2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, and owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seat belts: rear/other
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, 'seat belt assembly anchorages.' the passenger-side rear safety belt may have been installed with an incorrect nut and bolt.
Remedy: Dealers are to inspect the safety belt anchorage and install a new nut and bolt, if necessary. The recall began on august 23, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 and pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
330 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 19 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 64,108 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 55 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The whole steering column is loose The pins are all backed out I’m afraid to drive it I think this is a manufactured design flaw”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 17, 2024 · Steering
“The vehicle failed to pass pa. state inspection due to a severely rusted frame over the rear axles. The estimate to repair the frame was @$3000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 7, 2022 · Suspension
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier (Cavalier Dual-fuel). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–27 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–23 / 29–33 |
| Fuel | Gasoline or natural gas, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Cavalier model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier | 5 | 3 |
| 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 8 |
| 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 4 |
| 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 18 |
| 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 24 |
| 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 12 |
| 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 43 |
| 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 55 |
| 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 55 |
| 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 134 |
| 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 146 |
| 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 212 |
| 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 270 |
| 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 503 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 540 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 345 |
| 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 240 |
| 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 315 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 243 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 196 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 678 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 330 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 287 |
Checking a specific 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
How do I know if my 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V300000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.