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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Electrical System complaints

35 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. …

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TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER. THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID IT WAS THE EXHAUST. THEY PUT A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM ON IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS SYNCHRONIZERS. TSB 02-07-29-001 SERVICED. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED. BUT THIS TIME CHEVY TOLD ME IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. (WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY REPLACE PARTS, AND DO THE TSB IF IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT) THEY TOLD ME I COULD GET A SECOND OPINION, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP OUT OF POCKET. SECOND: I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS 4 TIMES. WHEN DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO SLIGHTLY REV THE GAS TO LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE. THE IDLE WILL STICK. I'VE HAD IT STICK ANYWHERE FROM 2500RPM - 4000RPM. (THE LINKAGE/PEDEL DOSEN'T STICK BUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE COMPUTER, OR FI IS NOT RIGHT. DEALERS DIAGNOSIS "COMPUTER CONTROLS THE IDLE" "NO CODES" "NO PROBLEM". NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR END OTHER CARS ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS NOW OTHER THAN THESE PROBLEMS I'VE ALSO HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STARTER. IT WORKS 99% OF THE TIME CORRECTLY. OTHER TIMES IT GRINDS, SOMETIMES DISENGAGES, TURNS OFF, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. THE DEALER ALSO CAN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #10004901

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN, MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE FIRST TIME DEALER STATED IT WAS A FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD BE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE THIRD TIME DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE STILL WORKING ON REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE IN…

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WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN, MAKING THE VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED, THE FIRST TIME DEALER STATED IT WAS A FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WOULD BE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE THIRD TIME DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE STILL WORKING ON REPAIRING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ODI #8024001

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2002
Electrical SystemVisibility

THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WINDOWS, SUNROOF AND IGNITION. MR

NHTSA ODI #767844

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2002
Electrical System

2ND CAVALIER WHERE COULD NOT GET HORN TO SOUND IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766918

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING REVERSE BULB EXPLODED, CAUSING BACK UP LIGHTS TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011411

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.