Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Owners filed 287 complaints about the 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier with NHTSA between Dec 2004 and Jan 2019. The most-cited component is electrical system (211).
Complaints
287
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system211
- Vehicle speed control18
- Power train16
- Structure14
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Visibility10
- Steering8
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Air bags6
- Seats6
- Equipment6
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Exterior lighting5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
13
6
13
19
29
77
43
25
19
15
12
6
3
5
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 29 |
| 2010 | 77 |
| 2011 | 43 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
211 reports1 crash
“MY MOM WAS DRIVING THE CAR AS NORMAL DOWN THE ROAD ONE DAY AND ALL THE GUAGES IN THE ENTIRE DASH SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. SOME CAME BACK ON AND OFF A COUPLE WEEKS. SOME NEVER DID. BUT AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS ALL STOPPED WORKING AND NOW NOTHING WORKS. NO HEAT GUAGE, NO FUEL GUAGE, NO TEMP GUAGE, NO SPEEDOMETER, AND NO FUEL GUAGE.”
Vehicle speed control
18 reports
“CAR WAS AT A RED LIGHT SPEEDOMETER INDICATED 85 MPH. UPON START UP SPEED INDICATED 110 AND AT NEXT STOP WENT DOWN TO 90. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A COUPLE DAYS THE INDICATED SPEED WAS 45. DRIVING IN A 25MPH ZONE AND SPEED INDICATED 85.”
Power train
16 reports
“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”
Structure
14 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DISINTEGRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.UPDATED 10/13/16 *BF”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports
“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”
Visibility
10 reports
“THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT ROLL DOWN WILL NOT ROLL UP. THE REAR-DRIVER-SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT ROLL DOWN WILL NOT ROLL UP, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK WILL NOT ROLL DOWN WILL NOT ROLL UP. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.