Eight problems related to clutch pedal/linkage have been reported for the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier based on all problems reported for the 2004 Cavalier.
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. Gm please recall your mistake before you kill more people with your faulty craftsmanship.
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. Pedal flat to floor, needed toe under lever to pull it back up. Stuck in 3rd gear, no amount of pumping the pedal would alleviate the problem. Upon stopping, checked fluid level in master cylinder and it is slightly lower than when it was filled on 4/19, but level had not changed in 24 hours. Unable to shift into any gear, car will need to be towed home then to shop.
My 2004 Cavalier has had two master/slave cylinders to fail. Clutch goes to the floor failing to release the clutch pedal. Dealer tried to charge me $800 when I had warranty. Almost caused accident because of this. Very unprofessional service advisors. Will never recommend a gm- Chevrolet vehicle to anyone ever. Gm = nightmare. Don't buy gm ever!!!!.
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. I was told that because the second incident was "just out of the repair warrant by 800 mi they-the dealer- was "liable for nothing" and would do nothing to help. " the vehicle's slave was replaced and everything was working-with the clutch-when in 2009 the problem happened again. I was able to take the car to the dealer again. . . Again. . . Again and the master cylinder for the clutch was replaced. -problem was solved. Have not had a problem since. . . . . . This whole issue shows that the vehicle was not properly diagnosed which caused the second failure and the accident.
My 2004 Cavalier has had two slave cylinders to fail. Clutch goes to the floor failing to release the clutch.
I have 2004 chevy Cavalier with less than 40k mileage. On August 31, 2007, the clutch pad suddenly did not back up on my way home. I checked this website and found I had the same issue as another consumer. All the liquid was coming out from the clutch line between master cylinder to transmission. When I checked the line, I found out the clutch line was touching the wire box corner all the time. There is a hole in that touching point. It is very clear that this is a design problem for this kind of car. The gm chevy dealer said the purchased date had passed three years. No warranty at all. When I search the web for help. I found the other people complain the same problem too. Updated 10/24/07.
Clutch slave cylinder failed, slave cylinder is inside the bell housing. If this had happened in traffic it could have caused an accident.
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 wish there was a forum to allow cross communication between owners for a class action law suit. This is America. For crying out loud I get better return service at wal mart for defective merchandise.