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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
25,000 miles · Jun 19, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DISPLAYS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DISPLAY THAT GOES OFF MOST FREQUENT IS THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *NM UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160157

52,000 miles · Mar 15, 2006
SteeringFire

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMI…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. UPON INSPECTION, THE FIRE MARSHAL DETERMINED THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED ONTO THE ENGINE CAUSING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED TOTALED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.

NHTSA ODI #10152791

25,507 miles · Jan 25, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NO OTH…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10148587

80,580 miles · Jan 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I STARTED MY CAR IN THE AM AND NOTICED MY TRAC LIGHT WAS ON(KNOWING IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ON UNLESS I AM IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THEN I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE AND FOUND OUT MY ENGINE COOLANT FAN INTERNALLY SHORTED, THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR, A SENSOR AN ELEMENT AND A FUSE KIT. AT A SUBSTANTIAL C…

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I STARTED MY CAR IN THE AM AND NOTICED MY TRAC LIGHT WAS ON(KNOWING IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ON UNLESS I AM IN 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. THEN I SMELLED BURNING ELECTRICAL. TOOK IT TO THE CHEVY GARAGE AND FOUND OUT MY ENGINE COOLANT FAN INTERNALLY SHORTED, THEY REPLACED THE FAN MOTOR, A SENSOR AN ELEMENT AND A FUSE KIT. AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO MY JOB AND HOME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147186

53,100 miles · Nov 28, 2005
Parking BrakeSeat Belts

DT:THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. THE REAR SEAT BELT WERE NOT RETRACTING. A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKEN ON THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE SEAT BELTS COULD BE REPAIRED AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. , THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO , THE EM…

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DT:THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. THE REAR SEAT BELT WERE NOT RETRACTING. A PIECE OF PLASTIC BROKEN ON THE SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND THE SEAT BELTS COULD BE REPAIRED AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. , THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO , THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP ADJUSTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED IT WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143792

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2005
Equipment

2002 CHEVY CAVALIER LS THE TAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FRAME WITH THE RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE AND PSI INFORMATION HAS WORN OFF .... MY CALLS TO GM HAVE RESULTED WITH THEM SAYING 5 PSI BELOW MAX PRESSURE ON THE TIRE THAT WOULD PUT THE TIRE PRESSURE AT 45 PSI WHICH SEEMS INSANE... AS A PERSON WHO HAS HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE …

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2002 CHEVY CAVALIER LS THE TAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FRAME WITH THE RECOMMENDED TIRE SIZE AND PSI INFORMATION HAS WORN OFF .... MY CALLS TO GM HAVE RESULTED WITH THEM SAYING 5 PSI BELOW MAX PRESSURE ON THE TIRE THAT WOULD PUT THE TIRE PRESSURE AT 45 PSI WHICH SEEMS INSANE... AS A PERSON WHO HAS HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE INTERSTATE I AM CONCERNED WITH THIS ANSWER. IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR EVERY ONE WHO OWNS THESE CARS AND THE TAG HAS WORN OFF ... INSIDE THE OWNERS MANUAL IT SAYS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED PSI ON THE TAG TO AVOID EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND POSSIBLE ROAD HAZARDS. SHOULDN'T THE TAG STILL BE INTACT AFTER 3 YEARS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143644

80,500 miles · Oct 20, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY CAR IS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND HAS A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR (I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOG WELL OVER 220,000 MILES ON PAST CARS OVER 5-6 YEARS DUE TO HIGHWAY MILEAGE). ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME THE "TRAC-OFF" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY LOSE SPEED. EVENTUALLY THE TRAC OFF …

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MY CAR IS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND HAS A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR (I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOG WELL OVER 220,000 MILES ON PAST CARS OVER 5-6 YEARS DUE TO HIGHWAY MILEAGE). ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME THE "TRAC-OFF" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY LOSE SPEED. EVENTUALLY THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED ON THE CAR BEGAN TO DIE OUT ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROLE. AS A RESULT I HAD MY CAR TOWED IN AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. TOTAL COSTS WERE WELL OVER $800.00. I WROTE TO GM BUT WAS REJECTED ON REIMBURSEMENT. THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS I'VE LOOKED AT COMPLAINTS THE FIRESTONE AUTO REPAIR CENTER SAID THE DESIGN/PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED THEM TO BURN OUT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140350

62,657 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER ENGINE MAKES A POPPING SOUND AS IF IT IS GOING TO EXPLODED. *TS THE CONSUEMR REPLACED THE TIMING GEAR, CHAIN, TENSIONER, AND PULLEY ON 2/22/2005. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MAKE LOUD NOISES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138874

94,000 miles · Sep 27, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DT: THE CALLER SAID TAIL LIGHTS RUSTED AROUND THE SOCKET AND CAUSED THE TAILS LIGHT NOT TO WORK. THE CALLER SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON OTHER YEARS OF MODEL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER OFFERED NO HELP FOR FREE. MANUFACTURER SAID THE CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10137831

53,906 miles · Sep 19, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN GEAR, TENSIONER, AND CHAIN ITSELF. IT WAS REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2005, AND NEEDED TO REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SPOTTED THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION. …

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DT: 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN GEAR, TENSIONER, AND CHAIN ITSELF. IT WAS REPLACED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2005, AND NEEDED TO REPLACED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SPOTTED THE PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE SERVICE STATION. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT ABOUT TO FALL OUT. THERE WAS A LOT OF POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE, THAT WAS HOW THIS WAS NOTICED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10136936

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.