NHTSA Complaint #10232609 — 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

MY COMPLAINT IS A "DOMINO EFFECT" WITHIN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED, IN ORDER: 1) TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE OVER EXTENDS ITSELF CLOCKWISE PAST THE MAXIMUM THRESHOLD, SO THAT THE NEEDLE IS POINTING TO THE RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE). THE NEEDLE WILL UNPREDICTABLY RESET ITSELF TO THAT POSITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS POWERED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON, OR IT WILL JUST REMAIN STUCK IN THAT POSITION. 2) THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE, NOW STUCK POINTING TO THE RIGHT, PHYSICALLY INTERFERES (A FIGHT SO TO SPEAK) WITH THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WHICH IS FRANTICALLY TRYING TO PUSH ITS WAY PAST A STUBBORN TEMP GAUGE NEEDLE. THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT PUSH ITSELF PAST 10 MILES PER HOUR. 3) SPEEDOMETER,DESPITE BEING THE BIGGER NEEDLE, LOSES AND DIES COMPLETELY... SITTING LIFELESSLY AT -1. OHHH THE IRONY. 4) ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER THE FUEL GAUGE OVER EXTENDS ITSELF AND COMMONLY POINTS TO THE RIGHT, OR IN ANY RANDOM DIRECTION. THE FUEL GAUGE SOMETIMES STICKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS POWERED OFF, OR WILL RESET AND FIND ANOTHER COMPLETELY INACCURATE POSITION TO REMAIN IN. I THINK IT IS JUST JEALOUS OF THE OTHER TWO. CONCLUSION: I AM DRIVING -1 MILE PER HOUR DOWN THE FREEWAY WITH 147% FUEL CAPACITY IN A VEHICLE WHOSE ENGINE IS RUNNING AT OVER 570 DEGREES F. BUT THAT IS OK BECAUSE CHEVY TOLD ME IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, SO EVERY THING MUST BE PERFECTLY FINE! *TR