2005 Chevrolet Cavalier

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 287 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
67,000 milesMedian miles at failure

230 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System130
101
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel67
000
Vehicle Speed Control9
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission7
000
Structure6
000
Air Bags6
402
Power Train5
000
Steering4
000
Fuel System, Gasoline4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Steering08E063000
Filed Oct 17, 20083,855 vehiclesDorman Products, Inc.

Defect. DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

Risk. IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jan 26, 201970,000 milesWV

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.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Aug 23, 2018170,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE, AND TACHOMETER WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 2, 201845,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT FUEL LEVEL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FAMILY MEMBER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Jul 9, 2018129,000 milesPA

NONE OF THE GAGES WORK DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING

Electrical System
Filed May 29, 201867,000 milesFL

GAUGES FOR TEMPERATURE DO NOT WORK, SOMETIMES READS BELOW ZERO, SOMETIMES SLIGHTLY ABOVE THERE IS NO CHANGE IN READING WHETHER COLD, OR RUNNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS - AT ANY SPEED SPEED GAUGE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES RECORDING 100 MPH, WHEN THE CAR IS DOING NO MORE THAT 20-30 MPH. AT OTHER TIMES, IT SEEMS TO BE RUNNING ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT, WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER TRAFFIC, THEN RECORD 100+MPH.AT OTHER TIMES, WHEN GOING WITH TRAFFIC, THE GAUGE READS 0MPH THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THE CAR IS OVERHEATING, OR WHAT SPEED THE CAR IS GOING. THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS, AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE 'SETTER', AND WOULD COST ME $900. WHICH I DID NOT HAVE. IT IS VERY UPSETTING .

Electrical System
Filed Jan 27, 2018155,000 milesIN

ALL GAUGES DON'T WORK. SPEEDOMETER,FUEL,TEMPERATURE.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 26, 2017IL

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE GAUGES IN THE 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER CAUSING THEM TO MALFUNCTION OR NOT FUNCTION AT ALL INTERMITTENTLY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE, THE TEMPERATURE OF YOUR ENGINE, OR YOUR SPEED WHEN THE GAUGES FAIL.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 2017120,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING, THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES FAILED TO DISPLAY THE CORRECT INFORMATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 13, 2017100,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 2016ID

TAKATA RECALL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A REAR END COLLISION THAT TOTALLED CAR. ALSO PASSENGERS SEAT BROKE CAUSING NECK AND RIB INJURY.VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WAITING FOR CONSTRUCTION FLAGMAN.

Structure
Filed Aug 17, 201680,000 milesAL

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

Electrical System
Filed Aug 1, 201660,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER, TEMPERATURE, AND RPM GUAGES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WIRE CONNECTOR WAS TIGHTENED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REAPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 20, 201656,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER FRACTURED ALONG WITH THE HORN AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 27, 201653,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL, TEMPERATURE, AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES FAILED TO WORK. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GAUGES FAILED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 21, 2016ID

ON OCTOBER 1ST 2015 WE WERE STOPPED FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGHWAY. AT THAT TIME WE WERE REAR ENDED BY A HIT AND RUN DRIVER. IMPACT WAS ON THE BUMPER, PASSENGER SIDE. ON IMPACT THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE AND SLAMMED ME FORWARD THEN BACK INTO A RECLINING POSITION. I WAS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE.I WAS IN PT FOR 6 WEEKS. ALSO AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 22, 2015GA

ALREADY COMPLAINED HERE ONCE. NOW MY CAR FUEL GAGE IS BROKE GOS ALL THE WAY OVER AND HITS ON MY TEMP GAUGE EVERY SO OFFEN. DONT REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IN IT, BUT LEAST CAN GO 300-365 MILES. DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I DRIVE. I DONT THINK THAT IT SHOULD BREAK AFTER ONLY 41000 MILES. LAST TIME I WROTE ON HERE IT WAS MY TEMP GAUGE THAT HIT ON MY SPEEDOMETER.. THINK BEFORE LONG ALL WILL GO OUT. WISH SOMEONE WOULD DO SOMETHING FOR THESE CARS, KIND EXP TO KEEP FIXING. PAID CASH FOR THE OTHER ONE TO BE FIXED. ONLY DRIVE THE CAR ONCE IN AWHILE. ITS NOT AN OLD CAR SO. NOT VERY SAFE CAR AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO GO BUY A NEW ONE........

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 2015NY

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

Electrical System
Filed Dec 11, 2015115,000 milesOH

THE SPEEDOMETER HAS FAILED TO REGISTER ANY SPEED AND IS STUCK IN A POSITION PAST THE HIGHEST SPEED ON THE GAGE FACE. THE TACHOMETER NEEDLE JUMPS AROUND ALSO LEAVING YOU NO WAY TO JUDGE YOUR SPEED. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID IT FAILED SOME TIME AGO WHILE HE WAS DRIVING IT. I AM PACING OTHER CARS WHILE I AM WAITING FOR REPAIR PARTS TO GET HERE.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 1, 201580,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER AND BOTH TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 18, 201545,175 milesMI

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.

20 of 287 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2005 — this page287104Fatalities reported
2004330261Fatalities reported
2003678261Fatalities reported
2002196540Routine
2001243681Fatalities reported
2000315782Fatalities reported
1999240820Above average
199834511100Above average
199754013255Fatalities reported
199650313101Fatalities reported
19952709100Above average
1994212231Fatalities reported
1993146271Fatalities reported
1992134182Fatalities reported
199155366Fatalities reported
1990551120Routine

Compare every Cavalier year →

Reading this record

4 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 17, 2008. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.