2003 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 678 | 287 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 477 | 526 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 7 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 25–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 63,250 mi | 67,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Chevrolet Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 340 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 106 | 211 |
| Exterior Lighting | 57 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 43 | 6 |
| Visibility | 37 | 10 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Other | 37 | 2 |
| Power Train | 16 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 138 | 9 |
| Loss of power | 27 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 19 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 7 | 0 |
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier 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.