Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE GARNISH MOLDING-WINDSHIELD PILLAR-DRIVER'S SIDE FELL PARTLY OFF BLOCKING MY VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. IT WAS NEVER TOUCHED AND FOR NO REASON IT FELL OFF AND TO THIS DAY I AM UNABLE TO REATTACH IT..
I LEFT THE VEHICLE RUNNING IN DRIVEWAY FOR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS FULL OF BLACK SMOKE AND WITHIN MINUTES WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHANGING THE OIL SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HOOD FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED AND STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
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.
2004 CHEVY CAVALIER. BACK DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSE. I HAVE IT LOCKED NOW BUT CAN NOT OPEN IT. I AM AFRAID WHILE MY CHILD IS SITTING BACK THERE THE DOOR WILL SWING OPEN. PLEASE HELP! *TR
WE HAVE THREE CHEVROLET CAVALIERS (YEARS: 1999, 2000, 2004). ALL THREE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AT LEAST ONE CRACK IN THE PART OF THE DASH THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONCERN IS IN A SIGNIFICANT CRASH IF THIS CRACK WOULD CAUSE FACIAL OR UPPER BODY INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. IN ADDITION, ONLY THE 2004 CAVALIER HAS HAD REPEATED ISSUES WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT -- SPRINGS ARE COMING THROUGH THE REAR UPPER PORTION OF THE SEAT, THE SEAT CUSHION IS LESS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT THAN THE RIGHT AND THE RECLINER HANDLE HAS BROKEN TWICE (WAS REPAIRED ONCE BY TINCHER WILLIAMS CHEVROLET IN LONDON, KY; BUT REMAINS BROKEN TODAY). TODAY'S DATE WAS USED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTUAL INCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WHICH HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS AND IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THE PAINT ON THIS CAR, AND OTHER CARS LIKE IT, IS PEELING AND CHIPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE FOR NO REASON. THE DOOR EDGES, BUMPERS, HOOD, AND FENDER ALL HAVE CHIPS OF PAINT MISSING OR ABOUT TO FALL OFF. THE CLEAR COAT ON THE CAR IS ALSO VERY BAD AND IS SCRATCHED VERY EASILY AND WASHING THE CAR SOMETIMES DOES MORE BAD THAN GOOD. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS AND DRUMS WARP VERY EASILY ON THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE DRUMS SOON. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH SUCH A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. *JB
DT: THE SUN VISORS DO NOT HAVE THE SNAP TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO SLIP DOWN WHILE THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS FIRST STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 6-1-05. *AK *NM
DT: CONTACT STATES THERE IS A WATER LEAK IN HIS TRUNK CAUSED BY THE CAR NOT BEING PROPERLY WELDED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE WATER LEAK CAUSES MOLD AND MILDEW TO FORM ON THE CARPETING AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MOLD AND MILDEW IS CAUSING ILLNESS TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER APPLIED SEAM SEALER TO THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE INTERIOR AND CARPET HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE.. THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO USE THE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE THE WATER HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE INTERIOR AND CARPET AGAIN. THIS SERVICE DEALER CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS, AND STATED THEY WOULD NO LONGER WORK ON THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER PICKED UP THE VEHICLE TOO EARLY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
HOOD OUT OF ALIGNMENT KEEPS CATCHING ON FENDER AND PLASTIC ON WINDOW. *AK
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
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
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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