTING THE STEERING FLUID PUMP WAS NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY. THE CLAMP WAS ON THE HOSE, BUT NOT CLAMPED ONTO THE CONNECTOR. *AK DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066239 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
DRIVERS SEAT BELT MORE THAN TWELVE INCHES SHORTER THAN PASSENGERS SEAT BELT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066807 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE RPM WOULD GO TO 3000 WITH THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL AND THE RPM'S WENT BACK TO NORMAL OF 950 RPMS. THE VEHICLE HAD 172 MILES AND WHEN THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRES, THEY WERE 24 LBS. THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE SHOULD OF BEEN 32 LBS. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 172 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066807 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V300000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 2004-06-23 (June 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗