2004 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION GIVING FAULTY READINGS. AT TIMES, IT REGISTERS AT 0MPH - EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING. THE TACHOMETER BEGAN TO DO THE SAME THING (FAULTY READINGS) TWO DAYS LATER. THE SPEEDOMETER NOW WORKS BUT PERIODICALLY GIVES FAULTY READINGS WHILE DRIVING. THE TACHOMETER NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL AND CONSTANTLY SHOWS A FAULTY READING (BELOW ZERO). AFTER A VISIT TO THREE DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANICS AND A GM DEALERSHIP - I'M TOLD THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPLETELY. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND QUITE COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES IN THEIR EXPERIENCE APPARENTLY. NOT HAVING AN ACCURATE AND RELIABLE DISPLAY OF YOUR CURRENT SPEED IS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN INVESTIGATED WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING FAULTY GAUGES/INSTRUMENT PANELS ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALLED. *TR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUMP THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO COME AND ON OCCASION CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. *TR

THE GAUGES SHOW NOTHING NO SPEED NO GAS NO MILEAGE NOTHING. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS MATTER WHY IS THERE NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ALWAYS A CHEVY PERSON BUT NOW I AM MOVING ON TO SOMETHING ELSE. CHEVY DOES NOT LIKE TO FIX THERE PROBLEMS THEY LEAVE IT UP TO THE PEOPLE TO SPEND TONS OF MONEY TO FIX THE PROB WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROB IS. THIS IS UNCALLED FOR. *TR

CARCOMPLAINTS.COM NOTES: WIDESPREAD INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE IS A COMMON AND FRUSTRATING REALITY FOR MANY 2004-2005 CHEVY CAVALIER OWNERS. THEY'RE OFTEN LEFT IN THE DARK WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWING HOW FAST THEY'RE GOING, WHAT THEIR ENGINE TEMPERATURE IS, OR EVEN HOW MUCH FUEL THEY HAVE LEFT IN THE TANK. THE LIKELY CULPRIT IS A SERIES OF BAD "STEPPER MOTORS" WHICH CONTROL THE GAUGES AND ARE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THINK NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE YOUR SPEED IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR ALL OWNERS? WE'D AGREE. TROUBLE IS, APPARENTLY THE NHTSA DOES NOT. THIS IS TRULY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED THOUSANDS OF TIMES TO VARIOUS AGENCIES AND IT SEEMS THE CAVALIER WAS NEVER MADE. NO ONE WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OR ANY OTHERS INVOLVING THIS CAVALIER. *TR

2004 CAVALIER, 2.2L DOHC, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE FELT AS IF CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. RPMS WOULD NOT FALL OFF AS FAST AS USUAL WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF GAS, AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH (WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED LAST WEEK DUE TO ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE THAT CHEVY REFUSES TO RECALL) RPMS WENT ABOVE 4,000. TAPPED GAS PEDAL THINKING MAYBE IT WAS STUCK AND IT ONLY REVVED HIGHER AND DID NOT COME DOWN ON ITS OWN. RPMS CONTINUED TO CLIMB AS I CAME TO A STOP, AROUND 6,000 BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IMMEDIATELY BACK ON, NO PROBLEMS FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME (ANOTHER 8 MILES). I CANNOT RISK MY CAR REVVING AT 6,000 RPMS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHICH I'M IN EVERY WEEKDAY AND I CAN'T SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SO I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES IT AND FIX IT ASAP. THANKS FOR ANOTHER SPENDY REPAIR, CHEVY. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AS A PRECAUTION. THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,426 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,600. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN

MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IN 2006 I WAS DRIVING DOING 20 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER READ 110, THE GAS GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD MOVED ALL THE WAY AROUND AND WAS SITTING ON THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS INFORMED THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON TRUCKS AND SUV'S BUT DID NOT INCLUDE AUTOMOBILES. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND PAY $100.00 TO HAVE IT INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC AND IF THE MECHANIC DETERMINED IT WAS THE CLUSTER, THE INFORMATION WOULD BE SENT TO GM AND THEY WOULD THEN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER THEY WOULD MAKE THE REPAIR OR NOT. MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2004 MONTE CARLO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND HER DAUGHTER HAS THE PROBLEM WITH HER 2005 CAVALIER. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND GM JUST REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. I THINK CAR OWNERS SHOULD GET THE SAME RESPECT AS TRUCK OWNERS AND GM SHOULD REPAIR THESE CLUSTERS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM MANY TIMES AND THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING . *TR

CLUTCH FLUID LEAK FROM SLAVE CYLINDER DETECTED 4/19/14. FLUID LEVEL IN MASTER CYLINDER WAS LOW BUT NOT DANGEROUSLY SO, SO I ADDED DOT-3 TO MASTER CYLINDER. EVENING OF 4/22 NOTICED NO NEW LEAKAGE ON GARAGE FLOOR. ON MORNING OF 4/23 EN ROUTE TO WORK, NOTICED CLUTCH ENGAGED MUCH CLOSER TO FLOOR THAN USUAL, AND HAD MUCH MORE "PLAY" BETWEEN IT'S NORMAL POSITION AND WHEN CLUTCH BEGAN TO ENGAGE. IN CITY-STREET TRAFFIC, SPEED LIMIT 50 MPH, CLUTCH BEGAN TO SEIZE, CAUSING INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. CLUTCH PEDAL TO FLOOR, CAR IN GEAR, RIGHT FOOT OFF GAS, CAR MOVED FORWARD UNDER POWER. TURNED AROUND TO HEAD BACK HOME AND WITHIN TWO MILES CLUTCH WENT BACK TO MOSTLY NORMAL OPERATION. AFTER ANOTHER 3 MILES (THE ENTIRE TRIP WAS ON CITY STREETS WITH SPEED LIMITS BETWEEN 40 AND 55 MPH, INCLUDING LOTS OF STOPLIGHTS=MORE SHIFTING) CLUTCH SEIZED UP ENTIRELY. PEDAL FLAT TO FLOOR, NEEDED TOE UNDER LEVER TO PULL IT BACK UP. STUCK IN 3RD GEAR, NO AMOUNT OF PUMPING THE PEDAL WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. UPON STOPPING, CHECKED FLUID LEVEL IN MASTER CYLINDER AND IT IS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN WHEN IT WAS FILLED ON 4/19, BUT LEVEL HAD NOT CHANGED IN 24 HOURS. UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR, CAR WILL NEED TO BE TOWED HOME THEN TO SHOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHANGING THE OIL SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.

THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CAVALIER HAS SUDDENLY STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS I DO NOT KNOW HOW HOT MY ENGINE IS OR HOW FAST I AM GOING. THE TACH AND GAS GAUGES SEEM TO STILL WORK (DON'T KNOW FOR HOW LONG THOUGH), BUT SPEEDOMETER AND TEMP GAUGE DO NOT. MY CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND I WILL JUST HAVE HAD IT FOR 10 YEARS AS OF THIS MONTH. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR AND IT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT CHEVY WILL NOT RECALL THIS FAULTY GAUGE PANEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A PART THAT SHOULD JUST SUDDENLY WEAR OUT ON A CAR. WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE SUDDENLY SURFACING WITH GM I AM SHOCKED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BEFORE AND I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. GOD FORBID SOMEONE NOT KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE AND THEY PULL OVER BECAUSE THEY THINK THEIR CAR IS OVERHEATING AND GET OUT TO CHECK ONLY TO GET HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY AGAIN UNLESS THEY STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAULTY GAUGE CLUSTER. *TR

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER; GAS GAUGE; TACHOMETER) STARTED ACTING CRAZY AND THE DIALS WOULD JUMP ALL OVER THE PLACE. FINALLY, THE DIALS JUST STOPPED WORKING. AT THE SAME TIME MY INSIDE DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD GO ON WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING SO IT HAD TO BE DISENGAGED COMPLETELY SO IT WOULD NOT RUN DOWN MY BATTERY. RIGHT AFTER THAT MY CAR TURNED OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN AND THE KEYS WERE STILL IN THE IGNITION. (THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES).THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT APPEAR UNDER ANY RECALLS. I CALLED GM DIRECTLY BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY RESOLUTION DUE TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS (THE REPS DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH). THIS WAS REPORTED TO CAR COMPLAINTS.COM AND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FOR THE SAME THING (ESPECIALLY THE CLUSTER AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS) BUT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ITEMS TO HAVE FIXED AND POSE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. MANY, MANY PEOPLE NEED HELP AND NO WHERE TO TURN AND GM HAS IGNORED THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004 CAVALIER COMPLETELY. ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND REPLACED AS RECOMMENDED AS WELL AS ALL OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO FIX. ON BEHALF OF ALL CAVALIER OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN IGNORED PLEASE, PLEASE HELP!!!! THIS HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO MOTORTREND.COM. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER!!! *TR

BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW , EVERY TIME WE HIT A BUMP WITH KEY RING AND CAR DRIVING THE INTERIOR LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF LIKE THE KEY WAS JUST TURNED ON , WE COMPLAINED AND THEY COULD NEVER FIND A THING , SO NOW WHEN YOU DRIVE IT AND HIT THE KEY RING WITH ALL THE OTHER KEYS ON IT THE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF , CHEVROLET COULD NEVER FIND THE PROBLEM AND NOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING THAT HAPPENS ON A 2004 CAVALIER AS LATER MODELS OF CHEVY. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT START. SO I TRIED AGAIN A FEW MORE TIME. THE VEHICLE DID START SO I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THE NEXT WEEK WHICH WAS MY FIRST ATTEMPT. IT TOOK 2 MORE VISITS TO GET THE CAR FIXED CORRECTLY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH SENSOR. JUST LIKE THE RECALL BY GM. BUT MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED, I HOPE IT WILL BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL (FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, RPM GAUGE & TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALL STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT ALL! FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR SPEED! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ALSO AS IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

WHEN I TURN ON MY CAR DEFROSTER, IT STARTS POPPING VERY LOUD. AT ONE TIME IT STARTED POPPING WHEN I SET THE CAR AT IDLE, AND WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, IT WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE OR DUST. I HAD TO AIR OUT THE CAR FOR A WHILE BEFORE I COULD DRIVE IT. THE DEFROSTER DOESN'T POP EVERY TIME, AND IT QUITS AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES EACH TIME. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT NEEDED A NEW CONSOLE, SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT AND FLASH AT PEOPLE. WHEN THEY GO OUT, THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS ON SO THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT FLASH AT PEOPLE. *TR

HORN WON'T BLOW, HAD IT SERVICED AND THEY SAID HORN WAS GOOD. THEY TRACK THE SITUATION BACK TO THE AIR BAG/HORN CONNECTION. NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE HORN WON'T BLOW. THE GUY THAT SERVICED IT , SAID THE CONNECTION FOR THE HORN IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG AND I WOULD NEED A NEW AIR BAG TO POSSIBLE FIX THIS ISSUE. WHAT COULD I POSSIBLE DO TO GET THIS CORRECTED? IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GETTING MORE WORRIED ABOUT IT LATELY. *TR

I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION RECALL. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AT RANDOM TIMES, IF I TOUCHED THE KEYS WHICH WERE IN THE IGNITION, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT WOULD EITHER FLICKER OR ACTUALLY GO ON FOR SEVERAL SECONDS TO A MINUTE BEFORE SHUTTING OFF. THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF PULLING THEM SO THAT THEY ARE NOT SOLIDLY INSERTED, BUT DUE TO BEING JOSTLED. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING, OR NOT RUNNING, AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN I INSERT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS, IN ITSELF, IS A PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS AN INDICATION THAT THIS MAY PROGRESS INTO A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

RECENTLY GENERAL MOTORS ISSUED A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SOME OF THEIR CARS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. HERE IS A LIST OF CARS CURRENTLY LISTED, BUT I WANT MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER ADDED TO THE RECALL TOO: CHEVROLET COBALT, PONTIAC G5, SATURN ION, CHEVROLET HHR, PONTIAC SOLSTICE, AND SATURN SKY. MANY YEARS AGO I TRIED TO GET A LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THEY COULD NOT FIX IT, SO WE JUST KEPT DRIVING THE CAR. HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD AFFECT THE AIR BAGS GETTING DEPLOYED I WOULD HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU SOONER. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO GET FIXED BY GM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON ALL MODELS LISTED INCLUDING MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE DEFECT ALLOWS THE IGNITION SWITCH TO MOVE FROM "RUN" TO "ACCESSORY" IF I HIT A BUMP OR I USE A HEAVY KEY CHAIN. THAT SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE AND MAY DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS. THE LOSS OF THE AIR BAG CRASH PROTECTION IS MY BIGGEST WORRY. PLEASE HELP ME GET THIS FIXED AND WARN OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER STEERING GAUGES SHUT OFF EVERYTHING TURNED OFF BUT LIGHTS STAYED ON AND FLASHERS WORKED. *TR

SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING; TODAY'S EXAMPLE; WE WERE ENTERING AN INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATING TO THE 65 MPH POSTED SPEED LIMIT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER LOCKED AT 45 AND STAYED THERE. DID NOT CHANGE AND REMAINS THERE UNTIL WE GOT THE CAR HOME. THE WORST PART IS MY SON, A STUDENT DRIVER WAS DRIVING AND HAD NO WAY TO KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS GOING AND HAD TO REMAIN THERE UNTIL WE COULD GET OFF THE INTERSTATE AND EXCHANGE PLACES. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AS WELL AS THIS SITE, AND SEE MANY MORE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. *TR

MY INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INDICATING INCORRECT SPEEDS BEFORE IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. THE GAS, RPM, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES INDICATE INCORRECT INFORMATION AS WELL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING. *TR

2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; AT FIRST THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HOT CAUSING US TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND INVESTIGATE, 27 YEARS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN KINDA HELPED ME COME TO THE CONCLUSION REAL QUICK IT WAS NOT OVERHEATING, THEN THE TACHOMETER WOULD GO COMPLETELY AROUND AND PEG FROM THE UNDERSIDE AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS AND HAS STAYED, THE SPEEDOMETER CEASED TO WORK SHORTLY AFTER THE TACHOMETER WENT HAYWIRE AND THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO HAS ITS MOMENTS, SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DON'T AND ALL OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND SERVICE SOON INDICATORS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN, THE CAR HAS NO TROUBLE CODES AND THERE IS NO REASON GM HASN'T RECALLED THESE AND OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEMS, FUNNY THEY SENT ME A LETTER ON MY 03 SILVERADO CLUSTER AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT BUT I LOOK AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THE CAVALIERS AND NO SUCH RECALLS, YOU MIGHT ASK WHY I HAVEN'T FIXED IT MYSELF WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TOO? GM SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX ITS FAULTY CLUSTERS IT IS DANGEROUS FOR ANY OF THESE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS OF THE CLUSTER TO BE FAULTY OR INACCURATE IT CAN CAUSE A MOTORIST TO TRAVEL AT AN UNSAFE SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND BE AT RISK OF BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER MOTORIST FROM BEHIND THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, ASK YOURSELF HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT OR FATALLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HOOD FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

THE SPEED CLUSTER ACTS UP FROM TIME TO TIME. SOMETIMES THE MPH GAUGE DOESN'T READ OR IS NOT ACCURATE OR STICKS AND SOMETIMES THE HEAT GAUGE DOESN'T WORK AND SOMETIMES THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. SOMETIMES I GET A BRAKE LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP AND SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THE ENTIRE CLUSTER ACTS UP FROM TIME TO TIME WITH ALL DIFFERENT THINGS WRONG. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY THE SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT 65 MPH WHILE HE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING. WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED 15 MINUTES LATER AND SHUT OFF WIT THE KEY REMOVED THE SPEEDOMETER STILL READ 65 MPH. THIS CONTINUED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE REPLACING THE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE RPMS INCREASED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL MAY HAVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER MPH, STAYS AT 20 MPH WHEN AT REST AND GOES UP WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN BUT UNKNOWN SPEED PERSON IS DRIVING AT. ALSO THE TEMP GAUGE NEEDLE IS NOT EVEN ON THE AREA TO REGISTER THE TEMP OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE HEARD FROM MY LOCAL MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING & I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS ON LINE SIMILAR TO MY COMPLAINT. PLEASE RECALL THIS PART SO THAT EVERYONE DRIVING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS SAFE BY KNOWING THE TEMP OF THEIR ENGINE & KNOWING THEIR DRIVING SPEED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND WERE PROVIDING INACCURATE OR ERRATIC READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

THE CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP, I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH THE PAST FEW DAYS AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CLUSTER IN THE 2004-05 CHEVY CAVALIERS ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS MY CAR HAS, HOW FAST IM GOING AND IF MY CARS TEMPERATURE IS TO HIGH, IF Y'ALL COULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY AT FIRST BUT NOW MOVE AROUND BACKWARDS OR ANY DIRECTION THEY CHOOSE...NEVER CORRECT!!!!! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!! *TR

DOING MY MORNING PAPER ROUTE. WENT TO TURN LEFT IN A CUL-DE-SAC AND THE STEERING TILT BROKE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS GOING ALL KIND OF DIRECTIONS. I HAVE TWO NEWSPAPERS WEDGED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE BOTTOM SO I CAN DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN SOMEHOW GET IT FIXED. I HAVE THREE OR FOUR PARTS THAT FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD. ALL I WAS DOING WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHEN I BROKE AND THE PARTS FELL OFF. THIS IS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I BOUGHT IT IN 2009. THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THE CAR. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULDN'T EVER HAPPEN TO ANY CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS IN THIS CAR. I CAN STILL STEER, BUT THE TILT IS BROKEN AND THE WHEEL IS HARD TO KEEP STILL. *TR

ERRATIC AND ERRONEOUS SPEED INDICATOR. SPEED INDICATOR POINTS TO 55-60 MPH WHILE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP AND INDICATES 110+ MPH WHILE ACTUAL SPEED IS 50-55 MPH. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AROUND 100 MILES. A SIMPLE POWERING OFF THE IGNITION DOES NOT CLEAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UPSETTING AND UNSETTLING. GENERAL MOTORS CURRENT COST TO IT CUSTOMERS OF $660 FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IS INEXCUSABLE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL !

ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER READING AND OCCASIONAL INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE READING, I HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS HAD THE SPEEDOMETER RISE TO 110 MPH WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE POSTED SPEEDS, APPROXIMATE BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY TO ACTUALLY TELL HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MANY YEAR 2001 AND UP GM VEHICLES WITH ONLY THE HIGHER END CADILLAC TYPE AND LARGER SUV'S BEING RECALLED ( WHICH HAVE THE SAME EXACT STEPPER MOTORS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS ). I GUESS GM FIGURES IT'S ONLY NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE SPEEDOMETERS ON THE 5000 LB PLUS VEHICLES TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS IN HOPES OF SAVING THE SMALLER VEHICLES FROM BEING HIT BY THEM. I DID CALL THE GM DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAVALIER AND IT WOULD COST APPROX. $300 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT OR SEND OUT AND REPAIR OF MY ORIGINAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AND CORROSION STARTED TO DEVELOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

SO WHEN MY GAS GAUGES GET DOWN BELOW THE HALF LINE THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT COMES UP AND I KNOW FOR SURE THAT MY CAR ISN'T YET EMPTY. WHAT DO I DO? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NO WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE BOLTS BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE CYLINDER HEAD, OIL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION WERE DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

THERE IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HORN AFTER TIME/WEAR WITH THE 2003-2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE CONTACT IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO ACTIVE THE VEHICLES HORN. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE ROTATING RIBBON CIRCUIT CONTACT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL HAVING A BROKEN FILAMENT FOR THE HORN CIRCUIT, THE PART IS KNOWN AS A CLOCK SPRING CONTACT. THE HORN WILL NOT WORK BY PRESSING EITHER BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL, BUT WILL SOUND AS PART OF VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM BY PRESSING KEY FOB. THIS ISSUE CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, AND INJURY. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM REPORTED BY MANY VEHICLE OWNERS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS, DATABASES, AND SEARCHES. PLEASE FIX OR RECALL THIS PART CHEVROLET, TO PREVENT ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND DEATH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY ENTIRE CLUSTER WENT OUT. I SPOKE TO CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED IT WAS A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL DATE EXPIRED. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *TR

ALL FOUR GAUGES THAT MAKE UP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (LR FUEL, TEMP, SPEED AND TECH) WILL SHOW ZERO READING OR VARIES READING THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH REALITY. BY TURNING THE KEY NUMEROUS TIMES I CAN RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BACK TO ZERO AND THEN USE THE VEHICLE, TILL AT A RANDOM TIME IT WILL JUST INCREASE IN SPEED SHOWN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. GM HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HAVE DONE ZERO EXCEPT CHARGE HIGH FEE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY PLACE IN THE VEHICLE. *JS

SPEEDOMETER IS UNRELIABLE. SOMETIMES IT SHOWS FASTER, SOMETIMES IT SHOWS SLOWER. STICKS IN PLACE AT TIMES. NEXT, THE TEMP GAUGE MADE ME THINK MY CAR WAS RUNNING VERY HOT AND I BOUGHT A $25 TEMPERATURE SENSOR FIRST, THAT DIDN'T HELP, SO I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT. THEN I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS, SO I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING TO IT UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. I'LL USE A GPS TO TELL MY SPEED. I HAVE HAD TWO SPEEDING TICKETS OVER THIS BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA THE THING WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT UNTIL IT GOT REALLY BAD AND STARTED STICKING IN ONE PLACE FOR DAYS. EACH TICKET WILL GIVE ME TWO POINTS ON MY LICENSE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY INSURANCE WILL GO UP. ALSO, I DON'T GET PAID FOR THE TIME I TAKE OFF TO GO TO TRAFFIC COURT OVER THESE TICKETS. I AM 65 YEARS OLD AND NEVER HAD A TICKET UNTIL THESE TWO. THANKS, CHEVY. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER! *TR

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY ON THIS MODEL ALTHOUGH I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY FIXED IT. THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR IT TO READ THAT I'M GOING 30 MILES FASTER THAN I REALLY AM AND THE EXTREME OPPOSITE ALSO HAPPENS WHERE I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT BUT GOING 70 MPH. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT ONE IS NECESSARY IN THIS CASE. IT IS UNSAFE TO NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE, THE SPEED IN WHICH YOU ARE TRAVELLING, OR ANY OF THE OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN WHILE YOU ARE OPERATING A CAR.

THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT REPORT ACCURATE VEHICLE SPEED. ABOVE A CERTAIN SPEED THE GAUGE WILL FREEZE AND BE UNUSABLE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE ON OTHER GMC CARS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD (MINE IS A 2004). IN ADDITION TO THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TACHOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE ARE ALSO COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL AS THE OTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,650. UPDATED03/15/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE GAS GAUGE. WHICH STARTED OFF AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND BECAME WORSE. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE THEN STARTED BLOCKING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, WHICH CAUSED THAT NEEDLE NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THE GAS GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLE WERE FACING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $650 PLUS LABOR. UPDATED 05/30/12

IT WAS SOMETIME IN NOV. 2011 WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL REGISTER THE SPEED BUT IT IS NOT CORRECT. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR MODEL. AND FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ONLINE THIS CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. ALL DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR SPEED IS IN ORDER TO BE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE DRIVER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT READING. THE READING WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM EMPTY AND FULL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT READ THE ACCURATE SPEED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

AFTER CONSULTING LICENSED MECHANICS, AND ONE SUCH NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AIRPLANE-ENGINE TECH-MECHANIC, BEING RANKED IN THE TOP THREE (3) OF THE NATION'S AVIATION MECHANICS INDUSTRY FROM 1981-1983 PERIOD (AND STILL HAS QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY), [AND BEFORE MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF], THE CONSENSUS/VERDICT [BY THESE PROFESSIONALS] WAS AGREED THAT IT BORDERS ON CRIMINALITY (AND I QUOTE), THAT AUTOMAKERS ARE USING PLASTIC COVERINGS AND SEALS, AS THE ENGINE'S OIL FILTER HOUSING CAPS. KNOWN (INDUSTRY-WIDE) TO EXERT PRESSURES IN 'POUNDS PER-SQUARE-INCH' ( LBS/PSI) AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT THESE PLASTIC MATERIALS--SUCH AS THE OIL FILTER-HOUSING CAPS, CANNOT WITHSTAND. THEY ALSO STRIP. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE CERTIFIED AIRPLANE MECHANIC THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURIZATION THEORY BEHIND THAT TECHNOLOGY, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT FIFTY-50 TO SIXTY-60 POUNDS (LBS/PSI) OF PRESSURE PER-SQUARE-INCH IS BEING GIVEN TO THE PLASTIC CAPS FROM THE ENGINE'S INTERNAL COMBUSTION WILL CAUSE ANY PLASTIC CAP, HOUSED UNDER SUCH PRESSURES TO FAIL. HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DID NOT CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE TWO(2) YEARS AFTER BEING NEWLY PURCHASED. HE SAID THE SCIENCE THAT INDUSTRY INSIDERS DO NOT WANT US TO KNOW IS THAT THE PROPER SEMI-PRECIOUS METALS, AS ALUMINUM, COPPER AND THE LIKE ARE PERFECT CONDUCTORS OF ELECTRICITY AND HEAT, ALLOWING THE METAL TO EXPAND/CONTRACT ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURES AND/OR TORQUE PRESSURIZATION OF THE 50-60 LBS/PSI BEING RELEASE TO HOUSING. EVEN TAMPERED STEE