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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
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2023
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

Horn doesn't work..replaced fuse still not working..so I wonder if my air bag will work...how do I fix it no body know not even the dealer

NHTSA ODI #11525935

Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2023
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

Was in a horrible car wreck yesterday and none of my airbag is avoid but yet my no check engine light none of my lights were on so I don't understand the problem you could have nearly killed me is what I got spent around three times and put back at the gas station that I left

NHTSA ODI #11525914

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2021
Exterior LightingFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

JUST PURCHASED A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT IF ANY OF THE 5 RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. THE NHTSA RECALL PAGE ISN'T WORKING AT THIS TIME AND THE CHEVY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ISN'T WILLING TO HELP. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE??

NHTSA ODI #11415422

170,000 miles · Jul 19, 2020
Exterior Lighting

PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT OPERATES REAR BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAVE CHANGED BULB WHICH ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHANGED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. WORKS FINE FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN EITHER OF THESE ARE CHANGED BUT STILL NOT FIXED. STARTED WITH PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH DRIVER'S SIDE. ONLI…

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PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT OPERATES REAR BLINKERS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAVE CHANGED BULB WHICH ARE NOT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHANGED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. WORKS FINE FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN EITHER OF THESE ARE CHANGED BUT STILL NOT FIXED. STARTED WITH PASSENGER SIDE BUT NOW HAVING ISSUES WITH DRIVER'S SIDE. ONLINE FORUMS SUGGEST MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AS WELL. CANT FIND A PERMANENT FIX. PLEASE HELP. IS NOT BLOWING THE BULBS, JUST STOPS WORKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA ODI #11340196

150,000 miles · Aug 12, 2017
Electrical System

KEY GET STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION. CANNOT SHUT THE CAR OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY. MUST PULL IGNITION FUSE TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND THEN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. GM ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM IN 2014 BUT NEVER ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11014821

60,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED AND DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE WAS FRACTURED AND DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO PARTS BEING UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ UPDATED 7/3/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI #10924264

70,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Service Brakes

BRAKE LINES ARE CORRODED WAY TOO EARLY. BEGAN LEAKING. I'M TRYING TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 1500-2000 DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR. LUCKILY THE BRAKES PEDALS WENT TO THE FLOOR IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I FOUND THE LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10678433

165,000 miles · Nov 30, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

CAR WOULD JUST NOT TURN OVER. CAN NOT HEAR FUEL PUMP RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661319

90,000 miles · Nov 11, 2014
Power TrainService BrakesSteeringCrash

DRIVER WAS HEADING SOUTH ON I684, ON THE EXIT RAMP TO 287 WEST, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED TO SHUT OFF, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER AND BRAKE. DRIVER RAN OFF THE ROAD AND WENT NOSE FIRST INTO A DITCH, DAMAGING THE FRAME, RADIATOR, AIRCO AND NOSE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654166

63,543 miles · Sep 14, 2014
Unknown Or Other

THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION TURNING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. THEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT SWITCH ON. JUST LIKE THE INFORMATION DISSEMINATED ABOUT THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT A YEAR BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED RECALL. I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY INDICA…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPERATE. FIRST THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION TURNING ON AND SHUTTING OFF. THEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT SWITCH ON. JUST LIKE THE INFORMATION DISSEMINATED ABOUT THE CHEVY COBALT, BUT A YEAR BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED RECALL. I CONTACTED GM BUT THEY INDICATED THAT MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I HAD TO INSTALL A IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEY KIT ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR INVOICE. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD A TOTAL REVIEW OF GM VEHICLES OF THE IGNITION PART AS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633036

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.