IllustrationCONSUMER STATES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 3 TIMES, PROBLEM STILL ACCURS. NLM
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED HEADLIGHT ARE INOPERATIVE,HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 3 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL ACCURS. NLM
THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WINDOWS, SUNROOF AND IGNITION. MR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40-50-MPH THE PLASTIC BUMPER FELL APART, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
WHEN REFUELING VEHICLE IT DOES NOT ALLOW FUEL TO GO IN THE TANK. FUEL WILL SPILL ALL OVER CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF BEING CUT OFF BY AN SUV, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED INJURIES. THE INJURIES INCLUDED UNCONSIOUSNESS, BROKEN STERNUM, SEAT BELT ABRASIONS, CONTUSIONS, CONCUSSION TO NAM…
Read full complaint
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH AND AS A RESULT OF BEING CUT OFF BY AN SUV, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED INJURIES. THE INJURIES INCLUDED UNCONSIOUSNESS, BROKEN STERNUM, SEAT BELT ABRASIONS, CONTUSIONS, CONCUSSION TO NAME A FEW. THE CRASH WAS CONSIDERED A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT TO THE SIDE OF THE SUV INVOLVED. *JG
WHEN ENTERING CAR, THERE WAS A VERY STRONG MOLD SMELL, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY RESEALED THE SEALS, REPLACED PADDING, AND CLEANED CARPETING. ODOR WAS PRESENT, AND CONSUMER WAS ALERGIC TO MOLD.*AK. *YH
2ND CAVALIER WHERE COULD NOT GET HORN TO SOUND IN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. *JG
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
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.