2005 Chevrolet Optra

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Visibility & Lighting

Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 4 of 6 complaints (67%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (2) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 1 in 2004 to 6 in 2005.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 4 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2005: 2 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category2004200520062007vs. 2005 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,8502,850–2,9502,700–2,8502,700–2,850
Combined MPG2221–2222–2322–23
City / Highway MPG20 / 27–2818–20 / 26–2819–20 / 27–2819–20 / 27–28
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)404404–423386–404386–404
Complaints filed1621Not compared
Recalls issued0121Not compared
Crash-involved complaints0100Not compared
Fire-involved complaints0200Not compared
Injuries reported0200Not compared
Deaths reported0000Not compared
Configurations compared2444

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Chevrolet Optra have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2005 Chevrolet Optra?

Visibility & Lighting: 4 of 6 NHTSA complaints (67%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Chevrolet Optra get?

EPA rates it 21–22 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Chevrolet Optra?

EPA estimates $2,850–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (6)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 4-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars20 mpg (high)28 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars20 mpg (high)27 mpg22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 4-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars20 mpg (high)28 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars20 mpg (high)27 mpg22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 5Automatic 4-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons18 mpg (low)26 mpg (low)21 mpg (low)$2,950 (high)423 g/mi (high)
Configuration 6Manual 5-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSmall Station Wagons18 mpg (low)27 mpg21 mpg (low)$2,950 (high)423 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine00000
Transmission & Drivetrain00000
Fuel System00000
Electrical10000
Brakes00000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires00000
Airbags & Restraints21120
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches00000
Visibility & Lighting40100
Other00000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 07V482000 · Oct 16, 2007

    Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES LOCATED IN GUAM AND SAIPAN, THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK (S201) ON THE IP HARNESS.

    Consequence: INADEQUATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RICK OF A CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHANGE THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM SPLICING TYPE AND SEPARATE IT FROM SPLICE PACK 201 TO PROTECT HOUSING MELTING DUE TO POTENTIAL POOR CONTACT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM DAEWOO AT 1-671-648-8453.