JUST PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF ANY OF THE 5 RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. THE NHTSA RECALL PAGE ISN'T WORKING AT THIS TIME AND THE CHEVY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ISN'T WILLING TO HELP. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE??
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.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →Model-year median: 140
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 196 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 35 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 22 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 22 reports
- Steering: 16 reports
- Visibility: 16 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
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.
Steering complaints
16 reportsDRIVER WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I684, ON THE EXIT RAMP TO 287 WEST, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED TO SHUT OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND BRAKE. DRIVER RAN OFF THE ROAD AND WENT NOSE FIRST INTO A DITCH, DAMAGING THE FRAME, RADIATOR, AIRCO AND NOSE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. *TR
WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ON-RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I WAS USING MY MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICE (SIGNALING MY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THEN ONCE AT 65MPH SETTING CRUISE CONTROL) WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKED. I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COASTED/BRAKE…
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WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ON-RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I WAS USING MY MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICE (SIGNALING MY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THEN ONCE AT 65MPH SETTING CRUISE CONTROL) WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKED. I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COASTED/BRAKED MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TRIED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT WAS ON A SATURDAY. ON MONDAY WHEN THE SHOP WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THEY TRIED THE CAR AND IT STARTED/RAN JUST FINE. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE TOW ONLY. PREVIOUSLY, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. SIMILARLY DEAD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION - REPLACED THAT TWICE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP - REPLACED THAT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH-REPLACED THAT THREE TIMES. WINTER 2013 THE CAR STARTED FINE AND THEN A BLOCK FROM HOME ALL POWER WENT OUT AND ENGINE FAILED TO START UP AGAIN. TOWED CAR TO ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RUSTED OUT WIRE. REPLACED THE WIRE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. THEY REPLACED ANOTHER WIRE. I'VE NOTICE THE CAR WILL THINK A BLINKER IS OUT BEFORE THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST FAILS. *TR
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 APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL EXHIBITED SEVERE LOOSENESS. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURES. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL EXHIBITED SEVERE LOOSENESS. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURES. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT BY LIFTING UP THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT ONLY STATED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT BY LIFTING UP THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT ONLY STATED HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE AND TRANSMISSION TYPE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,810.
TWO YEARS AGO MY 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER(THEN TWO YEARS OLD) HAD THE BARREL THAT THE KEY GOES INTO ON THE STEERING COLUMN BREAK. NOW, TWO YEARS LATER IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMI…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TOTALED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVILER. ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE CONTACT TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A PIN THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN AND THIS FELL OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS IRREPLACEABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUF…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVILER. ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE CONTACT TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A PIN THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN AND THIS FELL OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS IRREPLACEABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD TOO MANY MILES.*AK
BOUGHT VEHICLE AT 48,048MILES...2 WEEKS AFTER BUYING VEHICLE, STEERING KNUCKLE ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS IN NEED OF REPAIR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO MAKE CLICKING AND HIGH PITCHED NOISE UNDER COASTING AND SLOWING OF VEHICLE. DEALER IS REPLACING STEERING KNUCKLE ON VEHICLE UNDER WARRENTY.
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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