CarComplaints.com Notes: Widespread instrument panel failure is a common and frustrating reality for many 2004-2005 Chevy Cavalier owners. They're often left in the dark when it comes to knowing how fast they're going, what their engine temperature is, or even how much fuel they have left in the tank.
The likely culprit is a series of bad "stepper motors" which control the gauges and are no longer covered under warranty. Think not being able to see your speed is a safety issue and should be recalled for all owners? We'd agree. Trouble is, apparently the NHTSA does not.
OK IF THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON THE VEHICLE...WHY IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT RESPONDING. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT AN ISSUE WITH THE CARS DESIGN. WHO IN THIER RIGHT MIND WOULD PUT A WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY BOX WHERE EVERY BUMP CAUSES THE WIRES TO RUB ON SOMETHING. SOON THE INSULATION RUBS THRU THEN THE WIRES SHORT OUT. I DROVE THE CAR TO WORK, WENT OUT TO THE PARKING LOT 1/2 HOUR LATER TO GET SOMETHING...THE HORN WAS BLOWING, HEADLIGHTS WERE ON AND SMOKE WAS ROLLING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. HELL I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT MY CAR HAD TURNED INTO CARRIE(EVIL). IT'S NO WONDER THE AUTO COMPANIES ARE IN SUCH A FINANCIAL MESS. WHAT HAPPENED TO AMERICAN MADE...AMERICAN PRIDE. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A VW. AT LEAST I KNOW THEY WILL LAST MORE THAN 6 YEARS AND 80K MILES.
Since I'm not the first to have this happen I'm starting to wonder if this is an issue with this car. It started behind the radio and spead from there. I didn't do anything wrong.
Chevy needs to really take a look at this car and find out what seems to be going wrong as several people have the same complaints. The speedometer goes haywire says your are doing 100 when really you are only doing 45.
The gas gage needle goes all the way over to the heat level which also sometimes shows that the car is over heating when it really is not. These are serious issues and they need to be address by GM by a recall. I have had Chevy vehicles all my life but I doubt that my next one will be after all the problems I have had with this car. The dashboard panel, the grinding sound in the steering, the hesitation like it wants to stall when stopped at a light.
Cavalier--First it all started with my speedometer sticking in the rain and not working. It's a 2004 and this should not be happening. I just had an electrical fire in it under the dashboard on the drivers side. All the interior lights went out and the smoke and smell was disgusting. All the wires were burnt and dangling. I had it towed to a Chevy dealership where I bought it to get fixed, I have extended warranty. Thats when I lost it. They told me that it was about $1100.00 to fix it and my warranty wouldn't cover it and told me to have my insurance company cover it. I don't think this is reasonable and this is ridiculous. I just talked to someone who has a 2004 cavalier also and there speedometer is doing the same thing. I always said that the car had electrical problems because lights would come on when there was nothing wrong with it, (engine light) things would work when they wanted to. Take my advice, if this is happening have it looked at by a none Chevy dealership because in my opinion the one that I went to doesn't know what they are doing. If this happens to so many people then it should be recalled. I have had my car for 2 years why am I having electrical problems and why is this happening? My car has been in the shop for almost a week, they couldn't even give me a rental car to drive. I am so angry about this why did I even spend $2000 extra for that stupid extended warranty.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I left the POS Running for 5 minutes and it went up in flames. Completely gutting the vehicle was not sufficient. Siding melted off my moms house!
- tpeaden, Constantia, NY, US