IllustrationDEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP TWICE, AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED . *NLM. *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
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsWHILE 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…
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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
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 …
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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.
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, THERE WAS VIBRATION AND PULSATION ON DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. VEHICLE SLID AND THE AXLE BROKE. WHEEL AND RIM CAME OFF, VEHICLE HIT MEDIAN, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *AK *TT
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.