2004 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Owners have filed 428 complaints about the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 44.9% of them — far more than any other system, ahead of vehicle speed control at 6.3%.
Complaints428
Crashes21
Fires7
Injuries25
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Electrical system 44.9% · 192
Vehicle speed control 6.3% · 27
Power train 5.6% · 24
Visibility 5.4% · 23
Steering 3.7% · 16
Service brakes, hydraulic 3.5% · 15
Engine and engine cooling 3.5% · 15
Air bags 3.5% · 15
Severity
Of those complaints, 21 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire, 25 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 14 model years of the Chevrolet Cavalier in this data, 2004 sits 6th by complaint volume. 2003 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 3 in the last three years against 10 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 51,862 miles.
In owners' own words
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. Electrical system · reported at 111,000 miles
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. Electrical system · reported at 31,000 miles
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. Electrical system · reported at 50,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…