IllustrationMY CAR HAS A TENDANCY TO NOT START. I SAT IN A PRKING LOT ONCE FOR 10 MINUTES TRYING TO START MY CAVALIER. IT STARTED WHEN THE CAR ONLY HAD 100 MILES ON IT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY DO NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I WANT THIS RESOLVED!!
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 reportsSHIFTER CABLE TO TRANSMISSION BROKE IN HALF
THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED PREMATURELY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
CHARGED 165.00 FOR A SERVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE SHOWED PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKING SYSTEM . BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.*AK
NAR 9-10-03. SAFETY DEFECT IN 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER. ENGINE COOLANT LEAK. *CB
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICE. *JB
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. *JB
THE SPRINGS CAME OUT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. *JB
VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 WELL MAINTAINED MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES A FAINT NOISE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS ONLY NOTICED AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE DECELERATING. NOW IT IS FAINT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND VERY NOISY AT LOW SPEEDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A TURBO-CHARGER SPINNING UP AND DOWN. MR. GOODWRENCH HAS NEVER …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 37,000 WELL MAINTAINED MILES ON IT. AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES A FAINT NOISE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS ONLY NOTICED AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE DECELERATING. NOW IT IS FAINT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND VERY NOISY AT LOW SPEEDS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A TURBO-CHARGER SPINNING UP AND DOWN. MR. GOODWRENCH HAS NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE AND GM POWERTRAIN ENGINEERS SAY IT IS NORMAL. I SAY IT ISN'T. IF IT WERE NORMAL, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW WITH 200 MILES ON IT. THIS IS THE 4TH J-BODY CAR I HAVE OWNED AND THE SECOND WITH THIS TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED COMPLAINT AND NO ONE IS LISTENING. I HAVE BEEN A VERY LOYAL GM OWNER WHO MAY WELL HAVE JUST PURCHASED HIS LAST GM.*AK
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.