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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
106,400 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Wheels

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RIM FAILURE ON THE ALLOY WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER FELT A SUDDEN DROP IN THE CAR AS IF THE TIRE HAD WENT FLAT AND FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD A HOLE IN IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO FISTS. THE CONSUMER …

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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RIM FAILURE ON THE ALLOY WHEELS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE CONSUMER FELT A SUDDEN DROP IN THE CAR AS IF THE TIRE HAD WENT FLAT AND FOUND THAT THE RIM HAD A HOLE IN IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF TWO FISTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP/ MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW RIM AND TIRE FOR THE CAR.*AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10135536

54,033 miles · Aug 23, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE 2002, CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAD A DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM. THE DASH CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPAIRED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL THEM HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAD. THE CONSUMER WANTED SATISFACTION AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE CONSU…

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DT: THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE 2002, CHEVROLET CAVALIER HAD A DASH CLUSTER PROBLEM. THE DASH CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPAIRED, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT TELL THEM HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAD. THE CONSUMER WANTED SATISFACTION AND THE TRUTH ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE INDIVIDUAL CHANGING THE OIL TOLD HER THAT THE CAR WAS TOO NEW TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. ALSO, THERE WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD A NEW ONE PUT IN. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG BEFORE THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE GAS LEVER WAS WORKING. SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE CONTACTED GM OR NOT. SHE CONTACTED A DEALER. *AK THE DASH CLUSTER WAS INOPERATIVE ALONG WITH THE GAUGES NOT WORKING SINCE THE #2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE AND THE TRACTION LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10130090

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2005
Steering

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVILER. ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE CONTACT TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A PIN THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN AND THIS FELL OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS IRREPLACEABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUF…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVILER. ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE CONTACT TILTED THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A PIN THAT HELD THE STEERING COLUMN AND THIS FELL OUT, AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WAS IRREPLACEABLE. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT WANT TO FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD TOO MANY MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10133559

33,000 miles · Jul 14, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS BROADSIDED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER ON JULY 8, 2005. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY PUSHED IN. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY STOMACH AREA, RESULTING IN 3 DAYS OF NON-ST…

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I WAS BROADSIDED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER ON JULY 8, 2005. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE COMPLETELY PUSHED IN. THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER'S AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY STOMACH AREA, RESULTING IN 3 DAYS OF NON-STOP VOMITING.

NHTSA ODI #10128718

3,550 miles · Jun 22, 2005
Service Brakes, AirCrash

AUG 31 2002, PURCHASED VEHICLE. DECEMBER 5, 2002: ABS ACTIVATED - LOST BRAKE POWER, SAILED THROUGH RED LIGHT. ABS ACTIVATED ON DRY PAVEMENT IN GARAGE, NO DECELERATION, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT COLLISION WITH BACK WALL OF GARAGE. DECEMBER 9, 2002: TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP/ MECHANIC AND MANAGER DROVE THE VEH…

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AUG 31 2002, PURCHASED VEHICLE. DECEMBER 5, 2002: ABS ACTIVATED - LOST BRAKE POWER, SAILED THROUGH RED LIGHT. ABS ACTIVATED ON DRY PAVEMENT IN GARAGE, NO DECELERATION, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT COLLISION WITH BACK WALL OF GARAGE. DECEMBER 9, 2002: TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP/ MECHANIC AND MANAGER DROVE THE VEHICLE. SAID ABS WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. JANUARY 21, 2003: BRAKES FAILED CAUSING REAR-END COLLLISION. AIRBAGS DIDNT DEPLOY $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END - LESS THAT 4000 MILES ON VEH. CONTACTED GMC, EXPLAINED EVENTS . GMC INVESTIGATOR DOWNLOADED DATA FROM ABS/AIR BAG DEVICE. FROM THAT INFORMATION ALONE, GMC DETERMINED NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES WITHOUT DRIVING IT -UNDRIVABLE DAMAGE. I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS PRINT OUT. IMMEDIATELY UPON GETTING MY VEHICLE BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, I NOTICE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. REPAIR MECH STATES HE DIDNT TOUCH THE BRAKES - WASNT ACCIDENT RELATED. DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THE ACCIDENT EVEN AFTER REPAIR MECH TOLD THEM DIRECTLY IT WASNT. DEALER TURNED MY ROTORS AND REPLACED THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING WHICH WAS BROKEN. I STILL HAVE CONSISTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS -ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON/DOESNT ACTIVATE WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO/WHEN ACTIVATED IT DOESNT SLOW THE CAR DOWN/WHEN ACTIVATES -ALL BRAKE POWER IS GONE. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOCKS UP AND SKIDS REGULARLY WHEN BRAKING BUT ABS DOESNT ACTIVATE. AN INDEPENDANT MECH POINTED OUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD TURNED MY ROTORS TO A POINT BEYOND THE "MACHINE TO" AND THEY FAILED TO SAND THE ROTORS WHICH WAS CAUSING THE HORRIBLE GRINDING. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP GENERAL AND MAINTENANCE MANAGERS. WE ALL OBSERVED REMEASURING OF THE ROTORS THEN THEY REPLACED THEM *TOO THIN*. MANAGERS STATED THEY DIDNT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT "MACHINE TO" SPECIFICATIONS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DONT SAND ROTORS AFTER TURNING THEM. UNTRUE: THE SECOND TIME THEY TURNED THEM, THEY DID SAND THEM .

NHTSA ODI #10126212

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2005
Visibility

PURCHASED CAR IN MARCH 2003. IN NOV. 2003, FUEL PUMP AND HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT AND NEEDED REPLACING. IN SEPT. 2004 REPLACED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. IN DEC. 2004 REPLACED BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. NOW, IN JUNE 2005, FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR GONE BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING. SURE HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK IN A CAR THA…

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PURCHASED CAR IN MARCH 2003. IN NOV. 2003, FUEL PUMP AND HEAD GASKETS WENT OUT AND NEEDED REPLACING. IN SEPT. 2004 REPLACED DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. IN DEC. 2004 REPLACED BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. NOW, IN JUNE 2005, FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR GONE BAD AND NEEDS REPLACING. SURE HAVE PUT A LOT OF WORK IN A CAR THAT IS NOT VERY OLD. 4 BAD WINDOW REGULATORS IS JUST RIDICULOUS!!!

NHTSA ODI #10125658

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2005
Electrical System

DT: CONTACT STATES THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD KEPT GOING OUT, EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS BAD GASOLINE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATES THE PARTS WERE TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC, HE STATED THE FUEL LINES WERE FINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10125134

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2005
Electrical System

GOING TO THE BANK TO USE AN ATM MACHINE...ROLLED WINDOW DOWN, BUT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP...EARLIER I HAD MY CAR WORKED ON DUE TO CRACKED DASH...WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR SPOILER WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STARTING TO CRACK AGAIN...WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN AND GO TO USE THE BRAKES IT SLIDE TO THE RIGHT AND SEEMS TO LOCK U…

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GOING TO THE BANK TO USE AN ATM MACHINE...ROLLED WINDOW DOWN, BUT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP...EARLIER I HAD MY CAR WORKED ON DUE TO CRACKED DASH...WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR SPOILER WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STARTING TO CRACK AGAIN...WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN AND GO TO USE THE BRAKES IT SLIDE TO THE RIGHT AND SEEMS TO LOCK UP ON THE FRONT PASSAGER SIDE...NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE BRAKE, BECAUSE THE DEALER LOOKS AT ME AS IF I AM CRAZY...THE DASH WAS REPLACED...

NHTSA ODI #10120153

40,000 miles · Apr 25, 2005
Electrical SystemSeat BeltsVisibility

I GOT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. IT IS NOT EVERYTIME BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TRY 4 OR 5 TIMES JUST TO GET IT TO START. MY SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT. I'M NOT A FAT PERSON , AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE BIG ENOUGH TO RUIN MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. MY REAR DEFROSTER BARELY WORKS, AND MY PASS…

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I GOT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. IT IS NOT EVERYTIME BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TRY 4 OR 5 TIMES JUST TO GET IT TO START. MY SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT. I'M NOT A FAT PERSON , AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE BIG ENOUGH TO RUIN MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. MY REAR DEFROSTER BARELY WORKS, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ALREADY WENT BAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10118443

12,000 miles · Apr 18, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS DUE TO DEFECT.*AK *BF *NM

NHTSA ODI #10115106

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.