IllustrationDEFECT IN 2002 CAVALIER ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM [ETS}. *BF *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
280–25K
1625–50K
3150–75K
1275–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
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
What owners actually said
196 reportsVEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY, OTHER VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY EXCEEDING SPEED OF 50 MPH. *BF THE CONSUMER IS SUING TURNERVILLE AUTO COMPLEX FOR REPAIRS MADE TO AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DEFECT IN THE ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM OR ETS SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. *TC
HARD START/NO CRANK REGARDING IGNITION. BURNING SMELL.......FROM ENGINE..2002 CHEVY CAVALIER. *NM
CONSUMER STATED FUEL FILLER NECK DEVELOPED A BLOCKAGE. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO FILL HE VEHICLE FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART,BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISIN IN WHICH ANOTHER VEHICLE HYDROPLANED HEAD-ON AND THEN ONTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THIS 4 DOOR CHEVROLET CAVALIER. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN HER BOOSTER SEAT THAT WAS ANCHORED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT. THE UPRIGHT PART OF THE BACK SEAT WAS DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET WHICH ALLOWED ALL THE …
Read full complaint
THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISIN IN WHICH ANOTHER VEHICLE HYDROPLANED HEAD-ON AND THEN ONTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THIS 4 DOOR CHEVROLET CAVALIER. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN HER BOOSTER SEAT THAT WAS ANCHORED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BACK SEAT. THE UPRIGHT PART OF THE BACK SEAT WAS DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET WHICH ALLOWED ALL THE LUGGAGE IN THE TRUNK TO COME FORWARD. THIS THEN PUSHED THE BOOSTER SEAT TO THE SIDE WITH ALL THE LUGGAGE UP AGAINST HER.*AK
WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR TO OPEN WHILE IN MOTION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
WHEN DRIVING, CAN SMELL COOLANT AND SEE GREASY FILM ON WINDSHIELD. WHICH MAKES ALL OCCUPANTS THIRSTY. (THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE IT HIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES) OVERFLOW COMPARTMENT FOR COOLANT STARTED OVERFLOWING AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEEPS MOVING AROUND, AND STAYS ABOVE NORMAL MOST OF THE TIME…
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING, CAN SMELL COOLANT AND SEE GREASY FILM ON WINDSHIELD. WHICH MAKES ALL OCCUPANTS THIRSTY. (THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE IT HIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES) OVERFLOW COMPARTMENT FOR COOLANT STARTED OVERFLOWING AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEEPS MOVING AROUND, AND STAYS ABOVE NORMAL MOST OF THE TIME. WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST DIED OUT ON ME, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MOVED OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY. WITH ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE HEAT SENSOR WAS OUT AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT. THE GAUGE CONTINUED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. I HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS WAS ALL IN THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS. *JB
DRIVERS SEAT BELT/SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED TO ENGAGE. *AK
CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE FOR DAUGHTER, AND VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL MAJOR PROBLEMS. VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND HAD A NEW THERMOSTAT AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED. WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT ACTED AS IF DID NOT WANT TO START. VEHICLE WAS JUST NOT FIRING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START. CONSUMER WANTED …
Read full complaint
CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE FOR DAUGHTER, AND VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL MAJOR PROBLEMS. VEHICLE OVERHEATED, AND HAD A NEW THERMOSTAT AND FUEL FILTER REPLACED. WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE IT ACTED AS IF DID NOT WANT TO START. VEHICLE WAS JUST NOT FIRING CORRECTLY BECAUSE IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK THE VEHICLE BECAME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO START AND THE COOLANT AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE COOLANT WAS CHECKED IT WAS AT A NORMAL LEVEL BUT LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING OTHER THAN COOLANT WAS IN THE TANK. THE OIL WAS CHECKED AND LOOKED LIKE BROWN MERKY LIQUID. *NM
Official recalls
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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.