Page 4 of 7 · complaints 151–200 of 330

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 29, 20101,500 milesPA

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT STATE THE CORRECT MPH YOU ARE GOING WILL STICK ANYWHERE, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO HAS STOPPED WORKING. IT CAN BE RESET (THE SPEEDOMETER) ONCE THE CAR COOLS OFF BUT WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY CHEVY. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 27, 201042,000 milesPA

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER JUST GOES HAYWIRE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL. FAULTY MOTORS WERE PUT IN. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 20, 20109,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE MOTOR IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR TIMES AND EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE MOTORS WERE REPLACED THEY WERE COVERED WITH RUST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jul 13, 2010100,120 milesWI

2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. BACK DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSE. I HAVE IT LOCKED NOW BUT CAN NOT OPEN IT. I AM AFRAID WHILE MY CHILD IS SITTING BACK THERE THE DOOR WILL SWING OPEN. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 13, 2010100,120 milesWI

GAUGES ON FRONT PANEL ARE NOT WORKING. GAS, SPEED, TEMP. I HAVE CONTACT CHEVY DEALERS AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT RECALLED. READ ON MANY SITES ON THE INTERNET THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 13, 201054,000 milesWI

GAUGES IN CAR IS NOT WORKING. READ ON YOUR SITE THERE IS ANOTHER 65 PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 10, 201066,000 milesMD

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER STARTED MALFUNCTIONING IN LATE DECEMBER 2009. FIRST THE GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING, THEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEACUSE THE GAS GAUGE INTERFERED. NOW JULY 10 2010. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS ALSO STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BECAUSE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INTERFERED WITH IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I EMAILED GM BUT NO RESPONSE. WAS TOLD BY GM DEALER IT WOULD BE OVER $700 TO REPLACE IT. NOT FAIR AT ALL, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 4, 201059,601 milesVA

ON JUNE 15,2010 MY ENTIRE CLUSTER GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY. I DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO OWNER A 2004 CAVALIER AND THE GAUGES GO ALL HAYWIRE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE REVIEWED. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 25, 201050,000 milesIL

AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES THE TACHOMETER ON THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER BEGAN TO FAIL, BECOMING WILDLY UNCALIBRATED AND SHOWING RPM WELL ABOVE ACTUAL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE SPEEDOMETER SUFFERING THE SAME DEFECT. WHEN DRIVING, STOPPED, IN PARK, OR EVEN ENGINE OFF, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ INACCURATE: 30MPH, 90MPH, SOMETIMES PINNED 360-DEGREES OFF THE GAUGE. A QUICK TEMPORARY FIX IS, WHILE THE CAR IS OFF, TO REMOVE THE DASH CLUSTER FUSE AND REINSERT IT, WHICH RESETS ALL THE GAUGES AT 0. THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY BECAUSE WITHIN DAYS, IF NOT EARLIER, THE GAUGES BECOME UNCALIBRATED AGAIN. RECENTLY AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THE SPEEDOMETER HAS ALSO RANDOMLY BEGUN TO REPORT SPEEDS WELL BELOW ACTUAL SPEED. I.E. WHEN TRAVELING 45MPH THE SPEEDOMETER WILL READ 25MPH. *TR

Visibility
Filed Jun 22, 201042,000 milesIN

I HAVE A 2004 CAVALIER. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE DRIVERS WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. I HAD A WARRANTY AND REPLACED IT. IT STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I COULD HEAR AIR COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANY GAPS. EVENTUALLY NOTICED THE WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK. MY GUESS IS POOR FIXING BY THE DEALERSHIP. ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER (MY WARRANTY IS UP) THE DRIVERS WINDOW QUIT WORKING AGAIN. I HAD TO DRIVE IN THE POURING RAIN WITH MY WINDOW DOWN. WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH RAIN THE ROADS ARE FLOODING THUS SENDING TONS OF WATER INTO MY CAR BY PASSING CARS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD OF MAKING THE CUSTOMERS PAY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 18, 201060,000 milesOH

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED ON ME. I REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR BUT PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED. I FEAR THIS COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 17, 201031,000 milesNY

2004 CAVALIER GAUGES GO CRAZY. 110MPH IN THE DRIVEWAY, TACHOMETER SAYS 9000 RPM WHEN I AM IDLING. GAS GAUGE IS NO LONGER RELIABLE.. PARTICULARLY A PROBLEM IN COLD AND DAMP WEATHER, HOT WEATHER AND ON OPEN HIGHWAY. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM DRIVING, WHETHER I WILL RUN OUT OF GAS, OR IF THE ENGINE RPM'S ARE SO HIGH THE MOTOR WILL EXPLODE.. 31,000 MILES ON THE CAR SO IT IS LOW MILEAGE. *TR

Visibility
Filed Jun 7, 2010199,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD "SHATTERING" NOISE. HE WENT OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE HEAT MUST HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE AND SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 199,000.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 7, 201030,000 milesOH

SPEEDOMETER AND GAS GAUGE AND RPM GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR PROBABLY 3 YEARS. STARTED HERE AND THERE AND NOW, MY SPEEDOMETER IT NEVER WORKING. EACH DAY IS DIFFERENT. SOMETIMES IT WILL START ON 35 MPH AND I CAN EASILY CALCULATE MY SPEED FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR UNTIL IT GETS STUCK. OTHER DAYS IT WON'T MOVE AT ALL. I NEVER KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING. ALSO, GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK, THANK GOD MY GAS LIGHT DOES. ONE TIME FIRESTONE TRIED TO FIX IT, AND IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS, THE IT WAS MESSED UP AGAIN. IT USED TO ONLY HAPPEN IN EXTREME HOT OR COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 7, 201038,420 milesCO

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jun 7, 201041,625 milesME

DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL. SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T READ THE PROPER SPEED LIMIT AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL NOT "RESET" (?) IT JUST KEEPS GOING CLOCKWISE AROUND THE DIAL. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 2, 201057,000 milesKY

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE WIRING IN THE FLOOR LEFT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER AND PASSENGER ESCAPED THE VEHICLE WITH JUST MINOR INJURIES. A PASSER BY CUT THE BATTERY CABLE AND THE FIRE/SMOKE STOPPED. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 29, 2010VA

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER AND RECENTLY THE SPEEDOMETER HAS JUST STOPPED WORKING. SOMETIMES IT DECIDES TO WORK DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, BUT MOST LIKELY IT IS ON 80MPH WHEN IM DOING 20MPH OR IT JUST SITS AT THE BOTTOM ALL TOGETHER. I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A MECHANIC FIX MY CAR AND I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH. I FOUND A WEBSITE WITH 33 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER(HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/CHEVROLET/CAVALIER/2004/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SPEEDOMETER_STOPPED_WORKING.SHTML). THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AND GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 27, 201051,000 milesFL

I HAVE A 2004 CAVALIER AND ALL THE GAUGES HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ONCE IN A WHILE THE RPM GAUGE WORKS. I INVESTIGATED AND HAVE FOUND VARIOUS WEBSITES WITH LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST OF REPAIR IS 500+ DOLLARS WITH NO SIMPLE DO IT YOURSELF FIX AVAILABLE. *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 25, 2010PA

ALL THE DIALS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GO HAYWIRE. I HAVE TRIED DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I AM GOING WHO HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR. OR EVEN IF THE TEMP IS OKAY. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 23, 201025,000 milesIN

MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE OVEREXTENDED CLOCKWISE PAST THE MAXIMUM TEMP THRESH HOLD UNTIL THE NEEDLE WAS POINTING DIRECTLY RIGHT (TOWARD PSGR). THE TIP OF THE NEEDLE, BEING STUCK IN THAT POSITION, PHYSICALLY BLOCKED THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FROM GOING ANY HIGHER THAN 10 MPH. EVENTUALLY THE SPEEDOMETER JUST FAILED, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STILL CONTINUED TO NOT WORK, AND APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER THAT THE GAS GAUGE FAILED AS WELL (THAT NEEDLE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE). THE ONLY GAUGE IN THE CLUSTER THAT IS WORKING IS THE TACHOMETER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A POPULAR DEFECT FOR THIS CAR, AS I HAVE READ MANY OTHERS-SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF AND NOW I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FROM GM. VERY UNHAPPY. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 14, 201035,891 milesNY

MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUES. THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I HAVE READ MANY POST FROM CAVALIER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed May 14, 2010130,012 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT SPEEDS OF 8 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL INTO THE CONTACTS LAP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE SCREWS MISSING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,012.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 15, 201060,000 milesOH

GAUGE CLUSTER NOT READING CORRECTLY ON AND OFF ON 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 7, 201090,000 milesMI

ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2004 CAVALIER STOPPED WORKING CORRECTLY, IT WILL STICK AT RANDOM PLACES ON THE DIAL, EVEN WHEN NOT DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WILL POINT STRAIGHT DOWN AT THE ODOMETER AND STICK THERE ALSO. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET BETTER WITH WARM WEATHER, BUT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. NOW IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, THE TACHOMETER HAS STARTED TO STICK AND NOT REGISTER AT ALL WHEN IT IS VERY COLD OUTSIDE, LIKE THE SPEEDOMETER THOUGH, THE TACHOMETER WORKS BETTER IN WARMER WEATHER. COOLANT TEMP. GAUGE STICKS ALSO WHEN IT GETS COLD OUT. THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY REPAIRABLE, I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM YET! THIS IS SURELY A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE GM DO A RECALL ON THESE CARS BEFORE YOU PULL OFF A "TOYOTA." *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 6, 201000

SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 2, 201035,000 milesFL

THE GAUGES ON MY CAVALIER ARE ALL MESSED UP. SOMETIMES THE ONLY GAGE THAT WORKS ARE MY RPM GAUGES. ALL THE OTHER GAUGES: THE GAS GAGE, THE THERMOMETER GAUGES AND THE MPH GAGE NEVER WORK RIGHT. I CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE CAR OR IF IT'S GOING TO OVERHEAT ON ME OR NOT. IT WILL NOT RESET. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS. *TR

Steering
Filed Mar 2, 2010WI

I CURRENTLY DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER LS, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE POWER STEERING FOR A FEW YEARS. THE VEHICLE WILL DRIVE AND STEER FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE A LOW GRUMBLING NOISE WHEN I SLOW DOWN AND TURN. THE STEERING BECOMES STEADILY MORE DIFFICULT. I EVENTUALLY TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A SLOW LEAK IN MY STEERING FLUID AND INSTEAD OF PAYING TO FIX IT, TO KEEP FILLING IT WITH FLUID WHENEVER I START HEARING THE NOISE. SO FAR, I'VE ONLY LOST THE POWER STEERING ONCE - LUCKILY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. FILLING THE POWER STEERING WORKS AS A QUICK FIX FOR A FEW WEEKS. I'VE ALSO NOTICE THAT WHEN I GOT TO OPEN THE POWER STEERING FLUID CAP - IT APPEARS THAT THE FLUID HAS BEEN "BOILING" OR FOAMING FOR A WHILE. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT HELPS, BUT IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED. THANKS. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 1, 201012,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SHE STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE CLUSTER, A FUSE OR THE WIRING COULD BE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. NO REPAIRS MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,075.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 23, 201045,294 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTED HER VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45294.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 21, 201050,000 milesMO

THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACH QUIT WORKING OR ARE READING THE WRONG SPEEDS ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I CAN BE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE GAGE SHOWS 40MPH. I CAN BE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT SHOWS 30 MPH. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN ONLINE & SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS WITH PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THERE IS NO APPARENT RECALL. *TR

Power Train › Manual TransmissionCrash
Filed Feb 19, 201060,000 milesMO

CLUTCH PEDAL STARTED TO STOP SHORT. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH LIGHT SNOW I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO SHIFT GEAR BEFORE A SLIGHT TURN AND INCLINE THE PEDAL STAYED DOWN. THE LACK OF POWER TO THE WHEELS WITHIN 5 SECONDS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE EVEN WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE AND GO INTO THE SPIN TO CORRECT. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND GOING BACKWARDS THEN THE FRONT END TRIED SWINGING BACK AND HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN DAMAGING THE FRONT END-BUMPER RIPPED OFF, REINFORCEMENT BENT/FOLDED, FENDERS WARPED, BOTH HEADLIGHTS BROKEN, CONDENSER SLIGHTLY FOLDED TO LEAK, RADIATOR SUPPORT WARPED, FRAME BENT. THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS LEAKING...AGAIN THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME. PEDAL WOULD START TO STOP SHORT THEN THE SLAVE WOULD START TO LEAK. FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SLAVE AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING. THEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS "JUST OUT OF THE REPAIR WARRANT BY 800 MI THEY-THE DEALER- WAS "LIABLE FOR NOTHING" AND WOULD DO NOTHING TO HELP." THE VEHICLE'S SLAVE WAS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING-WITH THE CLUTCH-WHEN IN 2009 THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER AGAIN...AGAIN...AGAIN AND THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED.-PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE......THIS WHOLE ISSUE SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED WHICH CAUSED THE SECOND FAILURE AND THE ACCIDENT. *TR

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 17, 201045,000 milesOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN A TRUCK CRASHED INTO HER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. SHE ALSO CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE INJURED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE POLICE WAS THERE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE GM MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SCHEDULED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY NEVER CAME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 03/05/10

SeatsCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 17, 201045,000 milesOR

VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH SEAT AND AIRBAG FAILURE ON 5-23-08. REPORTED TO GM 5/27/08 CASE. SPOKE WITH GM REP THEN TRANSFERRED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO SAID HE WOULD DISCUSS WITH DISTRICT MANAGER. ON 1/8/10 I AGAIN CALLED FOR FOLLOW-UP. THE PREVIOUS CASE HAD BEEN CLOSED AND A NEW ONE OPENED AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD BE CONTACTED. I FOLLOWED UP ON 2/16/09 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS BEING HANDLED BY MOTORS LIQUIDATION. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERN WAS SAFETY BASED - NOT MONEY BASED, STILL HAD THE VEHICLE FOR AN INVESTIGATION. THE REP. EXPLAINED BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE "NEW" GM THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I EXPLAINED THE ACCIDENT DATE WAS OF NO CONCERN TO THE SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AS THERE ARE STILL THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THEY FAILED TO REPORT TO YOU ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE BIGGER ISSUE IS GM'S POLICY OF REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING SAFETY ISSUES. IF MINE IS AN EXAMPLE, HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN IGNORED OR DISCARDED BECAUSE OF THE BANKRUPTCY FILING? IN OTHER WORDS, IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEN WE CAN ASSUME IT MAY BE AN ISSUE OF RECALL NOW REGARDLESS OF "NEW" OR "OLD" GM STATUES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THIS BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. WE STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR BACK YARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE. AT SOME POINT WE NEED TO DISPOSE OF IT AND MOVE ON. I JUST FEEL A MORAL OBLIGATION - WHERE OBVIOUSLY GM DOES NOT. I AM HAPPY TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. PLEASE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 16, 201072,506 milesFL

THE EASIEST WAY TO PUT THIS IS THE 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS MESSED UP, IT FIRST STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 40MPH WHEN I WAS IDLING, AND NOW THE NEEDLE IS BURIED PAST 110MPH EVEN WHEN IM GOING 20MPH. NOW THE GAS GAUGE HAS GOTTEN MESSED UP TOO ITS NEEDLE IS BURIED BLOCKING THE TEMPERATURE NEEDLE FROM ADVANCING WHICH WOULD CAUSE OVERHEATING AND BRAKING PROBLEMS. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE KNOWS IT IS A PROBLEM BUT THEN PROCEEDED TO TELL ME IT WOULD BE $500.00 TO REPAIR IT. HONESTLY I AM KIND OF SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR WITH MY FAMILY IN IT DUE TO CHEVY NOT WANTING TO REPLACE THIS WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM, I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING YOUR TIME FOR READING THIS. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Feb 13, 201062,000 milesPA

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT GIVING THE RIGHT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AND THE TACH IS NOT GIVING THE RPMS IT STAYS ON 0. SPEED NEEDLE GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND AS TO AS FAR IT CAN GO AND IT STAYS THERE FOR A FEW DAYS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 12, 2010CO

I NOTICED IN THE COLD MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD SHOW THE INCORRECT SPEED OR JUST STOP. OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 6 MONTHS MY TEMP GAUGE STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING. FOLLOWED BY MY RPM GAUGE, THEN THE GAS GAUGE. I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE ONLY THING I COULD DO WAS TO GET A WHOLE NEW CLUSTER WHICH IS A BIT PRICEY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 201034,500 milesMO

SPEEDOMETER RUNS UP TO EXTREME LIMIT AT ANY SPEED AND TACHOMETER FREEZES UP. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 19, 201051,000 milesKY

IDLE MISS WHILE AUTO IS IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC). INITIAL OCCURRENCE 15000-20000 MILES. STARTED WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT YOU COULD FEEL THE MISS IT WAS EVERY 30-45 SECONDS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEM. HAS GOTTEN WORSE, STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW IT STALLS AND YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER DROP 25-50 RPM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY @ 512010 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. CHANGED IGNITION MODULE & COIL PACK. I PICKED IT UP AND DRIVE IT 1.5 MILES AND IT WAS THE SAME. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SWAPPED INJECTORS WITH ANOTHER CYLINDER AND SPARK PLUGS, CHANGED FUEL FILTER. PICKED IT UP AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED EVERY TIME CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD THE SERVICE WRITER AND THE ACTUAL MECHANIC IN THE CAR WITH ME EACH TIME AND THEY AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AS OF THIS DATE 1-18-10 PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 6, 201082,000 milesOH

SPEEDOMETER FAILURE 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER GAUGE CLUSTER FAILED AT 82000 MILES. UNSAFE. CANNOT DETERMINE MPH. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 20, 200951,000 milesTX

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

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 2, 200981,000 milesOK

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

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Sep 7, 200949,000 milesMS

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

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Sep 6, 200946,000 milesIA

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

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Aug 21, 200952,000 milesFL

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.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 17, 200993,000 milesNE

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

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 12, 200950,000 milesTN

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

Electrical System
Filed Aug 12, 200939,000 milesTN

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

Fuel System, GasolineCrash3 injured
Filed Aug 8, 2009110,000 milesGA

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

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 22, 200931,000 milesNJ

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.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier → · Every Cavalier year → · How the figures are calculated →