2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Brakes Problems

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD HAS STOPPED, WORKING AND APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH GM ON SEVERAL MODELS (CAR AND TRUCK) BETWEEN 1998-2009. ALSO THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. WINDOW DOORS ARE NOT WORKING AND APPEARS TO ALL RELATED TO THE CLUSTER PANEL. I HAVE REPLACED ALL ABS SENSORS, NEW BRAKES PADS, ROTORS, AND EVEN FRONT BEARINGS. THE ENGINE ITSELF WORKS GREAT AND IS FINE AND APPEARS THAT GM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN THIS PART. THE CLUSTER PANEL AND WIRING IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED IN THESE MODELS. POOR GROUND WIRING AN CLUSTER PANELS CAN CAUSE CONSUMERS TO SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND STILL RESULTING IN THE SAME PROBLEM. CLUSTER PANEL REPLACEMENT CAN BE FROM $300 TO $800 DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCAL MECHANIC. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL ARE NOT WORKING DUE TO THE LONG LIST OF ISSUES. I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON CLUSTER PANELS FOR ALL CAVALIERS AND MODULES, WIRING AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680134

Incident

Jan 23, 2015

Mileage

104,000 mi

FIRST, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BASE MODEL. 2.2 ECOTEC ENGINE. THE ABS, LOWTRAC, AND SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON IN THE VEHICLE WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. CAR HESITATES AND WANTS TO SHUT DOWN EVERY TIME!! WHEN IT FIRST STARTED TO HAPPEN, IT COULD BE SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. NOW THEY ARE IS ON ALL THE TIME! I HAVE ALSO NOTICED WHEN ON SLIPPERY ROADWAYS THE ABS DOES NOT WORK IN THE VEHICLE> I HAVE SLID SIDEWAYS AND THROUGH INTERSECTIONS . A HORRIBLE NOISE COMES FROM THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF IN THE CAR IF THEY DO NOT COME ON RIGHT AWAY. I APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THE AWFUL GROWLING AND NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE CAR IS VERY SCARY. I AM AFRAID TO LET MY WIFE EVEN DRIVE SOMETIMES. I HAVE NOT REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP YET AS I AM WAITING TO SEE IF THIS IS A RECALL. IF IT IS, I CAN HAVE THE REPAIR DONE FOR NOTHING. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE DONE FOR NOTHING AS IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE THAT COULD CAUSE TERRIBLE HARM OR EVEN DEATH IF THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241382

Incident

Jul 10, 2008

Mileage

84,100 mi

BACK RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE ON THE BRAKE, ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP THIS WAS THE 3RD ONE THEY HAD SEEN ON THIS MODEL. THE TIRE LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND THIS HAS NOW CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240889

Incident

Aug 27, 2008

Mileage

50,386 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE THREE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL EITHER UP OR DOWN. THE SECOND PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE TRUNK; WATER CONTINUALLY LEAKED INTO THE TRUNK. THE THIRD PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKES; THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING AT ONLY 25000 MILES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND MADE A SQUEALING NOISE AS SOON AS BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TRUNK WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER FIXED THE TRUNK, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN IT RAIN, WATER STILL LEAKS IN THE TRUNK. THE WATER LEAK HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE JULY 2003.

NHTSA ID

10161471

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

Mileage

25,500 mi

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE GRINDING SINCE I BOUGHT MY 04 CAVALIER. IT HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY RUST BUILD UP AND IT WAS SANDED OFF ONLY TO RECCUR. THE LAST TIME IN THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IF I WANTED A BRAKE JOB DONE IT WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $140.00...THIS...WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM THE CAR WAS IN FOR THE PREVIOUS 2 TIMES AND NO NEW BRAKES INSTALLED..ONLY THE RUST GROUND OFF. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PERIODICALLY GOES OFF AND ON AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE WHY. I NO LONGER HAVE ANY LIGHTS ON MY RADIO/CD PLAYER..I CAN PLAY CD'S AND USE THE RADIO BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT STATION ETC I AM ON. SHORTLY AFTER THIS OCCURRED IN LIKE 2 WEEKS, I LOST MY SPEEDOMETER...IT WORKS BRIEFLY AND THEN STICKS AT 90 MPH ( THE ODOMETER WORKS HOWEVER) THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED FUSES AND SAID ALL WAS FINE. THEY SAID IT APPEARED TO BE A CLUSTER MODULE AND EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, THE LABOR WOULD BE THE MOST BECAUSE IT ENTAILED THEM REMOVING THE DASH BOARD. THE COST FACTOR OF OVER $400 WAS VERBALLY GIVEN TO ME. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND GIVEN MY CAR IS OFF WARRANTY, I WOULD NEED TO ABSORB THIS COST MYSELF. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND FEEL THAT AFTER LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF OWNING IT, THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I GAVE AN ESTIMATED ACCOUNT OF DATES OF INCIDENT BEEN THEY HAVE BEEN ON GOING AND CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM AS I HAVE TAKEN IT NO WHERE ELSE FOR SERVICE. I AM REGISTERED WITH CARSTATS AND THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THINGS I AM EXPERIENCING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158938

Incident

Jan 10, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THE CONTACT RECEIVED MINOR INJURES ALTHOUGH THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT DETERMINED THE BRAKES FAILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

10158281

Incident

May 4, 2006

Mileage

26,500 mi

WHEN HAVING MY BRAKES CHANGED IT WAS NOTICED THAT ON THE REAR BRAKES ONLY HALF THE PAD TOUCHES THE DRUM, THE LOWER HALF DOES NOT TOUCH IT ONLY THE TOP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152914

Incident

Feb 10, 2006

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 CAVALIER APPROXIMATELY APRIL 2004. SINCE PURCHASE DATE,CAR HAS BEEN INTO DEALERSHIP DUE TO LOUD GRINDING NOISES IN BRAKES 3 TIMES. FIRST TIME TO BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. EVERY TIME I HAVE BEEN THE NOISES ARE RUST BUILDUP ON SHOES AND PADS. THE REMEDY WAS TO SAND THE RUST, IT WORKED BUT TEMPORARILY. I HAD THE CAR IN AGAIN NOVEMBER 2005 FOR THIS SAME THING & MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TECH TOLD ME I HAD RUST & THE ROTORS WERE " A LITTLE OUT OF ROUND". HE TOLD ME THE CAR HAD 30,000 MILES ON & THEY COULDN'T DO NEW BRAKES AS WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $140.00. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ATTRIBUTED IT TO HAVING SOME FLOATS IN TANK FROM GAS THAT AFFECTED A SENSOR. WOULDN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS THEY SAID & IT STILL HAPPENS. THE 2ND VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY FIX A SIDE MIRROR & DEFROSTER..DIDN'T WORK. 1 WEEK AGO, I HAVE USE OF RADIO & CD PLAYER ONLY NO LIGHTS/RADIO NOW. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED CAR UP MY & SPEEDOMETER SAYS 35 MPH IDLING. GOING WITH TRAFFIC FLOW IT REGISTERED 105 & IS NOW STOPPED THERE. MILEAGE GAUGE, GAS AND OTHER LIGHTS STILL WORK AS DOES GAS GAUGE. I CALLED A LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP NEAR ME & INQUIRED AS TO AN APROX. COST TO HAVE RADIO & SPEEDOMETER FIXED/LOOKED AT. WARRANTY NOW IS OFF. I WAS TOLD LABOR BE THE EXPENSIVE PART..LOOKING AT $400 OR MORE. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME & CAN'T AFFORD THIS. BRAKES/RADIO/SPEEDOMETER ARE NOTHING I CAUSED. I WAS NEVER OFFERED TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED. SPEEDOMETER ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHECKED WEBSITES TO SEE IF THERE WERE COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE& THERE ARE. I HAVE GUESSED THE INCIDENT DATE I CANNOT RECALL EXACT DATE I TOOK CAR IN FOR THE 1ST BRAKE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151841

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

IN WET CONDITIONS MY 2004 CAVALIER DOES NOT STOP WELL. WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE CAR WASH IT ALMOST DIDN'T STOP WHEN I APPROACHED THE ROAD, NARROWLY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THEY WASHED THE CAR AND THEN DROVE IT. SO THEY SENT ME AWAY AND DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING. I'M SCARED THAT MY TEENAGERS MAY NOT BE SAFE IN THIS CAR IN WET CONDITIONS. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH MY ENVOY OR MY VIBE AT THE SAME CAR WASH. I'VE WORKED AT GM FOR 30 YEARS AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CARS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144376

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THANKSGIVING I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AND I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH APPEARED STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE REMAINDER OF THE WAY HOME (30 MILES) IF I SLOWED DOWN THE WOULD STALL AS I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH IN. THE CAR, A 2004 CAVALIER, HAS A TOTAL OF 42000 MILES ON IT. UPON GETTING THE CAR TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE SLAVE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10143646

Incident

Nov 24, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

IN RAINY CONDITIONS, MY CAVALIER DOES NOT SEEM TO STOP WELL AND THE ABS IS OVERACTIVE. PUDDLES, WET ROADS, RAIN, AND SNOW SEEM TO HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON MY STOPPING ABILITIES. IN TWO DIFFERENT RAIN STORMS I HAVE ALMOST HIT A POSSUM, A COP, A TREE LIMB, OTHER CARS, AND MISSED AN INTERSECTION; NON OF WHICH HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH SPEEDING. THE LACK OF STOPPING ABILITY IS DANGEROUS TO ME AND OTHERS DRIVING AROUND ME. MY CAR IS SCHEDULED FOR A DIAGNOSTICS CHECK TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR ANYMORE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141475

Incident

Oct 16, 2005

Mileage

48,540 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10137031

Incident

Sep 19, 2005

Mileage

3,800 mi

I HAVE NOTICED EXCESSIVE BRAKE FAD AT SPEEDS OF HIGHER THAN 50 MILES PER HOUR, BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENS WHEN THE ROADS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN DAMP. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND/OR SHOES ARE EITHER TOO SMALL FOR THE CAR OR THE MATERIAL IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY. I HAVE 2 OTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ONLY MY 2004 CAVALIER HAS THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112661

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

POSSIBLE BRAKE OR ACCELERATOR DEFECT IN 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS THREE INCHES HIGHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10073368