2005 Chevrolet Cavalier: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 362 complaints
362
Total Complaints
65,345mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

45,875 25th Percentile
65,345 Median Mileage
93,037 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
141
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
69
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
17
STRUCTURE
10
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
8
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
7
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6
STEERING
6

Severity Assessment

8
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
4
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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"
"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 T..."
"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 T..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28