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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.

About this comparison →
196Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
240
1999315
2000243
2001196
2002678
2003330
2004287
2005
Compare all Cavalier years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
35Engine And Engine Cooling
22Service Brakes, Hydraulic
22Steering
16Visibility
16
All reported categories
Air Bags
14Exterior Lighting
14Fuel System, Gasoline
13Power Train
13Vehicle Speed Control
11Suspension
10Seat Belts
9Structure
9Unknown Or Other
7Seats
6Tires
6Equipment
5Fuel System, Other
3Service Brakes
3Wheels
3Fuel/propulsion System
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Parking Brake
2Service Brakes, Air
2Child Seat
1Electronic Stability Control
1Traction Control System
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
8,663 miles · Dec 11, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS TURNED OFF THEN FLICKERED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS OPERATED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK ON FOR OCCASIONS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONSUMER IS EXPER…

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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS TURNED OFF THEN FLICKERED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS OPERATED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK ON FOR OCCASIONS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE IN USE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DURING ONE SERVICE VISIT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM WAS PROGRAMMED. EVEN AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HAZARD LIGHTS.*MR

NHTSA ODI #10050410

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2003
Exterior Lighting

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED PREMATURELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040139

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2003
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE DEALER CHANGED A MODULE SEVEN TIME BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS. THE CONSUMER IS SCARED TO DRIVE AT NIGHT TIME. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016133

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER STATES THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED HEADLIGHT ARE INOPERATIVE,HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 3 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL ACCURS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019791

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.