Problems · by component
2004 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system problems
185 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier cite electrical system, 56% of all 330 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
185
56% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“CLUSTER PANEL TEMP GAUGE WAS FLUCTUATING NOW THE GAUGE IS STAYING IN ONE SPOT SO HAVE NO IDEA IF TEMP IS GOOD OR NOT. WHAT IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE I WILL NOT KNOW WITHOUT THIS WORKING. HAVE TAKEN TO TWO GARAGES THEY BOTH SAY ITS THE CLUSTER PANEL. STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING ,GAGE STAYS THE SAME.THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO WITH ONLY 68,500 MILES ON IT. *TR”
“MY CLUSTER STOPPED WORKING A WHILE AGO. SINCE I DIDN'T GET A RECALL ON IT I WAS UNAWARE OF PEOPLE DID COMPLAIN ABOUT IT UNTIL MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHERE THE CLUSTER IS AND ALL THE WIRES ARE TOTALLY BURNED UP. I AM FURIOUS. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SOME PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD NOT READ ALL OF THEM SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THANK GOD I DIDN'T GET INJURED OR DEATH. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE HELP.”
“INSTRUMENT PANEL DOES NOT WORK. THEREFORE DO NOT KNOW THE SPEED IN WHICH IS BEING TRAVELED, TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE, AMOUNT OF FUEL OR ANYTHING. CHECK GUAGES LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF LIKE EVERY WEEK. HAVE NO CLUE WHY IT STOPPED WORKING AND PERSONAL MECHANIC IS APPALLED AT THE ISSUE.”
“2 ISSUES. FIRST, TEMPERATURE GAUGE READ HIGHER AND HIGHER EACH TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED UNTIL THE NEEDLE WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO THE SPEEDOMETER AND KEPT THE SPEEDOMETER FROM READING THE SPEED. ENTIRE GAUGE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED. SECOND ISSUE WAS PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD PERIODICALLY LOCK, NOT ALLOWING THE PASSENGER TO USE THE SEAT BELT.”
“MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND IS STUCK AT 195 DEGREES WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON. IT THEN RISES JUST AS NORMAL BUT STOPS AT 260 DEGREES WHICH IS IN THE RED ZONE”
Showing 6 of 185 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.