IllustrationHorn doesn't work..replaced fuse still not working..so I wonder if my air bag will work...how do I fix it no body know not even the dealer
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
1625–50K
3150–75K
1275–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
102 reports with mileage · 94 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
24 crash reports4 fire reports19 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsWas in a horrible car wreck yesterday and none of my airbag is avoid but yet my no check engine light none of my lights were on so I don't understand the problem you could have nearly killed me is what I got spent around three times and put back at the gas station that I left
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVER TRAVELING WELL UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED SLIDING AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION, THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR SQUARE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPL…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVER TRAVELING WELL UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED SLIDING AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION, THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR SQUARE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS NEVER TOUCHED ME, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE PASSENGER WINDOW. *JS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A DITCH TO AVOID BEING HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS TRAVELING 95 MPH. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 17 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A DITCH TO AVOID BEING HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS TRAVELING 95 MPH. THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. FIVE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN THE TOTALING OF MY 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE FRONT-END DAMAGE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB
I WAS BROADSIDED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER ON JULY 8, 2005. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY PUSHED IN. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY STOMACH AREA, RESULTING IN 3 DAYS OF NON-ST…
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I WAS BROADSIDED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER ON JULY 8, 2005. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY PUSHED IN. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY STOMACH AREA, RESULTING IN 3 DAYS OF NON-STOP VOMITING.
WAS DRIVING A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT AT 40 MPH. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME,I ENDED UP T-BONING THE 2ND VEHICLE AT 40MPH NO TIME TO HIT BRAKES, ALL FONTAL DAMAGE AND AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.*AK
MY AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN WORKED ON 6 DIFFERENT TIMES AND IS NOW FLASHING THE AIR BAG LIGHTS AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE AIR BAGS THREE TIMES. *NLM
DURING FIRST SNOW IN DEC 02, THE ABS IN MY 2MO OLD CAR ACTIVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE NORMAL PEDAL VIBS OCCURED, BUT THERE WAS A PATTERNED PINGING OF A SPRING AT THE PEDALS LOCATION. ALL BRAKING POWER WAS LOST DURING THIS, AND I HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP, EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE AGAIN, WITH THE SA…
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DURING FIRST SNOW IN DEC 02, THE ABS IN MY 2MO OLD CAR ACTIVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE NORMAL PEDAL VIBS OCCURED, BUT THERE WAS A PATTERNED PINGING OF A SPRING AT THE PEDALS LOCATION. ALL BRAKING POWER WAS LOST DURING THIS, AND I HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP, EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE AGAIN, WITH THE SAME EFFECT (THIS ALSO OCCURED WHILE PULLING INTO MY GARAGE ON A DRY SURFACE, SO I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO THE BACK WALL). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY CHECKED IT TWICE ON THE ROAD, AND ONCE WITH THE SENSOR CHECKS (NO CODES WERE FOUND, THEY SAID). OF COURSE I HAD THEM DOCUMENT THIS. ON JAN 21 '03, I WAS FORCED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED TOO FAST. ALTHOUGH THE PEDAL FELT PRESSURIZED AS IT SHOULD BE, THERE WAS AGAIN NO BRAKING POWER, ALTHOUGH THE ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE. NO DECELLERATION WAS FELT UNTIL I SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME (AT APPROX. 30MPH). NOONE WAS INJURED ALTHOUGH THERE IS $4000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR (AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE FRONT CENSOR WAS IMPACTED HARD). THERE IS DEFINATELY SOMETHING WRONG, BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.