DT: THE BACK SEAT FOLD UP WHILE IT IS LOCKED IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED THE CLIP, BUT IT STILL CONTINUED TO FOLD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE ONLY THING THEY COULD OFFER WAS TO ORDER THE BOTTOM PART OF THE SEAT, BUT MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE CLIP WOULD BE THE SAME. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE BBB AND MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMERS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER SAID TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND LET THEM ATTEMPT TO PUT A BACK SEAT IN IT. *JB
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 →
WHILE SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR AND STOPPING, THE CAR ON ITS OWN IT REVVED UP TO 5000 RPMS. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ACCLERATOR WAS STUCK AND ATTEMPTED TO LIFT IT UP WITH MY FOOT, AND FOUND OUT THAT WAS NOT IT. ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER IT STOPPED ON ITS OWN.*AK
HOOD OUT OF ALIGNMENT KEEPS CATCHING ON FENDER AND PLASTIC ON WINDOW. *AK
I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE FAD AT SPEEDS OF HIGHER THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN DAMP. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND/OR SHOES ARE EITHER TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR OR THE MATERIAL IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY. I HAVE 2 OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ONLY MY 2004 CAVALIER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *AK
THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY AS SOON AS BEING FILLED UP WITH GAS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND RELEASING GAS. *JB
THE AIR BAG DEACTIVATION DEVICE EXPLODED AND/ BLEW OUT THE WINDSHIELD/CRACKED THE DASHBOARD, AND SENT METAL THROUGH THE GLASS DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SINCE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED A WHILE THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING,THE RIGHT SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB
A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT WHILE DRIVING. AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE NOISE ESCALATED REPEATEDLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT DEALERSHIP HAD NO FIXED IT. *AK
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
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
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
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
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
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
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
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
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
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
A STRONG FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VENTS WERE USED. THIS ODOR CAUSED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES TO ANY ONE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. AT ANY TEMPERATURE, THE VEHICLE TOOK A VERY LONG TIME TO CRANK UP. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND BOGGED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY PICK UP SPEED AND ACT AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES. *AK THERE WAS RATTLE IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR PANEL DUE TO THE REGULATOR, THERE WAS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT NOISE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE, THE ENGINE WAS HARD TO START AT TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED, THE ENGINE WOULD LOSE POWER, THE DRIVER DOOR MADE A RUBBING NOISE, THE FLOOR AREA WAS BUCKLING, AND THE A/C DISPLAYED A BURNING SMELL. *SC *JB
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
POSSIBLE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR DEFECT IN 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS THREE INCHES HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *SC *JB
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
DRIVERS SEAT BELT MORE THAN TWELVE INCHES SHORTER THAN PASSENGERS SEAT BELT. *AK
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 THESE PROBLEMS BY ME. *JB
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 LATER AND TOLD THE DEALER THIS WAS NOT NORMAL, SO THEY DID A FORSE VARATION BALENCE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I JUST THINK GM NEEDS A BETTER INSPECTION PROCESS, CAUSE THE TIRES WERE NOT CORRECTLY BALENCED FROM THE FACTORY.*AK
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
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
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
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 →