2004 Chevrolet Cavalier reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 428
- 2 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 109 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 21 reported crashes · 25 injuries · 2 deaths · 7 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,218
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+120
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2002-2006
+159
median 269 complaints in 819 records
Top component share
41%
Electrical System: 176 complaints
What owners report fails — 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 109
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL 67
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 24
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13
- STEERING 13
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
NHTSA has 428 consumer complaints on record for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (109 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (109), electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (67), vehicle speed control (24), unknown or other (13). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.