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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 →

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

What owners actually said

196 reports
3,500 miles · May 27, 2003
Power Train

WE BOUGHT THIS CAVALIER IN JULY OF 2002, AT ABOUT 3500 MILES WE STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME THE COMPUTER CRASHED ON IT TWICE. THEY HAD TO FIX IT TWICE. THEY FINALLY GOT THE TRANSMISSION FIXED AND THEN AT THE END OF APRIL 2003 THE TRANSMISSION STA…

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WE BOUGHT THIS CAVALIER IN JULY OF 2002, AT ABOUT 3500 MILES WE STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME THE COMPUTER CRASHED ON IT TWICE. THEY HAD TO FIX IT TWICE. THEY FINALLY GOT THE TRANSMISSION FIXED AND THEN AT THE END OF APRIL 2003 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING FLUID. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY GOT IT FIX. MAKES 6 TIMES THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10020600

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10020033

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2003
Unknown Or Other

DUST ON DASH ACCUMULATING IN A PINKISH COLOR..WOULD LIKE TO SEND SAMPLE OF IT TO YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT I AM BREATHING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017069

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 · Mar 29, 2003
SteeringCrashInjury

I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ROAD BENDS TO THE LEFT (SLIGHTLY) THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 30 MPH I PROCEEDED TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AT 20-25 MPH WHICH I HAVE DONE THOUSANDS OF TIMES THE CAR CAME OUT OF THE TURN AND WOULD NOT RECOVER THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING A TRE…

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I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE ROAD BENDS TO THE LEFT (SLIGHTLY) THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 30 MPH I PROCEEDED TO NEGOTIATE THE TURN AT 20-25 MPH WHICH I HAVE DONE THOUSANDS OF TIMES THE CAR CAME OUT OF THE TURN AND WOULD NOT RECOVER THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL STRIKING A TREE AND INJURING MYSELF THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10013650

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2003
Unknown Or Other

THE OIL DIPSTICK WAS MISMARKED. WHEN OIL IS FILLED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED CAPACITY, THE DIPSTICK READS 5/8 OF AN INCH HIGHER. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10012220

13,000 miles · Mar 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AT 13,000 MILES MY CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE DEALER TURNED THEM AND THE SHAKING STOPPED. THE DEALER SAID THIS COMPONENT WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 12,000 MILES, BUT REPAIRED THE CAR AT NO COST. AT ABOUT 26,000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AGAIN WHEN THE BRAKES …

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AT 13,000 MILES MY CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DEALER SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE DEALER TURNED THEM AND THE SHAKING STOPPED. THE DEALER SAID THIS COMPONENT WAS ONLY WARRANTED FOR 12,000 MILES, BUT REPAIRED THE CAR AT NO COST. AT ABOUT 26,000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AGAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID THE ROTORS WERE AGAIN WARPED, BUT THEY COULD NOT BE TURNED BECAUSE THIS WOULD MAKE THEM TOO THIN. HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ROTORS WITH AN AFTER MARKET SET DUE TO THE FACT THE GM ROTORS SEEM TO WARP PREMATURELY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010384

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

COMPRESSOR NEVER WORKED WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL CONTINUALLY SHORTED OUT, A WIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10010217

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2003
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE AIR BAGS THREE TIMES. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10009806

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2003
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train

TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. …

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TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER. THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID IT WAS THE EXHAUST. THEY PUT A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM ON IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS SYNCHRONIZERS. TSB 02-07-29-001 SERVICED. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED. BUT THIS TIME CHEVY TOLD ME IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. (WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY REPLACE PARTS, AND DO THE TSB IF IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT) THEY TOLD ME I COULD GET A SECOND OPINION, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP OUT OF POCKET. SECOND: I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS 4 TIMES. WHEN DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO SLIGHTLY REV THE GAS TO LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE. THE IDLE WILL STICK. I'VE HAD IT STICK ANYWHERE FROM 2500RPM - 4000RPM. (THE LINKAGE/PEDEL DOSEN'T STICK BUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE COMPUTER, OR FI IS NOT RIGHT. DEALERS DIAGNOSIS "COMPUTER CONTROLS THE IDLE" "NO CODES" "NO PROBLEM". NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR END OTHER CARS ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS NOW OTHER THAN THESE PROBLEMS I'VE ALSO HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STARTER. IT WORKS 99% OF THE TIME CORRECTLY. OTHER TIMES IT GRINDS, SOMETIMES DISENGAGES, TURNS OFF, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. THE DEALER ALSO CAN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #10004901

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.