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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

Electrical System complaints

211 reports
Clear category filter
150 miles · Dec 14, 2005
Electrical System

I HAD TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFECT, THE SEAT DIDN'T MOVE AND THE SEATS WEREN'T ELECTRIC. I WENT HOME RETURNED TO PICKUP VEHICLE AND ON THE WAY THE SEATS MOVED AND BECAME HOT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HEATER IN THEM. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER AND ALL HE SAID, "WE DID NOT ADD ANYTHING TO YOUR VEHICLE"…

Read full complaint

I HAD TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFECT, THE SEAT DIDN'T MOVE AND THE SEATS WEREN'T ELECTRIC. I WENT HOME RETURNED TO PICKUP VEHICLE AND ON THE WAY THE SEATS MOVED AND BECAME HOT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HEATER IN THEM. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER AND ALL HE SAID, "WE DID NOT ADD ANYTHING TO YOUR VEHICLE". SOMEONE DID, AND I WOULD LIKE THAT WHICH WAS INSTALLED REMOVED WHATEVER IT IS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10145241

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.