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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

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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70,000 miles · Jul 25, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CLUTCH DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A HOLE IN THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CLUTCH DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A HOLE IN THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531759

131,000 miles · Jan 22, 2013
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TODAY AND THINK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING..MY GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING ON THE CAR WHICH IS DOES FROM TIME TO TIME. WE MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP IT JUST KEEP GETTING FASTER,, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT EVEN STOP IT OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EITHER..WE HAD TO RUN SOME RED L…

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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TODAY AND THINK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING..MY GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING ON THE CAR WHICH IS DOES FROM TIME TO TIME. WE MERGE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP IT JUST KEEP GETTING FASTER,, MY BRAKES WOULD NOT EVEN STOP IT OR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EITHER..WE HAD TO RUN SOME RED LIGHTS BECAUSE WE COULD NOT STOP IT SO WE COULD TRY TO GET HOME WITHOUT CRASHING THE CAR TO STOP IT BUT WE COULD SLOW IT DOWN PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS BURNING UP THE BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION. FINALLY WE GOT IN FRONT MY HOUSE AND HAD TO PUT IT IN PARK FAST JUST TO STOP IT. THE GAS PEDAL ONLY ACCELERATES AND THE BRAKES DON'T EVEN WORK ON IT...WE COULD OF DIED TODAY!!! I'M SO GLAD I WAS NOT DRIVING IT..I WOULD OF HAD TO CALL 911 AND HAVE THE COPS BOX ME IN TO STOP. I MESSED UP MY BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION ON IT JUST TO STOP IT TODAY. I WENT ONLINE TO CHECK FOR ANY RECALLS AND I SEE THAT PEOPLE HAD PROBLEMS BUT NO RECALLS...I SAW MY LIFE FLASH FOR MY EYES TODAY AND PUT MY TRUST IN MY CAR EVERYDAY THINKING THAT THEY MADE IT RIGHT..??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493772

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2004 AND I LOVED IT WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT OFF THE CAR LOT. THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM! MY GAUGES MESS UP ALL THE TIME. I CAN GET INTO MY CAR AND START IT UP AND IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 70 MPH AND I'M NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH TWICE IN A YEAR. IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF CHEVROLET…

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I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2004 AND I LOVED IT WHEN I FIRST DROVE IT OFF THE CAR LOT. THEN I HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM! MY GAUGES MESS UP ALL THE TIME. I CAN GET INTO MY CAR AND START IT UP AND IT WILL SAY I'M DOING 70 MPH AND I'M NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH TWICE IN A YEAR. IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF CHEVROLET WOULD DO A RECALL ON THE GAUGES WITH ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439349

Mileage unknown · May 11, 2010
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, CAUSE WAS A RUBBER HYDRAULIC HOSE WAS INSTALLED NEXT TO A SHARP EDGE OF CHASSIS AND HOSE EVENTUALLY RUPTURED CAUSING PEDAL TO REMAIN DOWN AND VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE AND I HAVE THE PART FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10329848

66,261 miles · Apr 20, 2010
Power Train

2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER - (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND STAYED THERE. COULD NO LONGER USE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS. CAR STAYED IN GEAR. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HYDRAULIC LINE (HOSE) FAILING DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST A SHARP METAL EL…

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2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER - (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AND STAYED THERE. COULD NO LONGER USE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS. CAR STAYED IN GEAR. PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HYDRAULIC LINE (HOSE) FAILING DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST A SHARP METAL ELECTRICAL CASE. GM DEALER REPLACED THE PART (#24233064), BUT HAS NOT MODIFIED THE ROUTING OF THE PART. SINCE THE NEW PART IS ROUTED AGAINST THE SAME SHARP METAL PART AND IS RUBBING AGAINST IT, THE FAILURE WILL OCCUR AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THERE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT UNDER DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. (IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE LESSENED, IF THE HYDRAULIC HOSE ROUTING WAS ROUTED DIFFERENTLY, OR THE SHARP METAL EDGE WAS SLIGHTLY MODIFIED.) THIS CAR HAD 66261 MILES ON IT, HOWEVER, THE PART HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED AT 31786 MILES. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS COMPLIANT IS RELATED TO THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINTS: ODI ID NUMBERS 10237572, 10312149, 10163590, 10199524, 10200511, 10201764, 10231112, 10238456, 10239176,10245402, 10253573, 10260772, 10263228, 10276088, 10280611. (ODI NUMBERS 10237572, 10312149 INVOLVED CRASHES.) ODI NUMBERS 10150782, 10143646 MAY ALSO BE RELATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326665

70,649 miles · Nov 8, 2009
Power Train

I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER AND AROUND THE 70,000 MILEAGE MARK WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THIS CABLE, BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BEND IN THE CABLE AND OVER THE TIME THIS CABLE WILL WEAR OUT AND BROKE...CAUSING ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE...SO IM MAKING A COMPLAINT T…

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I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER AND AROUND THE 70,000 MILEAGE MARK WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BROKE AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE IS A DEFAULT WITH THIS CABLE, BECAUSE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BEND IN THE CABLE AND OVER THE TIME THIS CABLE WILL WEAR OUT AND BROKE...CAUSING ME TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE...SO IM MAKING A COMPLAINT TO WHOM IT MY CONCERN THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS CABLE AND TO BE FIX WITH OUT THE BEND IN THE CABLE....THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291367

47,000 miles · Jul 8, 2009
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THAT DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE CAR THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE WAS SEVERED BY A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT HOLDS AN ELECTRICAL HOUSING. THE LINE RUNS RIGHT A LONG THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL A…

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CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THAT DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE CAR THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE WAS SEVERED BY A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT HOLDS AN ELECTRICAL HOUSING. THE LINE RUNS RIGHT A LONG THE SHARP EDGE OF THE METAL AND RUBS AGAINST IT UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT GETS CUT AND ALL THE FLUID LEAKS OUT AND THE PEDAL HAS NO PRESSURE TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STAY IN GEAR AND MAKE IT VERY HARD TO CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276088

45,000 miles · Mar 27, 2009
Power Train

THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE GROUND AND FAILED, THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. FINALLY TURNED OFF THE KEY AND GOT THE ENGINE TO STOP. HAD JUST COME OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WAS IN A SCHOOL SPEED ZONE SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT A FEW MINUTES EARLIER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE CLUTCH LINE SNAPPED BECAU…

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THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE GROUND AND FAILED, THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. FINALLY TURNED OFF THE KEY AND GOT THE ENGINE TO STOP. HAD JUST COME OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND WAS IN A SCHOOL SPEED ZONE SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT A FEW MINUTES EARLIER THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE CLUTCH LINE SNAPPED BECAUSE THERE IS A SHARP PIECE OF METAL THAT LIES NEXT TO IT AND RUBS IT. THIS CAR HAS A HISTORY OF THIS HAPPENING AT ABOUT 40K THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF. GM HAS NOT DONE A RECALL, BUT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263228

100,000 miles · Mar 5, 2009
Power Train

CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN AND CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NO INJURY CLUTCH HOSE LINE TO SLAVE CYLINDER WAS POSITIONED TO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSING WEAR AND EVENTUAL LEAK OF FLUID LINE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE PREVIOUS WEEK THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY HANDY CHEVROLET,THE LOCAL DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD …

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CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN AND CAUSED DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. NO INJURY CLUTCH HOSE LINE TO SLAVE CYLINDER WAS POSITIONED TO CLOSE TO BRAKE LINE CAUSING WEAR AND EVENTUAL LEAK OF FLUID LINE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE PREVIOUS WEEK THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BY HANDY CHEVROLET,THE LOCAL DEALER, AND I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH AND LEAK WAS NOT DETECTED. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260772

58,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO STOP. HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASHED WAS INCREASED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT IT FAILED TO STOP. HE NOTICED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY AND CRASHED WAS INCREASED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000. UPDATED 05/06/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO CLUTCH TUBING AND IT RUBBED IN TWO PLACES. THE CONSUMER WIFE HAD NO CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10253573

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.