Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 22 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
I HAVE HAD MY USED CHEVY CAVALIER 2004 CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE ENGINE HAS JUST STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE TIME SPAN OF 5 MONTHS. NO ONE ( AUTO SHOPS) CAN FIND THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE ZERO ANSWERS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS. I WOULD BE BANNED FROM THE INTERNET IF I SAID WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY TO CHEVY. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS YESTERDAY...AUG 3RD 2017.
CAR WILL NOT START CONSISTENTLY. HAVE TO WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN IT MAY START OR NOT. BUT IF IT STARTS, IT WILL NOT START AGAIN UNTIL DAYS GO BY............ IGNITION SHUT OFF ON ONE OCCASION WHEN OPERATING ON A PUBLIC ROAD. LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE AND POWER BRAKES.STEERING WHEEL DID NOT LOCK BUT COASTED VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. *JS
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HIT A BUMP THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHT TO COME AND ON OCCASION CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. *TR
2004 CAVALIER, 2.2L DOHC, 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH VEHICLE FELT AS IF CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. RPMS WOULD NOT FALL OFF AS FAST AS USUAL WHEN FOOT TAKEN OFF GAS, AND WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH (WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED LAST WEEK DUE TO ANOTHER KNOWN ISSUE THAT CHEVY REFUSES TO RECALL) RPMS WENT ABOVE 4,000. TAPPED GAS PEDAL THINKING MAYBE IT WAS STUCK AND IT ONLY REVVED HIGHER AND DID NOT COME DOWN ON ITS OWN. RPMS CONTINUED TO CLIMB AS I CAME TO A STOP, AROUND 6,000 BY THE TIME I PULLED OVER. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND IMMEDIATELY BACK ON, NO PROBLEMS FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP HOME (ANOTHER 8 MILES). I CANNOT RISK MY CAR REVVING AT 6,000 RPMS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHICH I'M IN EVERY WEEKDAY AND I CAN'T SHUT IT OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SO I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES IT AND FIX IT ASAP. THANKS FOR ANOTHER SPENDY REPAIR, CHEVY. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
CAR SHUT OFF NO POWER STEERING GAUGES SHUT OFF EVERYTHING TURNED OFF BUT LIGHTS STAYED ON AND FLASHERS WORKED. *TR
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.
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
CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN USUALLY OCCURS WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR WHILE MAKING A TURN PRESSING THE BRAKE HARD SLOWS THE CAR BUT IT CONTINUES TO APPLY POWER WHAT STOPS THE ENGINE FROM CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE IS TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN, AT THE MOMENT THE ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE TO 6500 RPM THEN RETURN TO NORMAL LIKE IT IS COMPLETING SOME CYCLE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE WINTER. WE HAVE EXPECTED A RECALL BUT NOTHING. I CAN GUARANTEE A LAWSUIT IF MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE INJURED. THIS IS A TRUE CASE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION THAT THE FEDS CAN INVESTIGATE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AT TIMES, IT WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN, CAUSING IT TO RUN RPMS INTO THE RED, NEED TO SHUT CAR OFF SO IT DOES NOT EXCEL ON IT'S OWN. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES.. VERY DANGEROUS, THE 1ST TIME WAS IN DEC, 2010 IN AN ICE STORM, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE AND IT WAS FROZEN NOW IT IS IN THE 80S AND IT DID IT YESTERDAY SEPT 6TH 2011 WHAT IS CAUSING THIS??? IS IT A DEFECT??? ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS??? *TR
MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS SUFFERED A NUMBER OF DEFECTS SINCE ITS PURCHASE. WHILE THEY DID NOT RESULT IN ANY COLLISIONS OR INJURIES, THEY EASILY COULD HAVE. AT 10,211 MILES (8/31/2004) THE WATER PUMP FAILED; LUCKILY, THIS WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE PUMP, ALONG WITH SEVERAL SEALS AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED. AT 29,522 MILES (5/23/2005), WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST. MULTI CHEVROLET IN UNION, NJ DISCOVERED THAT A CYLINDER HEAD WAS DEFECTIVE, THE HEAD GASKETS WERE CRACKED, AND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS WERE AGAIN COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AT 48,241 MILES (6/9/2006), THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A SUSPENSION BEAM FAILED. LUCKILY, WE HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND THE REPAIRS WERE AGAIN COVERED. FINALLY, AT 74,000 MILES (5/10/10), THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. LUCKILY, MY SON [XXX] WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER OF BILL DEFOUW CHEVROLET IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, INFORMED US THAT EVERY LIFTER WAS BROKEN AND EVERY VALVE WAS BENT, AND THE PISTONS WERE IRREPARABLY DAMAGED AS WELL. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY, GM HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO SO OUT OF POCKET. WE ARE REPORTING THIS IN CASE OTHER BUYERS OF THIS MODEL/YEAR OR LATER HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES, AND ARE CURRENTLY DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY WIFE'S 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER HAS A WRONG SPEEDOMETER INDICATION. IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING 60 MPH WHILE NOT BEING MOVED AT ALL. WHEN THE CAR REACHES HIGH SPEEDS AT THE FREEWAY IT SAYS THE CAR IS GOING AT 120 MPH AND HITS THE TOP OF THE GAUGE. THE OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATION ALSO SHOWS 190 DEGREES WITH ENGINE NOT RUNNING, AND WITH ENGINE RUNNING IT GOES TO RED BAND INDICATION. *TR
IDLE MISS WHILE AUTO IS IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC). INITIAL OCCURRENCE 15000-20000 MILES. STARTED WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT YOU COULD FEEL THE MISS IT WAS EVERY 30-45 SECONDS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEM. HAS GOTTEN WORSE, STILL NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. NOW IT STALLS AND YOU CAN WATCH THE TACHOMETER DROP 25-50 RPM. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY @ 512010 MILES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS #2 CYLINDER MISFIRE. CHANGED IGNITION MODULE & COIL PACK. I PICKED IT UP AND DRIVE IT 1.5 MILES AND IT WAS THE SAME. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SWAPPED INJECTORS WITH ANOTHER CYLINDER AND SPARK PLUGS, CHANGED FUEL FILTER. PICKED IT UP AGAIN. SAME PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT UNTIL THERE IS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED EVERY TIME CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD THE SERVICE WRITER AND THE ACTUAL MECHANIC IN THE CAR WITH ME EACH TIME AND THEY AGREED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AS OF THIS DATE 1-18-10 PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TR
THE CAR HAS A MAJOR WIRING OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT ITS NOT DETECTED BY MECHANICS. I HAVE A TEMP GAUGE THAT IS ALL OVER THE PLACE, SOMETIMES IT EVEN TOUCHES THE FAR BOTTOM RIGHT SIDE OF THE CONTROL PANEL. THE SPEEDOMETER IS NO LONGER WORKING, DRIVING OR PARKED I AM GOING -3 MILES AN HOUR. THE RPMS WORK WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT WHICH IS RARELY. THE ONLY GAUGE WORKING IS THE GAS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND CONTINUES TO DATE. I HAVE BEEN IN MID-LEFT TURN ON MAJOR INTERSECTIONS OF LOS ANGELES AND IT JUST DIED. I COMMUTE ON THE 110 FWY AND IT HAS JUST DIED, ALWAYS WHILE I AM ACCELERATING NEVER PARKED. THEN IN A FEW SECONDS YOU CRANK THE KEY AND YOUR OFF AND RUNNING AGAIN. IT IS SO SCARY BECAUSE IT IS SO UNPREDICTABLE. I HAVE RECEIVED SPEEDING TICKETS NOT KNOWING MY SPEED AND MECHANIC CANT FIND THE PROBLEM. WHAT DO I DO??? *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MAKING A TURN IN FIRST GEAR. THE RPM DECREASED TO 400 RPM AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CONTACT RELEASED HIS FOOT FROM THE CLUTCH AND THE MOTOR INCREASED THE RPM'S AUTOMATICALLY. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL APPROXIMATELY TEN ATTEMPTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED 30 MPH. WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FULL, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY HALF A TANK. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OVERHEAT, BUT THE GAUGE WOULD READ HOT. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,500.
2004 CHEVY CAVALIER WITH SAFETY ISSUES DEALING WITH THE ENGINE. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER NEEDS A LIGHT TO BE ON TO FIND OUT. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INJECTORS AND IT WAS NOT THE INJECTORS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRAVELED ON TRIPS OVER 100 MILES LONG, THE TRAC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED., FOLLOWED BY THE RPMS GOING UP, FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE ALSO BURNED A LOT OF OIL, BUT ONLY WHEN THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *JB
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. AT FIRST IT WOULD HAPPEN WHEN I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. HOWEVER IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOVEMENT. I TRIED TO CRANK THE CAR TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WOULDN'T CRANK AT ALL. THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE IDENTIFIED ON A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND IT WASN'T THE SPARK PLUGS. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE COMPUTER TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE AUTO SHOP WAS NOT EVEN SURE THAT IT WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS COMPUTER COST $650 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY FLASHES AND THE CAR JERKS. HOWEVER WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP THEY SAY THAT I HAVE GOTTEN BAD GAS. THEY CAN'T FIND ANOTHER PROBLEM. I'VE CHANGED WHERE I GET MY GAS AND IT STILL HAPPENS DAILY. OUT OF 3 HOURS OF DRIVING IT MAY RUN NORMALLY ABOUT 1- 1.5 HOUR. *NM
DT: WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A POSSIBLE MEDICAL CONDITION. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IMMEDIATELY UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE SOLID FUEL LINES WERE INTACT AS WELL AS THE GASOLINE TANK. *AK UPDATED 02/26/06. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED A WHILE THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES ON THE CAR IT BEGAN TO REV UP ON ITS OWN. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 9 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THEY EVEN INSTALLED AN ON BOARD COMPUTER AND WERE ABLE TO SEE THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS. THE MECHANIC SAYS HE BELIEVES IT IS A GLITCH IN THE COMPUTER AND IS UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT HAS NOW BEGUN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING, AND THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND HOPE THE ENGINE BLOWS UP. THIS IS NOW A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. GM REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WE FILED A LEMON LAW CASE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING. *JB
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
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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