Illustration2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVING.*MR THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER SAID HE ALSO GETS SHOCKED BY THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY. *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
4825–50K
7350–75K
4675–100K
37100–150K
8150K+
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
Structure complaints
14 reportsCHEVROLET VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN TWICE WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN OVER BUMPS OR POT HOLES. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS OPENING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FENDER (DRIVER'S SIDE) HAD BEEN REPLACED AND WAS MISALIGNED AND …
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CHEVROLET VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER DOOR OPENING WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN TWICE WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN OVER BUMPS OR POT HOLES. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS OPENING THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FENDER (DRIVER'S SIDE) HAD BEEN REPLACED AND WAS MISALIGNED AND PUSHED BACK CAUSING THE DOOR PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER IS UPSET BECAUSE THE DEALER SOLD HIM A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT NEW AND HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. MATERIAL WAS COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD UNDER THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT OR A NEW VEHICLE. *BF *NM
REQUEST FOR AIR BAG DISCONNECTION FOR 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE VEHICLE MANUAL STATED THAT IF ANYONE WAS CLOSE TO ANY AIR BAG, WHEN AND IF IT INFLATES, ONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED INCLUDING CHILDREN. *SC
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DOOR. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HIT BEFORE AND THE PROBLEM MAY CONTINUE DUE TO THE DAMAGES THE VEHICLE HAD SUSTAINED. *J…
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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD OPEN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DOOR. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HIT BEFORE AND THE PROBLEM MAY CONTINUE DUE TO THE DAMAGES THE VEHICLE HAD SUSTAINED. *JB THE DRIVER DOOR DID NOT CLOSE AFTER ADJUSTMENTS AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE I THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MATERIAL WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD, INTERIOR PASSENGER DOOR WAS DAMAGED WHEN PURCHASED, AND THE BACK SEAT WAS DISCOLORED. *SC *JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.