IllustrationLEFT REAR AXLE FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING ABS FAILED, CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING ON A DRY STREET, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM BRAKED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, TO AVOID A COLLISON, CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR, NOTICING THE ABS LIGHT WAS LIT, CONSUMER DROVE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ABS FAILED, CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK. CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TRAVELING ON A DRY STREET, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM BRAKED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE, TO AVOID A COLLISON, CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR, NOTICING THE ABS LIGHT WAS LIT, CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A PRIVATE FRONT YARD STRIKING A LARGE ROCK, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT TIRE, WHEEL, HUB CAB, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR, BUMPER, FENDER, ROCKER PANEL, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *JB
WHILE DRIVING REVERSE BULB EXPLODED, CAUSING BACK UP LIGHTS TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OR AT A COMPLETE STOP. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
DOOR HINGES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN SLOWLY BECAUSE SPRINGS WERE SHOT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.AK
SPARE TIRE IS TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE TO USE. VEHICLE HAS A SPORTS PACKAGE THAT LOWERS VEHICLE. ALSO, HAS 16 INCH TIRES, WHILE SPARE TIRE IS A SIZE 14. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A 2 AND A HALF INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE ROAD WHEN THE SPARE IS PUT ON, CONSUMER STATES TH…
Read full complaint
SPARE TIRE IS TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE TO USE. VEHICLE HAS A SPORTS PACKAGE THAT LOWERS VEHICLE. ALSO, HAS 16 INCH TIRES, WHILE SPARE TIRE IS A SIZE 14. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A 2 AND A HALF INCH CLEARANCE FROM THE ROAD WHEN THE SPARE IS PUT ON, CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS IS NOT SAFE. *SLC
WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE IN CRUSIE CONTROL GAS PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
CONSUMER'S HUSBAND JUST BROUGHT A BRAND NEW AUTOMOBILE, AND WHILE DRIVING IT HOME TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY WENT INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSED IT TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. DRIVER STOPPED ON HIGHWAY, AND WAITED FOR IT TO SHIFT ITSELF. THEN DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AKI
AT A SPEED OF 35-40 MPH HITTING A FIREBIRD IN THE REAR, MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD. EITHER MY BUMPER IS DESIGNED TO LOW FOR A STRAIGHT ON IMPACT CAUSING THE HIT TO SLIDE UP OVER THE SENSOR AND CRUSH THE HOOD OR THE SENSOR IS POSITIONED POORLY OR MALFUNCTIONED ENTIRELY. MY RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE …
Read full complaint
AT A SPEED OF 35-40 MPH HITTING A FIREBIRD IN THE REAR, MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD. EITHER MY BUMPER IS DESIGNED TO LOW FOR A STRAIGHT ON IMPACT CAUSING THE HIT TO SLIDE UP OVER THE SENSOR AND CRUSH THE HOOD OR THE SENSOR IS POSITIONED POORLY OR MALFUNCTIONED ENTIRELY. MY RADIATOR WAS PUSHED INTO THE ENGINE, IF THE BUMPER WAS NOT HIT HOW COULD THE RADIATOR GO INTO THE ENGINE.
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STALLED LOSING ALL POWER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE PCM MODULE FAILED. NLM. *JB
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.