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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

287 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

66,631 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 230 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 141 of 287 complaints (49.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior269.1%
Electrical and battery issues186.3%
Steering behavior113.8%
Transmission and shifting62.1%
Engine operation41.4%
Fuel system concerns41.4%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
141
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
69
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Structure
10
Fuel System, Gasoline
8
Power Train:Manual Transmission
7
Air Bags
6
Fuel/Propulsion System
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System141
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel69
Vehicle Speed Control17
Structure10
Fuel System, Gasoline8
Power Train:Manual Transmission7
Air Bags6
Fuel/Propulsion System6

Electrical System: 141; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 69; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Structure: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 7; Air Bags: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
48
50,000 to 74,999
73
75,000 to 99,999
46
100,000 to 149,999
37
150,000 and above
8
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99948
50,000 to 74,99973
75,000 to 99,99946
100,000 to 149,99937
150,000 and above8

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 73; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 37; 150,000 and above: 8

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (73). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20041
200513
20066
200713
200819
200929
201077
201143
201225
201319
201415
201512
20166
20173
20185
20191

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

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10103140 · 2004-12-06 (December 6, 2004)

INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE SMELLED MILDEW FROM WATER LEAKING INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE IT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113517 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)

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 W…

Owner-reported narrative. 487 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113517 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10113756 · 2005-03-02 (March 2, 2005)

THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT THE AIR BAGS IN HER 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BE DISCONNECTED. *NM THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A DOCTOR NOT TO HAVE THE AIR BAG REMOVED. THE CONSUMER PRESENTED THE NOTE TO THE DEALER WHO IN TURN FAXED THE NOTE TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STILL REFUSED TO ALLOW THE DEALER TO DISCONNECT THE AIR BAG. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113756 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117578 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117578 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10117697 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)

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 ACCI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125563 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)

THE FRONT SEATS MOVE, THEY AREN'T ELECTRIC, HOWEVER THEY MOVE EVER SO SLIGHTLY AND A FEW TIME THEY HAD MOVED TO THE REAR TAKING MY FOOT AWAY FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125563 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130500 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)

DT: 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO TURN IT TOWARD THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE SAFELY TO THE CURB. SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 20-30 MPH. SOMETIMES THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND TURNED OFF BY ITSELF. THE FIRST TIME THE STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED WAS ON 7-25-05 ,AND THE LAST TIME WAS ON 7-27-05. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT …

Owner-reported narrative. 129,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130500 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135595 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)

2005 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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,418 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135595 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.