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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

Engine complaints

1 reports
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264,383 miles · Dec 17, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED IT'S SPEED TO ABOUT 80-90 MPH. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE CAR ACCIDENTALLY SOME KIND OF WAY MADE CRUISE CONTROL COME ON. I AM NOT A FAN OF CRUISE CONTROL SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED IT ON. AFTER THE ACCELERATION, I QUICKLY ATTEMPTED TO GET MY CAR BACK DO…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED IT'S SPEED TO ABOUT 80-90 MPH. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE CAR ACCIDENTALLY SOME KIND OF WAY MADE CRUISE CONTROL COME ON. I AM NOT A FAN OF CRUISE CONTROL SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED IT ON. AFTER THE ACCELERATION, I QUICKLY ATTEMPTED TO GET MY CAR BACK DOWN TO NORMAL DRIVING SPEED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND DID NOT WANT TO CRASH WITH ANYONE BY ACCIDENT. I QUICKLY STOMPED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS DID NOT HELP AT ALL. MATTER OF FACT, MY BRAKES LOCKED UP TOO. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE BRAKES NOR THE GAS. THE GAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. AT THIS POINT, I AM DOING ABOUT 100 MPH. I THOUGHT QUICKLY AND MANEUVERED MY WAY OUT OF TRAFFIC. I ALMOST HIT SEVERAL CARS BUT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF PROTECTION AROUND ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SINGLE SCRATCH ON ME OR THE CAR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE DESPITE MY SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SLOW DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN A LITTLE CONTROL OF THE CAR BY PUTTING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AND PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS ONLY SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO ABOUT 80 MPH. I HAD TO TURN THE SWITCH OFF THE STOP THE CAR. I ATTEMPTED TO CRANK THE CAR BUT THE ENGINE ONLY REVVED UP AND MADE MY CAR SMOKE. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT WAS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE AND MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF DEATH FOR INNOCENT FAMILIES ON THE ROAD. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAS UNEXPECTEDLY HAD THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664852

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.