NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
22 reportsClear category filter72,000 miles · Mar 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AUTOMOBILE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED MOTOR. GM INSTALLED FAULTY OIL NOZZLE AS WELL AS TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MOTOR ORIGINALLY BUT REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH CHECKED AT GM CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER 4 MONTHS PRIOR COM…
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TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AUTOMOBILE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED MOTOR. GM INSTALLED FAULTY OIL NOZZLE AS WELL AS TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MOTOR ORIGINALLY BUT REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH CHECKED AT GM CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER 4 MONTHS PRIOR COMPLAINING OF TIMING SYMPTOMS. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL VEHICLES FROM 2002 AND 2003 THAT HAVE 2.2L ECOTEC MOTORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10393539
77,115 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSuspension
I BOUGHT THIS CAR A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 2005, AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS 25K ORIGINAL MILES SO I WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN 5 RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR VARIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS, NONE OF WHICH I WAS EVER TOLD ABOUT PRIOR OR DURING MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SIGNALS HAVE FAILED, I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM …
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I BOUGHT THIS CAR A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 2005, AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS 25K ORIGINAL MILES SO I WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN 5 RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR VARIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS, NONE OF WHICH I WAS EVER TOLD ABOUT PRIOR OR DURING MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SIGNALS HAVE FAILED, I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED, THE BEARINGS ON THE TIRES CAUSED DRY ROT AND I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THOSE, BOTH WERE ON THE RECALL LIST. THE ENGINE WOULD OVER HEAT IN THE IDLE POSITION, AND THEY REPLACED AN AIR FILTER SITTING THAT AS THE PROBLEM AND IT WASN'T. THE PEDAL STICKS WHEN I ACCELERATE AND SOMETIMES GETS STUCK, THE ROCKERARMS HAVE STARTED TO GO BAD AND IT HAS CAUSED THE VALVE STEMS TO BEND,THUS CAUSING THE OILPUMP TO SEIZE UP AND NOW MY CARS ENGINE HAS A BLOWN GASKET,THIS IS UNDER THE ENGINE COMPONENT SYSTEM RECALL, WHICH WAS REPORTED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. AND NOW IM PAYING 350 PER MONTH FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315340
54,000 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $600 FOR THE REPAIR. SHE TOOK A LONG TRIP AND THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. ON A SHORTER TRIP, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMIT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $600 FOR THE REPAIR. SHE TOOK A LONG TRIP AND THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. ON A SHORTER TRIP, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH TO THE DEALER, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $5,000 AND COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACTUALLY BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE HEAD FAILED BEFORE AT 28,000 MILES. SHE BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED THE FIRST TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB 12/31/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10211317
56,000 miles · Jul 18, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingParking Brake
WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT! HEAD LIGHT OUT OF ADJUSTMENT BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING ENGINE STARED RUNNING ROUGH FEW HOURS AFTER WE DROVE OFF A CD WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE PLAYER DOOR NEEDED ALIGNMENT PARKING BRAKES NOT WORKING RIGHT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10162718
25,507 miles · Jan 25, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NO OTH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10148587
80,580 miles · Jan 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I STARTED MY CAR IN THE AM AND NOTICED MY TRAC LIGHT WAS ON(KNOWING IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ON UNLESS I AM IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THEN I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE AND FOUND OUT MY ENGINE COOLANT FAN INTERNALLY SHORTED, THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR, A SENSOR AN ELEMENT AND A FUSE KIT. AT A SUBSTANTIAL C…
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I STARTED MY CAR IN THE AM AND NOTICED MY TRAC LIGHT WAS ON(KNOWING IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ON UNLESS I AM IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THEN I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE AND FOUND OUT MY ENGINE COOLANT FAN INTERNALLY SHORTED, THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR, A SENSOR AN ELEMENT AND A FUSE KIT. AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO MY JOB AND HOME. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10147186
62,657 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER ENGINE MAKES A POPPING SOUND AS IF IT IS GOING TO EXPLODED. *TS THE CONSUEMR REPLACED THE TIMING GEAR, CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND PULLEY ON 2/22/2005. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138874
53,906 miles · Sep 19, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN GEAR, TENSIONER, AND CHAIN ITSELF. IT WAS REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2005, AND NEEDED TO REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SPOTTED THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION. …
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DT: 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN GEAR, TENSIONER, AND CHAIN ITSELF. IT WAS REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2005, AND NEEDED TO REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SPOTTED THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT ABOUT TO FALL OUT. THERE WAS A LOT OF POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE, THAT WAS HOW THIS WAS NOTICED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10136936
54,033 miles · Aug 23, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE 2002, CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAD A DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM. THE DASH CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPAIRED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL THEM HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAD. THE CONSUMER WANTED SATISFACTION AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE CONSU…
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DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE 2002, CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAD A DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM. THE DASH CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPAIRED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL THEM HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAD. THE CONSUMER WANTED SATISFACTION AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CHANGING THE OIL TOLD HER THAT THE CAR WAS TOO NEW TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD A NEW ONE PUT IN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG BEFORE THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE GAS LEVER WAS WORKING. SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE CONTACTED GM OR NOT. SHE CONTACTED A DEALER. *AK THE DASH CLUSTER WAS INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH THE GAUGES NOT WORKING SINCE THE #2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE AND THE TRACTION LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10130090
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2002 VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ALREADY PUT A NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TIRES (ACCEPTABLE) TWO SETS OF BRAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHY SO THEREFORE I CAN'T GET AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT IS OFF. HELP. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10104712