BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2004-CHECAV-1B45

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

Based on reports from 428 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
428
Crashes
21
Fires
7
Recalls
2
TSBs
476
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 428 complaints, 21 crashes, 7 fires, and 2 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

gauges gone haywire

57 complaints • Severity 7.7/10

$X,XXX
2

speedometer stopped working

41 complaints • Severity 7.6/10

$X,XXX
3

window motor failure

32 complaints • Severity 7.9/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the ElectricalHIGH

109 owners reported electrical issues — failures commonly reported around 52K miles.

!Inspect the Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panelMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

77
0–30K
120
30–60K
63
60–90K
43
90–120K
14
120–150K
26
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (120 reports) • Median: 52K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Electrical (109 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Electrical109 (25%)
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel67 (16%)
Speed Control24 (6%)
Other15 (4%)
Engine15 (4%)
Steering13 (3%)
Fuel System12 (3%)
Power Train:manual Transmission11 (3%)

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 25% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, with 109 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 51,862 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 52K-mile mark.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel Issues

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, with 67 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system: instrument cluster/panel-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Speed Control Issues

Speed Control complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, with 24 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to speed control-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 4% of all reports filed for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

28
04
35
05
34
06
17
07
45
08
26
09
61
10
46
11
27
12
9
13
45
14
24
15
12
16
6
17
4
18
4
19
2
20
1
21
1
22
1
24

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. Recent trend: stable.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $1.20

Recall History (2 recalls)

04V300000Aug 2004

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.

08E063000Oct 2008

STEERING

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

The worst model year for the Chevrolet Cavalier is the 2005 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is accessories - interior.

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

428

Class avg

205

2.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 428 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Chevrolet Cavalier Model Years

20052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983198219811980
View all Chevrolet Cavalier years →

2004 Chevrolet Cavalier: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier is related to the electrical, with 109 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
The 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier has 428 complaints, 21 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier have any recalls?
Yes, the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Chevrolet Cavalier problems start?
Based on 343 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 51,862 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 428 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $1.20Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees