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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.

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 →
196Owner complaints

Model-year median: 140

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View 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

    Other model years Selected year
    240
    1999    315
    2000    243
    2001    196
    2002    678
    2003    330
    2004    287
    2005
    Compare all Cavalier years →

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

    What owners reported most

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

    Wheels complaints

    3 reports
    Clear category filter
    106,400 miles · Sep 7, 2005
    Wheels

    DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RIM FAILURE ON THE ALLOY WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER FELT A SUDDEN DROP IN THE CAR AS IF THE TIRE HAD WENT FLAT AND FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD A HOLE IN IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO FISTS. THE CONSUMER …

    Read full complaint

    DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RIM FAILURE ON THE ALLOY WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER FELT A SUDDEN DROP IN THE CAR AS IF THE TIRE HAD WENT FLAT AND FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD A HOLE IN IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO FISTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW RIM AND TIRE FOR THE CAR.*AK *MR

    NHTSA ODI #10135536

    Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2003
    WheelsCrashInjury

    CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEELS OF HER VEHICLE LOCKED WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THEM. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A POLE, INJURING BOTH HER AND HER DAUGHTER. CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A SPRAINED RIGHT ARM AND A BUMP ON HER HEAD. HER DAUGHTER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ARM AND KNEES.…

    Read full complaint

    CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEELS OF HER VEHICLE LOCKED WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THEM. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A POLE, INJURING BOTH HER AND HER DAUGHTER. CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A SPRAINED RIGHT ARM AND A BUMP ON HER HEAD. HER DAUGHTER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ARM AND KNEES. CONSUMER STATED SHE REPORTED THE VEHICLE'S BEHAVIOR TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC TWICE BEFORE, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO THE MECHANIC TO BE CHECKED. SHE STATED THAT EACH TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED, SHE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK. SHE STATED THAT SHE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. PLEASE HELP.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #10048590

    Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2003
    Wheels

    CONSUMER HIT A PIECE OF WOOD THAT HAD FALLEN OFF OF ANOTHER VEHICLE RESULTING IN BROKEN LEFT RIM. THE NEXT DAY THE RIGHT RIM WAS DAMAGED AFTER HITTING A DEEP POT HOLE. *MR PH

    NHTSA ODI #10024053

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No 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.