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Chevrolet Cavalier power windows problems

35 of the 4,549 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Cavalier describe power window failure, most of them for the 2005 model year.

owner complaints
35
worst model year
2005
typical repair cost reported
$500
typical mileage
42,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jun 17, 2012 · Electrical, Lights · 98,000 miles · FL

Last december my 2005 cavalier experienced a speedometer malfunction while I was traveling on the highway. I was in an area where the speed zone changed from 50 MPH to 65 MPH. The speedometer registered my increase in speed fine. When I slowed down, the speedometer stayed in place. Over the past 7 months my dashboard gauges (fuel, temp, speed, RPM) all malfunction. Sometimes they reset themselves. Most of the time I'm never sure how fast I'm going or how much gas I have. My engine temp will read off the charts even on a cool morning after it has sat still all night. Although this started last december, the problems continue to this day. I have poured so much money into other electrical issues with this car already, I'm convinced it is not worth one more dime to fix the instrument cluster. I've spent hundreds on power window motors that continuously malfunction. The rear right blinker has consistently gone haywire as well. I had resigned myself to the fact that I was one in a thousand who happened to get an electrical lemon. After reading all the complaints from other cavalier owners, however, I realize that chevrolet in 2005 played a sick joke on the whole lot of us. I have owned several imported cars, mostly honda's and toyota, and have never been as displeased. Gm should be ashamed. The car drives great. I was very excited about it when I bought it as I liked the look and feel of it on the road. I'll never buy another chevrolet.

Filed Sep 7, 2011 · Electrical · NC

The instrument gauges in our 05 cavalier are not working properly. The speedometer will sometimes fall from the car speed of 65 down to 0 and swing back up to 65 again. The other instrument gauges have started doing the same. We have had many safety issues with the power windows from the first day we bought this car. The drivers side window has no power at all. There is a 5 inch gap at the top, and sometimes the window will fall down even further when driving on the highway. I have done research on the web and found that this is a very common problem with the 05 chevy cavaliers. I previously asked gm to help me fix this drivers side window hazard, but they wanted me to be the one to take action. Others that I have spoken with on the web have had the motors replaced by an authorized dealer at no cost. All of my web browsing & researching of this matter was consistent. The motors are defective. And the cost of the window motor plus labor was over $500.00 per window. That doesn't include fixing any electrical problems that may be wrong. I asked for our drivers side window to be repaired by chevrolet so that we could drive in safety with no sudden distractions or hazards. Recently, the rear drivers side window has started moving up & down very slowly and we are afraid it is also going to need repair.

Filed Sep 30, 2010 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · GA

The instrument panel of my 2005 chevy cavalier has gone crazy. It started with my gas gauge staying all the way to the right which prevents my temp gauge from reading. Now in the past week the RPM gauge is doing the same thing. I have noticed the speedometer will stick as I accelerate. I am just waiting for it to go out. I have to judge my miles to make sure I don't run out of gas. Why hasn't chevy recalled this problem? I also have had to replace both driver and passenger side window motors....now I believe it's an electrical problem that should be recalled!

Filed Sep 22, 2010 · Electrical, Fuel system · PA

2003 cavalier, the defroster knob cable has gone bad 2x's before it is gone again, the driver side window motor went last year, last month the fuel pump went, the passenger side motor is going, the speedometer is messed up along with the tack, it sticks. My daughter drives this car just turned 17, the speedometer said she was going 105, when she shuts the car off it says she's still doing 35, at times the car wont start, don't know exactly why, this is bs, there is only 72000 miles on it, gm needs to start fixing these problems, some one is going to get killed.

Filed Jul 20, 2010 · Visibility · 9,000 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that he experienced a recurring failure in which the motor in the drivers side front window stopped functioning. The failure occurred four times and each time the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the window motor was replaced. The contact stated that when the motors were replaced they were covered with rust. The failure mileage was 9,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.

Filed Jun 27, 2010 · Electrical, Visibility · 45,000 miles · CA

Power window failure, windows stuck, replaced window motor 2 times, failure again, unable to open or close windows, gas gauge and speedometer not working.

Filed Jun 22, 2010 · Visibility · 42,000 miles · IN

I have a 2004 cavalier. Shortly after I bought it the drivers window stopped working. I had a warranty and replaced it. It stopped working without any warning. When I got the car back I could hear air coming through the window, but didn't see any gaps. Eventually noticed the window was off track. My guess is poor fixing by the dealership. About 2 years later (my warranty is up) the drivers window quit working again. I had to drive in the pouring rain with my window down. We have had so much rain the roads are flooding thus sending tons of water into my car by passing cars. From what I have read online this is obviously a problem for many people. Gm needs to issue a recall and fix the problem, instead of making the customers pay.

Filed Oct 20, 2009 · Acceleration, Electrical · 49,000 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 chevrolet cavalier. While driving approximately 35 to 55 MPH on normal road conditions; pressure was applied to the accelerator pedal and there was an unintended increase in the acceleration. The engine revved extremely high which caused the ABS, engine, and traction control warning light indicators to illuminate on the instrument control panel intermittently. Immediately after applying pressure to the brake pedal, the vehicle began driving normally. An independent mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The front driver and passenger power window mechanism also failed without warning. The window motor was replaced; however, when the window was activated the response time was slow which may have caused the window shield wipers to malfunction. The speed odometer and RPM gauges displayed inaccurate readings which could be related to the vehicle intermittently exhibiting reduce engine power. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The vehicle has not been repaired. The contact had concerns of the safety risk involved. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 49,000 and the current mileage was 74,400.

Filed Feb 12, 2009 · Visibility · FL

I have to identical 2003 chevy cavaliers and the window motors both failed around the exact same time and I have been to numerous sites that have also reported this failure and chevy says that this isnt their problem.

Filed Jan 7, 2009 · Fuel system, Visibility · 67,000 miles · IN

I have a 2003 cavalier and had the fuel pump go bad at 67,000 miles. I researched on the web and it seems that there is a tremendous amount of 2003 cavaliers that have had this same issue. I have replaced 3 of the 4 window motors in the past 18 months. I have twice had my climate control switch fixed, as it was stuck only on vent. And most recently at 69000 miles I have to replace my fuel pressure regulator. In my educated opinion, this seems to be an awful lot of repairs for a vehicle of this age and with this record.

Related recalls

Electrical system: ignition: switchReported January 27, 2004 · 1,415,231 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk
If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Remedy
Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668, buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.

Recall number 04V036000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: switchReported March 6, 2002 · 1,589,948 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk
If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed.
Remedy
Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch. Owner notification began march 27, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737, buick at 1‑800‑521‑7300, or oldsmobile at 1‑800‑442‑6537.

Recall number 02V070000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Cavalier power windows

Which Chevrolet Cavalier years have power window failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2005 (7 complaints), 2002 (6 complaints) and 2004 (6 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix power window failure on the Chevrolet Cavalier?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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