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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.

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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
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68,000 miles · Sep 3, 2011
Electrical System

WHILE ON CONGESTED EXPRESSWAY, PASSING VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BEGAN WITH SOUNDING HORNS, HAND SIGNS OF DISPLEASURE AND RAGE. AT THIS TIME AN OBSERVATION OF SPEEDOMETER HAD A READING OF 55 MPH, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. UPON EXITING EXPRESSWAY AND STOPPING ANOTHER OBSERVATION OF SPEEDOMETER REVEALED VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING AT 55 MPH. D…

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WHILE ON CONGESTED EXPRESSWAY, PASSING VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BEGAN WITH SOUNDING HORNS, HAND SIGNS OF DISPLEASURE AND RAGE. AT THIS TIME AN OBSERVATION OF SPEEDOMETER HAD A READING OF 55 MPH, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. UPON EXITING EXPRESSWAY AND STOPPING ANOTHER OBSERVATION OF SPEEDOMETER REVEALED VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING AT 55 MPH. DURING THIS TIME A MOTORIST HAD FOLLOWED FROM EXPRESSWAY, APPROACHED AND OFFERED TO VIOLENTLY PLACE MY CRANIUM INTO MY ANUS THEREBY IMPROVING MY DRIVING SKILLS. AFTER FLEEING THIS HAZARDOUS SITUATION A CLOSER INSPECTION OF SPEEDOMETER INFORMED ME OF A UNPREDICTABLE, ERRATIC READINGS WHICH BORDERED ON NOT WORKING TO SHOWING 100 MPH WHEN NOT IN MOTION. THIS HAS CLEARLY CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION ON THE PUBLIC WAY WHICH MAYBE RECTIFIED BY A RECALL NOTICE FROM GM ON THIS VEHICLE (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) PART WHICH IS FAULTY. AN INVESTIGATION OF REPORTED COMPLAINTS, REVEALED AN OVERWHELMING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE PART, CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423152

60,000 miles · Aug 30, 2011
Electrical System

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT NOT TO KNOW THE SPEED DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK REPORT 71-982299746 BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MIL…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT NOT TO KNOW THE SPEED DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK REPORT 71-982299746 BUT DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 150,000. LI

NHTSA ODI #10422663

88,000 miles · Aug 21, 2011
Electrical System

THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THE CHEVY CAVALIER 2005 VEHICLES FOR SPEEDOMETER DEFECT. IT NO LONGER WORKS IN MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420868

50,000 miles · Aug 18, 2011
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GET STUCK ON VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS AS WELL. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GET STUCK DISPLAYING A SPEED OF 20 MPH, 60 MPH, 80 MPH AND 110 MPH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GET STUCK ON VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS AS WELL. THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD GET STUCK DISPLAYING A SPEED OF 20 MPH, 60 MPH, 80 MPH AND 110 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR DURING COLD WEATHER AND DISPLAY READINGS OF EMPTY WHEN FUEL WAS PRESENT IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10419947

120,000 miles · Jun 26, 2011
Electrical System

PROBLEM WITH CLUSTER PANEL. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE IS, HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. NOTHING WORKS! I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS AND AM TIRED OF IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW CLUSTER, THIS IS A PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH A LOT OF 2005 CAVALIERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE…

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PROBLEM WITH CLUSTER PANEL. CAN'T TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING, WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE IS, HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. NOTHING WORKS! I HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS AND AM TIRED OF IT. I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW CLUSTER, THIS IS A PROBLEM IT SEEMS WITH A LOT OF 2005 CAVALIERS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408975

50,000 miles · Jun 23, 2011
Electrical System

THIS IS A PROBLEM I INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NEVER ACCURATE. MOST OF THE TIME IT READS PAST FULL AND INTO THE ADJACENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. TWICE I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO WALK TO A GAS STATION BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LOW. THIS…

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THIS IS A PROBLEM I INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 50000 MILES ON IT. THE FUEL GAUGE IS NEVER ACCURATE. MOST OF THE TIME IT READS PAST FULL AND INTO THE ADJACENT TEMPERATURE GAUGE. TWICE I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO WALK TO A GAS STATION BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS LOW. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I COULD BE HIT BY A CAR WALKING ALONG A HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET GAS. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FAULTY GAUGE WILL INTERFERE WITH MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT ME KNOWING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408710

55,000 miles · Jun 23, 2011
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER DOES NOT WORK. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 60 MPH WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE. AT A COMPLETE STOP THE GAUGE READ 10 MPH. THE AMOUNT IT'S INCORRECT VARIES EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I'M WORRIED THAT I'LL GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR GET INTO AN …

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THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER DOES NOT WORK. WHILE DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH MY APARTMENT COMPLEX, I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER READ 60 MPH WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE. AT A COMPLETE STOP THE GAUGE READ 10 MPH. THE AMOUNT IT'S INCORRECT VARIES EVERY TIME I DRIVE. I'M WORRIED THAT I'LL GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST I'M DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10408707

65,620 miles · May 26, 2011
Electrical System

THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DON'T RESET WHEN DECELERATION OCCURS. HAS BEEN GOING OCCURRING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS WITH ONLY THE ODOMETER. TODAY WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE METERS BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE …

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THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER DON'T RESET WHEN DECELERATION OCCURS. HAS BEEN GOING OCCURRING ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS WITH ONLY THE ODOMETER. TODAY WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS ABLE TO RESET THE METERS BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 CHEVY CAVALIERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402887

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipment

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY GAUGES WONT WORK. THE SPEED AND COOLANT TEMP. GAUGE ARE NOT ACCURATE AT ALL, THE SPEED GAUGE EITHER STARTS AT 70 AND GOES BEYOND THE 120MPH MARK OR JUST STAYS ON ZERO WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED IM GOING. I HEARD PEOPLE GOT THE GAUGES REPLACED BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH…

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY GAUGES WONT WORK. THE SPEED AND COOLANT TEMP. GAUGE ARE NOT ACCURATE AT ALL, THE SPEED GAUGE EITHER STARTS AT 70 AND GOES BEYOND THE 120MPH MARK OR JUST STAYS ON ZERO WHICH I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED IM GOING. I HEARD PEOPLE GOT THE GAUGES REPLACED BUT STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON CLUSTER GAUGES. ONCE AGAIN MY SPEEDOMETER AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE DON'T WORK. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10402700

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2011
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A 2005 CAVALIER WHICH I PURCHASED WITH 17,000 MILES ON IT. I AM CURRENTLY AT 28,500 APPROXIMATELY. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, GAS GAUGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL WEBSITES AND FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO …

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I HAVE A 2005 CAVALIER WHICH I PURCHASED WITH 17,000 MILES ON IT. I AM CURRENTLY AT 28,500 APPROXIMATELY. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, GAS GAUGE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT ALSO APPEARS TO BE ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL WEBSITES AND FIND THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER ISSUES, I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY HORN (I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE RELATIONSHIP THEY COMPONENTS OF A CAR HAVE WITH EACH OTHER). MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CHEVY DID A RECALL DO TO DEFECTS WITH STEERING PROBLEMS IN THE 2005 CAVALIERS. COULD THE PROBLEMS THAT I AND OTHER ARE EXPERIENCING BE A PART OF THAT RECALL, SINCE IT IS ALL APART OF THE DASHBOARD BE COMMON FOR THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR?

NHTSA ODI #10401848

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.