Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Electrical System (33% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Electrical System complaints here are 4.9× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 109 · 33% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 67 · 20.3% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 24 · 7.3% | No official action | — |
| Steering | 13 · 3.9% | Recalled | Recall 08E063000 |
| Power Train:manual Transmission | 11 · 3.3% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 11 · 3.3% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 330 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 08E063000 · 2008 · reported 10/17/2008
IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 04V300000 · 2004 · reported 06/23/2004
IN A SEVERE CRASH, THE UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE MAY SEPARATE. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEAT BELT COULD THEN BE REDUCED AND THE OCCUPANT COULD RECEIVE GREATER INJURIES. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“I STARTED THE CAR WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE WENT ABOVE THE FULL MARK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS AT A HALF TANK, AFTER SHUTTING IT OFF…”NHTSA complaint 10249637 — filed 11/24/2008 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“SO, THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I NOTICED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER IN MY CAVALIER WOULD RANDOMLY FREEZE AND STOP WORKING. I NOTICED THAT…”NHTSA complaint 10248312 — filed 11/10/2008 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“MY 2004 CHEVY CAVALIER'S SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING AND THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THEY WOULD HAVE TO SEND THE CLUSTER TO A LARGER SHOP. I…”NHTSA complaint 10247750 — filed 11/05/2008 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 109 of 330 NHTSA complaints (33%), followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (67), vehicle speed control (24), unspecified/other issues (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
330 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 17 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 19 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Yes — 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08E063000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
