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
What owners actually said
287 reports
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
29,000 miles · May 8, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSED THE POSITION OF THE SEAT TO BE TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED.
NHTSA ODI #10157006
22,889 miles · Jan 5, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT BRAKES VIBRATED AND PULSATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY RESURFACED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STILL HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT HAS NOT RETURNED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT BRAKES VIBRATED AND PULSATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THEY RESURFACED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STILL HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT HAS NOT RETURNED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10146989
Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2005
TiresCrashInjury
2005 CHEVY CAVALIER RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER THEN STRUCK A POST AND A GUARD RAIL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10146449
150 miles · Dec 14, 2005
Electrical System
I HAD TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFECT, THE SEAT DIDN'T MOVE AND THE SEATS WEREN'T ELECTRIC. I WENT HOME RETURNED TO PICKUP VEHICLE AND ON THE WAY THE SEATS MOVED AND BECAME HOT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HEATER IN THEM. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER AND ALL HE SAID, "WE DID NOT ADD ANYTHING TO YOUR VEHICLE"…
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I HAD TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE AND IT WAS PERFECT, THE SEAT DIDN'T MOVE AND THE SEATS WEREN'T ELECTRIC. I WENT HOME RETURNED TO PICKUP VEHICLE AND ON THE WAY THE SEATS MOVED AND BECAME HOT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A HEATER IN THEM. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER AND ALL HE SAID, "WE DID NOT ADD ANYTHING TO YOUR VEHICLE". SOMEONE DID, AND I WOULD LIKE THAT WHICH WAS INSTALLED REMOVED WHATEVER IT IS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10145241
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2005
Structure
THE FIRST CAR I BOUGHT HAD A STRONG MILDEW SMELL AND WAS EXCHANGED FOR ANOTHER CAR. SECOND CAR SEEMED FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE CAR HAD A MILDEW SMELL. THE LEAKS WERE SEALED AND THE CAR WAS DE-IONIZED BUT THE SMELL RETURNED AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE CARPETING…
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THE FIRST CAR I BOUGHT HAD A STRONG MILDEW SMELL AND WAS EXCHANGED FOR ANOTHER CAR. SECOND CAR SEEMED FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS. THEN THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF WATER UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE CAR HAD A MILDEW SMELL. THE LEAKS WERE SEALED AND THE CAR WAS DE-IONIZED BUT THE SMELL RETURNED AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE CARPETING WAS THEN REPLACED BUT THE SMELL REMAINS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10143052
1,600 miles · Nov 1, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE FAILURE ON MY NEW 2005 CAVALIER. CREATED A VERY TERRIFYING RIDE HOME FOR MY SON, WHO WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THEY HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CAR TO OPERABLE CONDITION FOR M…
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BRAKE FAILURE ON MY NEW 2005 CAVALIER. CREATED A VERY TERRIFYING RIDE HOME FOR MY SON, WHO WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THEY HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT RETURNED MY CAR TO OPERABLE CONDITION FOR ME TO DRIVE, AS OF 11-01-05/1:32 P.M.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10141410
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2005
Power Train
WHEN PRESSING THE CLUTCH CONSUMER TACHOMETER GOES TO 3500 RPM AND COMES BACK DOWN.. WHEN IN NEUTRAL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE TACHOMETER RUNS TO 5500 RPM. *TS WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED THE CARPET HAD BECOME ENTANGLED IN TH…
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WHEN PRESSING THE CLUTCH CONSUMER TACHOMETER GOES TO 3500 RPM AND COMES BACK DOWN.. WHEN IN NEUTRAL AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE TACHOMETER RUNS TO 5500 RPM. *TS WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CLAIMED THE CARPET HAD BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT FOUND NOT PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10140982
3,300 miles · Sep 23, 2005
Power Train
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BY 3,300 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND REPLACED ONCE. BY THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF 19,000 IT HAS HAD TWO ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT TH…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BY 3,300 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE AND REPLACED ONCE. BY THE CURRENT MILEAGE OF 19,000 IT HAS HAD TWO ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE FEBRUARY 28, 2005, WHEN THE LAST REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT ANY ONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT SHE HAS ENCOUNTERED WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE OR TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED FOR THE CONSUMER TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND USE THIS ONE AS A TRADE IN, BUT THE CONSUMER REFUSED. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AS WELL AS FOR A NEW VEHICLE IF SHE PURCHASED ONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10137405
1,418 miles · Aug 26, 2005
SeatsStructure
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
NHTSA ODI #10135595
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.
2005 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year