Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2004)

330 consumer complaints on file.

#10490067December 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* 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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490027December 24, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CLUSTER ON MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP, I HAVE DONE MUCH RESEARCH THE PAST FEW DAYS AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CLUSTER IN THE 2004-05 CHEVY CAVALIERS ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH GAS MY CAR HAS, HOW FAST IM GOING AND IF MY CARS TEMPERATURE IS TO HIGH, IF Y'ALL COULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS ISSUE IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487609December 6, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ALL GAUGES ON INSTRUMENT PANEL QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY AT FIRST BUT NOW MOVE AROUND BACKWARDS OR ANY DIRECTION THEY CHOOSE...NEVER CORRECT!!!!! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486035November 26, 2012
STEERING
DOING MY MORNING PAPER ROUTE. WENT TO TURN LEFT IN A CUL-DE-SAC AND THE STEERING TILT BROKE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS GOING ALL KIND OF DIRECTIONS. I HAVE TWO NEWSPAPERS WEDGED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE BOTTOM SO I CAN DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN SOMEHOW GET IT FIXED. I HAVE THREE OR FOUR PARTS THAT FELL INTO THE FLOORBOARD. ALL I WAS DOING WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT WHEN I BROKE AND THE PARTS FELL OFF. THIS IS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I BOUGHT IT IN 2009. THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THE CAR. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SHOULDN'T EVER HAPPEN TO ANY CAR. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS IN THIS CAR. I CAN STILL STEER, BUT THE TILT IS BROKEN AND THE WHEEL IS HARD TO KEEP STILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10486921November 26, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ERRATIC AND ERRONEOUS SPEED INDICATOR. SPEED INDICATOR POINTS TO 55-60 MPH WHILE VEHICLE IS AT A STOP AND INDICATES 110+ MPH WHILE ACTUAL SPEED IS 50-55 MPH. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AROUND 100 MILES. A SIMPLE POWERING OFF THE IGNITION DOES NOT CLEAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UPSETTING AND UNSETTLING. GENERAL MOTORS CURRENT COST TO IT CUSTOMERS OF $660 FOR CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM IS INEXCUSABLE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL SAFETY ISSUE AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SAFETY RECALL !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478518October 3, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER READING AND OCCASIONAL INCORRECT FUEL GAUGE READING, I HAVE ON MANY OCCASIONS HAD THE SPEEDOMETER RISE TO 110 MPH WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE POSTED SPEEDS, APPROXIMATE BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY TO ACTUALLY TELL HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MANY YEAR 2001 AND UP GM VEHICLES WITH ONLY THE HIGHER END CADILLAC TYPE AND LARGER SUV'S BEING RECALLED ( WHICH HAVE THE SAME EXACT STEPPER MOTORS THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEMS ). I GUESS GM FIGURES IT'S ONLY NECESSARY TO REPAIR THE SPEEDOMETERS ON THE 5000 LB PLUS VEHICLES TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS IN HOPES OF SAVING THE SMALLER VEHICLES FROM BEING HIT BY THEM. I DID CALL THE GM DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM AND THEY SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON MY CAVALIER AND IT WOULD COST APPROX. $300 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FOR AN EXCHANGE UNIT OR SEND OUT AND REPAIR OF MY ORIGINAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476603September 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AND CORROSION STARTED TO DEVELOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463660June 30, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SO WHEN MY GAS GAUGES GET DOWN BELOW THE HALF LINE THE CHECK GAUGES LIGHT COMES UP AND I KNOW FOR SURE THAT MY CAR ISN'T YET EMPTY. WHAT DO I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463074June 25, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NO WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDE BOLTS BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE CYLINDER HEAD, OIL PUMP, AND TRANSMISSION WERE DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461976June 17, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE HORN AFTER TIME/WEAR WITH THE 2003-2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THERE IS A ISSUE WITH THE CONTACT IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO ACTIVE THE VEHICLES HORN. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE ROTATING RIBBON CIRCUIT CONTACT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL HAVING A BROKEN FILAMENT FOR THE HORN CIRCUIT, THE PART IS KNOWN AS A CLOCK SPRING CONTACT. THE HORN WILL NOT WORK BY PRESSING EITHER BUTTON ON STEERING WHEEL, BUT WILL SOUND AS PART OF VEHICLE SECURITY SYSTEM BY PRESSING KEY FOB. THIS ISSUE CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, AND INJURY. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM REPORTED BY MANY VEHICLE OWNERS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS, DATABASES, AND SEARCHES. PLEASE FIX OR RECALL THIS PART CHEVROLET, TO PREVENT ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459199May 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY ENTIRE CLUSTER WENT OUT. I SPOKE TO CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED IT WAS A RECALL, BUT THE RECALL DATE EXPIRED. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456861April 30, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
ALL FOUR GAUGES THAT MAKE UP THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (LR FUEL, TEMP, SPEED AND TECH) WILL SHOW ZERO READING OR VARIES READING THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH REALITY. BY TURNING THE KEY NUMEROUS TIMES I CAN RESET THE SPEEDOMETER BACK TO ZERO AND THEN USE THE VEHICLE, TILL AT A RANDOM TIME IT WILL JUST INCREASE IN SPEED SHOWN. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. GM HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HAVE DONE ZERO EXCEPT CHARGE HIGH FEE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY PLACE IN THE VEHICLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454555April 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER IS UNRELIABLE. SOMETIMES IT SHOWS FASTER, SOMETIMES IT SHOWS SLOWER. STICKS IN PLACE AT TIMES. NEXT, THE TEMP GAUGE MADE ME THINK MY CAR WAS RUNNING VERY HOT AND I BOUGHT A $25 TEMPERATURE SENSOR FIRST, THAT DIDN'T HELP, SO I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT. THEN I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BEING A PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS, SO I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING TO IT UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. I'LL USE A GPS TO TELL MY SPEED. I HAVE HAD TWO SPEEDING TICKETS OVER THIS BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA THE THING WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT UNTIL IT GOT REALLY BAD AND STARTED STICKING IN ONE PLACE FOR DAYS. EACH TICKET WILL GIVE ME TWO POINTS ON MY LICENSE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY INSURANCE WILL GO UP. ALSO, I DON'T GET PAID FOR THE TIME I TAKE OFF TO GO TO TRAFFIC COURT OVER THESE TICKETS. I AM 65 YEARS OLD AND NEVER HAD A TICKET UNTIL THESE TWO. THANKS, CHEVY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454434April 7, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL IS IN ORDER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453435March 29, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY ON THIS MODEL ALTHOUGH I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED ALTHOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY FIXED IT. THE FUEL GAUGE, SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ARE ALL AFFECTED BY THIS MALFUNCTION. WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR IT TO READ THAT I'M GOING 30 MILES FASTER THAN I REALLY AM AND THE EXTREME OPPOSITE ALSO HAPPENS WHERE I AM SITTING AT A RED LIGHT BUT GOING 70 MPH. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND HAVEN'T SEEN A RECALL BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT ONE IS NECESSARY IN THIS CASE. IT IS UNSAFE TO NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE, THE SPEED IN WHICH YOU ARE TRAVELLING, OR ANY OF THE OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT SHOULD BE KNOWN WHILE YOU ARE OPERATING A CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451592March 14, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT REPORT ACCURATE VEHICLE SPEED. ABOVE A CERTAIN SPEED THE GAUGE WILL FREEZE AND BE UNUSABLE. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE ON OTHER GMC CARS FROM THE SAME TIME PERIOD (MINE IS A 2004). IN ADDITION TO THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TACHOMETER AND THE FUEL GAUGE ARE ALSO COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL AS THE OTHER CHEVROLET PRODUCTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10450079March 2, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,650. UPDATED03/15/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE GAS GAUGE. WHICH STARTED OFF AS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND BECAME WORSE. THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE THEN STARTED BLOCKING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, WHICH CAUSED THAT NEEDLE NOT TO WORK PROPERLY. THE GAS GAUGE AND TEMPERATURE NEEDLE WERE FACING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $650 PLUS LABOR. UPDATED 05/30/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10449490February 27, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
IT WAS SOMETIME IN NOV. 2011 WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL REGISTER THE SPEED BUT IT IS NOT CORRECT. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CAR MODEL. AND FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ONLINE THIS CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PART. ALL DRIVERS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR SPEED IS IN ORDER TO BE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446793February 6, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT READING. THE READING WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM EMPTY AND FULL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER DID NOT READ THE ACCURATE SPEED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443956January 16, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER CONSULTING LICENSED MECHANICS, AND ONE SUCH NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AIRPLANE-ENGINE TECH-MECHANIC, BEING RANKED IN THE TOP THREE (3) OF THE NATION'S AVIATION MECHANICS INDUSTRY FROM 1981-1983 PERIOD (AND STILL HAS QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY), [AND BEFORE MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF], THE CONSENSUS/VERDICT [BY THESE PROFESSIONALS] WAS AGREED THAT IT BORDERS ON CRIMINALITY (AND I QUOTE), THAT AUTOMAKERS ARE USING PLASTIC COVERINGS AND SEALS, AS THE ENGINE'S OIL FILTER HOUSING CAPS. KNOWN (INDUSTRY-WIDE) TO EXERT PRESSURES IN 'POUNDS PER-SQUARE-INCH' ( LBS/PSI) AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES THAT THESE PLASTIC MATERIALS--SUCH AS THE OIL FILTER-HOUSING CAPS, CANNOT WITHSTAND. THEY ALSO STRIP. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME BY THE CERTIFIED AIRPLANE MECHANIC THAT, TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURIZATION THEORY BEHIND THAT TECHNOLOGY, AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT FIFTY-50 TO SIXTY-60 POUNDS (LBS/PSI) OF PRESSURE PER-SQUARE-INCH IS BEING GIVEN TO THE PLASTIC CAPS FROM THE ENGINE'S INTERNAL COMBUSTION WILL CAUSE ANY PLASTIC CAP, HOUSED UNDER SUCH PRESSURES TO FAIL. HE SAID HE WAS SURPRISED IT DID NOT CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE TWO(2) YEARS AFTER BEING NEWLY PURCHASED. HE SAID THE SCIENCE THAT INDUSTRY INSIDERS DO NOT WANT US TO KNOW IS THAT THE PROPER SEMI-PRECIOUS METALS, AS ALUMINUM, COPPER AND THE LIKE ARE PERFECT CONDUCTORS OF ELECTRICITY AND HEAT, ALLOWING THE METAL TO EXPAND/CONTRACT ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURES AND/OR TORQUE PRESSURIZATION OF THE 50-60 LBS/PSI BEING RELEASE TO HOUSING. EVEN TAMPERED STEEL WOULD WORK AS IT WOULD CONFORM. BUT PLASTIC ONCE OVERHEATED WILL REMAIN IN WARPED STATE CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE IN THAT AREA. THIS DEPRESSURIZATION OF ENGINE PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY, A COUPLE-TO-FEW YEARS LATER RESULTS IN ENGINE'S CRANK CASE HOUSING DEPRESSURIZING TO THE POINT OF CRACKING AFTER PISTONS THEMSELVES GIVEWAY RENDERING ENGINE BEING IRREPARABLE. MY CAR SHOULD HAVE FLIPPED @ 70MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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