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2005 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cavalier years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →
287Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
196
2002678
2003330
2004287
2005
Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
211Vehicle Speed Control
18Power Train
16Structure
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
All reported categories
Visibility
10Fuel System, Gasoline
8Steering
8Air Bags
6Engine And Engine Cooling
6Fuel/propulsion System
6Seats
6Exterior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Equipment
3Unknown Or Other
3Fuel System, Other
2Seat Belts
2Service Brakes
2Suspension
2Child Seat
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine
1Equipment Adaptive/mobility
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Tires
1Traction Control System
1Visibility/wiper
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

230 reports with mileage · 57 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 211 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Child Seat complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2011
Child SeatInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHICCO KEYFIT 30 CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 05-07903-7200070, MANUFACTURED 10/01/2009. THE CHILD WAS SECURED IN A REARFACING INFANT CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT EQUIPPED WITH A SUN VISOR. THE PLASTIC TUBING WITHIN THE SUN VISOR FABRIC SLIPPED OUT AND THE CHIL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHICCO KEYFIT 30 CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER 05-07903-7200070, MANUFACTURED 10/01/2009. THE CHILD WAS SECURED IN A REARFACING INFANT CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT EQUIPPED WITH A SUN VISOR. THE PLASTIC TUBING WITHIN THE SUN VISOR FABRIC SLIPPED OUT AND THE CHILD INSERTED THE LONG PLASTIC TUBING INSIDE OF THE MOUTH. THE CHILD SUSTAINED SCRATCHES TO THE FACE DURING THE HANDLING OF THE PLASTIC TUBING. THE CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10381336

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.