The 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 37 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 428 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS04V3000002004-06-2337 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
109
2crashes3fires2injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
67
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
24
STEERING
13
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13
AIR BAGS
11
7crashes8injuries1deaths
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
11
2crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8
1crashes1fires1injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
8
1crashes3injuries
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
8
Total complaints428
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2004 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the front driver’s side tire had detached. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. An independent mechanic went to the contact's residence and diagnosed that the lower control arm rusted and detached…”
“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.”
“In the parking lot where I work my car would not start. When moving the automatic transmission lever it did not catch on to anything. The car just rolled backwards and I had to immediately press on the brakes preventing an accident. My car had to be towed to the auto shop. Diagnosis: shifter cable…”
“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”
“Can't safely install a car seat because the safety belts do not properly retract. Therefore the car seat is not stable. The vehicle was stationary.”
“When I'm driven about 25 miles the accelerator stays stuck and the speed keep goin up if you don't put the brakes”
“Airbag light comes on at random intervals for about 5 seconds, then turns off. Speed, road conditions, and gear make no difference as to when it comes on. It has come on while turning, while driving in town at 20 mph, while at a complete stop, while going over a bump, and while going 50mph on the…”
“Every time I go to my job my power steering reservoir becomes empty after I put one or more quarts in the reservoir. Anytime I drive at highway speeds I sway back and forth no matter how much control I have over the vehicle. My steering gets so hard to the point where I almost crash every time I…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.