Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Electrical System (49.1% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Electrical System complaints here are 6.7× the median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
None of the 6 most-reported categories on this page have a recall or open investigation on file — they rest on unverified owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 141 · 49.1% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel | 69 · 24% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 · 5.9% | No official action | — |
| Structure | 10 · 3.5% | No official action | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 · 2.8% | No official action | — |
| Power Train:manual Transmission | 7 · 2.4% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 287 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 08E063000 · 2008 · reported 10/17/2008
IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“AROUND OCTOBER OF 2009, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IN MY 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER STARTED ACTING FUNNY. MY CAR WAS NOT OVERHEATING I HAD IT CHECKED. OVER…”NHTSA complaint 10346871 — filed 08/02/2010 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“THE SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING. AS IM SITTING STILL ITS SAYING 85 MPH AS IM DRIVING SAYS 110MPH. THEN IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN AND THE…”NHTSA complaint 10342302 — filed 07/09/2010 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
“I HAVE A 2005 CHEVY CAVALIER THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY WAY AND ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I NOTICED THAT…”NHTSA complaint 10340460 — filed 06/28/2010 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 141 of 287 NHTSA complaints (49.1%), followed by electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (69), vehicle speed control (17), structure (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
287 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 5 reported injuries. 4 deaths were reported.
Yes — 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign, including campaign 08E063000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
0 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
