2003 BMW 525I vs 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 BMW 525I | 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 32 | 678 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 13 | 477 |
| Investigations | 0 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 42,189 mi | 63,250 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 525I | Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 340 |
| Electrical System | 8 | 106 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 57 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 43 |
| Visibility | 1 | 37 |
| Fuel System, Other | 0 | 37 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 0 | 30 |
| Air Bags | 10 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 138 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 27 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 19 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 13 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 10 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 9 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 7 |
2003 BMW 525I
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
Compare all BMW 525I vs Chevrolet Cavalier years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.