2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
428
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
13
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
The 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER has received a total of 428 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING, SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER. 13 technical service bulletins have been issued by General Motors, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (109 complaints), Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel (67 complaints), and Vehicle Speed Control (24 complaints).
Recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, potentially affecting up to 3,892 vehicles.
Recall 08E063000 — STEERING
| 3,855 vehicles affected
Defect: DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE....
Consequence: IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
View full details →Recall 04V300000 — SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
| 37 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
428 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The whole steering column is loose The pins are all backed out I’m afraid to drive it I think this is a manufactured design flaw
The vehicle failed to pass pa. state inspection due to a severely rusted frame over the rear axles. The estimate to repair the frame was @$3000.
The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the front driver’s side tire had detached. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the contact's residence and diagnosed that the lower control arm rusted and detached from the subframe. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK MY CAR WOULD NOT START. WHEN MOVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER IT DID NOT CATCH ON TO ANYTHING. THE CAR JUST ROLLED BACKWARDS AND I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PRESS ON THE BRAKES PREVENTING AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP. DIAGNOSIS: SHIFTER CABLE WAS DETACHED FROM TRANSMISSION. PREVIOUSLY ON 09/13/2011 THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THE SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO LOU BACHRODT CHEVROLET BOTH TIMES. THE 2ND TIME INVOICE NO. CWCS692729 $502.24 AND $477.55 INVOICE NO.CWCS149491 THE FIRST TIME. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. TWO TIMES IS TOO MANY.
CAN'T SAFELY INSTALL A CAR SEAT BECAUSE THE SAFETY BELTS DO NOT PROPERLY RETRACT. THEREFORE THE CAR SEAT IS NOT STABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Safety Rating for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
General Motors, LLC has issued 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
040308015A — SUSPENSION
SQUEAKING NOISE IN FRONT END ON TURNS. *TT
611 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
BINDING MODE VALVE-HVAC. *SC
08202004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIR LIGHT ON, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B0036. *TT
040866010 — STRUCTURE:BODY
BOWTIE EMBLEM DISCOLORATION. *TT
07012004 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
INCORRECT PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEATBELT RETRACTOR WELD NUTS AND BOLT ATTACHMENT FASTENERS. THE SHEER STRENGTH OF THE INCORRECT FASTENER, WHICH WAS USED IN ERROR, IS BELOW THE SHEER FORCE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 209, SEATBELT ASSEMBLIES, AND 210, SEATBELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES, AND LOADS ON THE ANCHORAGES MAY...
040525007 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT ON, TRACTION OFF WARNING LIGHT ON, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) C1223 AND C1225 SET. *TT
01685 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
HVAC MODE CONTROL HARD TO CHANGE SETTINGS. *TT
01967 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION STEER NOISE SMOOTH ROAD TURNS. *MR
030731005 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
GRIND NOISE FROM MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN CLUTCH IS RELEASED. *TT
030729005A — POWER TRAIN
CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT END DURING LOW SPEED TURNS OR MANEUVERS. *TT
Showing 10 of 13 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHEVROLET CAVALIER
- 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 337 complaints
- 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 447 complaints
- 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 356 complaints
- 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 254 complaints
- 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 867 complaints
- 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER (current)
- 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER — 362 complaints
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- CHEVROLET EQUINOX — 12,135 total complaints
- CHEVROLET BLAZER — 11,032 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO — 10,928 total complaints
- CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — 10,375 total complaints