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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

Steering complaints

8 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND STAYS ON 100 CAR ONLY HAS 35,000 MILES, ALSO THE POWER STEERING LINE BROKE OPEN AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AT TIMES POPS ONTO MY TIRE CAUSING MY CAR TO SLAM FORWARD AND THEN IT RELEASES. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND THE POWER STEERING LINE BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE SPEEDOMETER /CLUSTER

NHTSA ODI #10809594

Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2014
Steering

2005 CHEVROLET CLASSIC. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EVENTS SHE EXPERIENCED T HAT AFFECTED THE ENGINE, STEERING AND BRAKES. *TGW ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING. THE POWER STEERING HOSE, AND PUMP WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10651234

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2010
Steering

BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I DRIVE 2005 CHEVY CAVALIERS, HIS CAR AS ROUGHLY 95,000 MILES ON IT HIS PROBLEMS STARTED FIRST. FIRST THE GAUGES HAVE STARTED TO GO. THE SPEED-O-METER AND GAS GAUGE ARE NEVER RIGHT. NEXT HIS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS STARTED TO COME LOOSE. MY CAR HAVING NO MORE THAN 60,000MILES ON IT HAS RECENTLY FOLLOWED TR…

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BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I DRIVE 2005 CHEVY CAVALIERS, HIS CAR AS ROUGHLY 95,000 MILES ON IT HIS PROBLEMS STARTED FIRST. FIRST THE GAUGES HAVE STARTED TO GO. THE SPEED-O-METER AND GAS GAUGE ARE NEVER RIGHT. NEXT HIS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN HAS STARTED TO COME LOOSE. MY CAR HAVING NO MORE THAN 60,000MILES ON IT HAS RECENTLY FOLLOWED TREND FIRST MY GAS GAUGE WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND TO BEING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN MY GAS GAUGE WOULD GET STUCK AND BUMP INTO THE TEMP NEEDLE. THIS WEEK I'VE NOTICED THAT MY STEERING WHEEL COLUMN IS COMING LOOSE TOO, MY DASHBOARD RATTLES AND MAKES A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS CLUNKING AROUND IN THERE AND I AM WORRIED THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED OTHERS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR CAVALIERS AS WELL. ALSO, I SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL# 08E063000 DEALING WITH STEERING ISSUES IN THE 2007 MODELS. I HAVE NOT HOWEVER NOTICED A RECALL FOR THE 2005 MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353897

45,000 miles · Mar 10, 2010
Electrical SystemSteeringStructure

2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWS THE CAR IS OVER HEATING AND INTERFERES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW 110MPH WHILE SITTING IN PARK OR WHILE DOING 65MPH DROP AND SHOW NO SPEED. ALSO THE FRONT OF THE DASH CRACKS OUT AND CAN PRODUCE SHARP PIECES THAT CAN CU…

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2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWS THE CAR IS OVER HEATING AND INTERFERES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHOW 110MPH WHILE SITTING IN PARK OR WHILE DOING 65MPH DROP AND SHOW NO SPEED. ALSO THE FRONT OF THE DASH CRACKS OUT AND CAN PRODUCE SHARP PIECES THAT CAN CUT THROUGH THE SKIN EASILY. ALSO THE STEERING HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005 COBALTS AT LOW SPEEDS SOMETIMES THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10318778

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2009
Steering

GREASE YOUR TIE ROD ENDS !! THIS KEEPS THE FRONT END TIGHT & STRAIGHT !! THEY COME FROM CHEVY BONE DRY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269311

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

I WAS SOLD A CHEVY CAVALIER WITH BAD BRAKES AND BAD ROTORS AND IT MAKES A BIG NOISE WHEN YOU GO TO TURN TO THE RIGHT NO ACCIDENTS YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236196

3,000 miles · May 24, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringSuspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO THE ROTORS WARPING AND A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE FIRST BRAKE REPLACEMENT WAS AT 3,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON MAY 23, 2006 WHILE MAKING TURNS AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO FREE THE STEERING, …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES DUE TO THE ROTORS WARPING AND A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE FIRST BRAKE REPLACEMENT WAS AT 3,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON MAY 23, 2006 WHILE MAKING TURNS AT 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO FREE THE STEERING, THE CONTACT PULLED THE WHEEL SO HARD THAT SOMETHING BROKE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP THEREFORE, IT IS UNCERTAIN AS TO WHAT REPAIRS ARE NECESSARY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWAY BAR INSULATOR. UPDATED 06/16/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158151

129,800 miles · Jul 28, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

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 AROU…

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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 THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10130500

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.