Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Clutch pedal started to stop short. While driving through light snow I pressed the pedal to shift gear before a slight turn and incline the pedal stayed down. The lack of power to the wheels within 5 seconds caused the vehicle to fishtail and I was not able to control the vehicle even while trying to brake and go into the spin to correct. The vehicle spun around going backwards then the front end tried swinging back and hit the center median damaging the front end-bumper ripped off, reinforcement bent/folded, fenders warped, both headlights broken, condenser slightly folded to leak, radiator support warped, frame bent. The slave cylinder was leaking...again this was the second time. Pedal would start to stop short then the slave would start to leak. First time the dealer replaced the slave and everything was working. Then this happened. …
When I was dropping my sister off at the airport, I was leaving in my Cavalier which is a manual transmission I put the car in reverse and engaged the clutch it stuck on and would not come off. I had to slam on the emergency brake and brakes to stall out the car. Once the car stalled it also came to rest against a tree, which thankfully did not cause any damage except a few scratches. On further investigation I had noticed that a hole has worn in the hydraulic rubber line from the master clutch cylinder. The hose was rubbing against a wiring harness metal brace bracket just below the clutch master cylinder. It could have caused alot of damage or personal injury or even death in the right circumstances. I had just left the halifax water front where there were about 6000 people and if the problem happened. There could have been major problems. …
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 was detached from transmission. Previously on 09/13/2011 the same thing happened to my car. The shifter cable broke and I had to be towed to lou bachrodt Chevrolet both times. The 2nd time invoice no. Cwcs692729 $502.24 and $477.55 invoice no.cwcs149491 the first time. This car should be recalled. Two times is too many.
Bought used had 109000 first time the clutch went out on me I was exhilarating to move into heavy freeway traffic and it goes out, especially as a young woman I was very scarred for my life to this day I have nightmares, got it fixed but no really cause it still does it we just have to keep putting dot 3 at the clutch line. Its annoying, a waste of time, waste of my money, and has caused domestic disputes. Come on do something please!!
This is the second problem I've had with this. Clutch problems due to a faulty hydraulic line in a 2004 Chevy Cavalier. First incident occurred May 1st when the master to slave hydraulic hose split open (was told by the ase certified repair person this should never have happened). This was a dealer only part and there are no used parts available for this. Now there are no leaks, but clutch still sticks to the floor. Driving fine, then no clutch to put car into correct gear. Had happened intermittently, but today I was in the middle of morning rush hour traffic. Almost caused several accidents when car stalled after idling really low. Shut off car while sitting at a red light-- finally after a fight with the stickshift, got into gear so I could get to a parking lot. After looking on-line for solutions and a closer repair shop, realizing this happens quite a bit to owners. …
Clutch fluid leak from slave cylinder detected 4/19/14. Fluid level in master cylinder was low but not dangerously so, so I added dot-3 to master cylinder. Evening of 4/22 noticed no new leakage on garage floor. On morning of 4/23 en route to work, noticed clutch engaged much closer to floor than usual, and had much more "play" between it's normal position and when clutch began to engage. In city-street traffic, speed limit 50 MPH, clutch began to seize, causing inability to shift into another gear. Clutch pedal to floor, car in gear, right foot off gas, car moved forward under power. Turned around to head back home and within two miles clutch went back to mostly normal operation. After another 3 miles (the entire trip was on city streets with speed limits between 40 and 55 MPH, including lots of stoplights=more shifting) clutch seized up entirely. …
I bought my car, a 2004 Chevy Cavalier with 21 miles on it. Since then I have tried to return it and now the minor but frequent issues are much bigger and more frequently! First my trunk latch broke a week after purchase. The cd broke the next week, cigarette lighter broke, and passenger seat wouldn't move. This was the first two months of ownership. A few months ago the fuel gauge broke, temp gauge and ac. They couldn't verify it so couldn't repair, until it completely failed this month. Also, I was left stranded at 2:30 am with my 3 year old son when the clutch fell through the floor. It was repaired and now the rpms shoot up to 6000, is unresponsive to any pedals, and requires turning the engine off. This happened in san francisco on highway 101, I am truly afraid for the safety of myself. Son, and others driving this car or near one. …
Replaced defective shifter control cable. I have a 2004 Chevy Cavalier, 4 cylinder engine, mileage: 40,850.I am the orignial owner, purchased it new from Chevrolet. I became aware of the defect when I came out of work and went to my parked car, started the car, and when I shifted my automatic transmission lever, the car would not move. None of the gears were working. I had to call a tow truck and wait over two hours and had it towed to a Chevrolet dealer 10 miles away for diagnosis and repair. It cost me over $400.00 to get it repaired by the Chevrolet dealer. I asked Chevrolet if there was a recall on the shifter control cable and he said there was none that he knew of. I searched the internet for some information on the shifter control cable and found numerous complaints on the same thing happening to them with the same type car. …
I have an excessive grinding feel within the clutch pedal. A TSB for this has been issued and so far the vehicle is 6 months old. 2 clutch assemblies have been installed and one flywheel. The original TSB states do not replace the clutch components and flywheel because this will not correct the problem. GM, why are you going against your own technical experts advise? Want to prevent a devastating recall by hoodwinking your customers in saying the problem is designed in the transmission as normal? This has to be up channeled to higher government officials. Lemon laws and ignorant and complacent customers who are afraid of going the distance will only allow their investments to be traded or just live with the complaint. Looking at the history of 2000-2004 cavaliers, sunfires and malibus with this transmission and engine combination is only the tip of the iceberg. …
I was driving my -2004 Cavalier after having the slave cylinder replaced 2 month's prior. Nothing seemed out of place until my clutch peddle went to the floor and did not return. I pulled over after nearly colliding with another vehicle investigating the potential problem. I looked in the clutch reservoir and noticed no fluid. I placed more fluid in the reservoir manually moving the clutch peddle up and down until I had a peddle. I then made it home so I could further investigate the problem. The linkage for the shifter had over time rubbed a hole in the hydraulic clutch line causing failure in the whole system. I am not one to complain about vehicle issues because most of the time the issues do not almost kill me but in this case had I not known what to do to get the shifter out of gear I would have hit a ever slowing line of traffic at 70 MPH causing a massive accident. …
Transmission complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, 7% of the model year's 330 complaints. The component named most often is manual transmission (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.