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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 →

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

What owners actually said

287 reports
153,000 miles · Oct 16, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR SHOES ONLY 50% WORN AFTER 153,000. HAND BRAKE STARTING GRABBING UNEVEN SO HAD TO HAVE REAR DRUMS TORCHED OFF. DRUMS WOULD NOT REMOVE THROUGH NORMAL MEANS. CONDITION OF HARDWARE WAS FOUND TO BE REUSABLE. DRUMS WARPED/FAILED BEFORE SHOES WORE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10430352

92,000 miles · Oct 9, 2011
Electrical System

MY GAUGES IN MY CAR ARE MESSING UP. THE FUEL GAUGE IS BELOW THE E AND RUNS INTO THE TEMP GAUGE. THE SPEEDOMETER READS I AM GOING 110 WHEN I AM NOT THE ODOMETER READS ERROR. ALL MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE LIGHTING UP. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE YEAR OF CAVALIERS. CHEVY NEEDS TO OWN UP AND ISSUE A RECALL BECAUS…

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MY GAUGES IN MY CAR ARE MESSING UP. THE FUEL GAUGE IS BELOW THE E AND RUNS INTO THE TEMP GAUGE. THE SPEEDOMETER READS I AM GOING 110 WHEN I AM NOT THE ODOMETER READS ERROR. ALL MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ARE LIGHTING UP. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THESE YEAR OF CAVALIERS. CHEVY NEEDS TO OWN UP AND ISSUE A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS UNSAFE NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED I AM GOING AND IF I HAVE ENOUGH GAS TO GET TO WHERE I AM GOING. I AM A CHEVY FAN AND THIS IS UPSETTING THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES AND THEY ARE NOT DOING RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429257

40,000 miles · Oct 2, 2011
Electrical System

FUEL GAUGE DEFECT. GOES ALL THE WAY PAST FULL AND HOLDS DOWN TEMPERATURE GAUGE. CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428216

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2011
Electrical System

THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES IN OUR 05 CAVALIER ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SOMETIMES FALL FROM THE CAR SPEED OF 65 DOWN TO 0 AND SWING BACK UP TO 65 AGAIN. THE OTHER INSTRUMENT GAUGES HAVE STARTED DOING THE SAME. WE HAVE HAD MANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE POWER WINDOWS FROM THE FIRST DAY WE BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE…

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THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES IN OUR 05 CAVALIER ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SOMETIMES FALL FROM THE CAR SPEED OF 65 DOWN TO 0 AND SWING BACK UP TO 65 AGAIN. THE OTHER INSTRUMENT GAUGES HAVE STARTED DOING THE SAME. WE HAVE HAD MANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE POWER WINDOWS FROM THE FIRST DAY WE BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS NO POWER AT ALL. THERE IS A 5 INCH GAP AT THE TOP, AND SOMETIMES THE WINDOW WILL FALL DOWN EVEN FURTHER WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 05 CHEVY CAVALIERS. I PREVIOUSLY ASKED GM TO HELP ME FIX THIS DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAZARD, BUT THEY WANTED ME TO BE THE ONE TO TAKE ACTION. OTHERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH ON THE WEB HAVE HAD THE MOTORS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT NO COST. ALL OF MY WEB BROWSING & RESEARCHING OF THIS MATTER WAS CONSISTENT. THE MOTORS ARE DEFECTIVE. AND THE COST OF THE WINDOW MOTOR PLUS LABOR WAS OVER $500.00 PER WINDOW. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE FIXING ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE WRONG. I ASKED FOR OUR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TO BE REPAIRED BY CHEVROLET SO THAT WE COULD DRIVE IN SAFETY WITH NO SUDDEN DISTRACTIONS OR HAZARDS. RECENTLY, THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS STARTED MOVING UP & DOWN VERY SLOWLY AND WE ARE AFRAID IT IS ALSO GOING TO NEED REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424189

98,644 miles · Sep 7, 2011
Electrical System

ON THE 26TH OF AUGUST MY 17 YEAR DAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER PANEL AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT WITH MY 2005 CAVALIER. I FEEL A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE ON THIS AND THOSE WHO HAVE REPAIRED THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THEIR MON…

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ON THE 26TH OF AUGUST MY 17 YEAR DAUGHTER WAS RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER PANEL AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT WITH MY 2005 CAVALIER. I FEEL A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE ON THIS AND THOSE WHO HAVE REPAIRED THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THEIR MONEY AND TIME FOR NON-USE OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, EVEN DEATHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424077

33,254 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,254.

NHTSA ODI #10423923

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

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER THAT I PURCHASED IN 2005. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR MY BACK DOORS DO NOT OPERATE, DO NOT OPEN. MY FRONT DOORS RECENTLY HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES IN NOT WANTING TO SHUT. THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THE LINKAGES. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRUNK, IT BLEW OFF THE WIRES AND SOUNDED L…

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I CURRENTLY HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER THAT I PURCHASED IN 2005. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF HAVING THE CAR MY BACK DOORS DO NOT OPERATE, DO NOT OPEN. MY FRONT DOORS RECENTLY HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES IN NOT WANTING TO SHUT. THERE IS SOMETHING WITH THE LINKAGES. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE TRUNK, IT BLEW OFF THE WIRES AND SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB. AND MY DOME LIGHT GOT TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT SHUT OFF SO WE REMOVED THE BULB. MY RADIO DOES NOT SHUT OFF WHEN DOOR OPENS, IT PLAYS FOR 10 MINUTES AFTERWARDS. MY CAR DID NOT HAVE SHOCKS WHEN PURCHASED IT, IT IS BECOMING ONE BIG HEADACHE. I DRIVE ONLY CHEVROLET VEHICLES BUT THIS CAR IS MAKING ME WANT TO DRIVE SOMETHING OTHER THEN A CHEVY. IS THERE ANY RECALLS ON 2005 CAVALIERS? OR WHAT CAN I DO. I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR WITH WORKING PART TIME AND THIS IS NOT VERY SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422891

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

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.