← New search

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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

116,872 miles · May 21, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DEALER 7/12/13 WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: NON-WORKING ODOMETER, BLINKERS, BRAKE LIGHTS THAT FREQUENTLY "SHORT" OUT & A NON-WORKING WINDSHIELD FLUID FUNCTION. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER TO TAKE VEHICLE HOME & RETURN IT THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF ALL THE ABOVE NOTATIONS THAT WERE DISCOVERED D…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM DEALER 7/12/13 WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: NON-WORKING ODOMETER, BLINKERS, BRAKE LIGHTS THAT FREQUENTLY "SHORT" OUT & A NON-WORKING WINDSHIELD FLUID FUNCTION. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER TO TAKE VEHICLE HOME & RETURN IT THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR THE REPAIRS OF ALL THE ABOVE NOTATIONS THAT WERE DISCOVERED DURING A TEST DRIVE. UPON THE TIME OF RETURN, I WAS SADLY & RUDELY APPROACHED BY THE DEALER. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT CLAIM TO FIX THESE ISSUES? ON 7/17/13, I FILED A "COMPLAINT" WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU REGARDING THIS POOR BUSINESS TRANSACTION. ALL OF WHICH, I HAVE PROOF. DESPITE MY ENDLESS EFFORTS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT HAS BEEN DONE ON MY BEHALF. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER A NUMBER OF TIMES, BECAUSE OF MY FAILING BRAKE LIGHTS - WHICH HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I HAVE HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF POTENTIAL DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, WHERE MY BLINKERS HAVE FAILED & BEING STUCK "NOT" KNOWING HOW MUCH MILEAGE I HAVE ON MY CAR. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE I CANNOT GET RESOLVED & AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU MAY ASSIST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593311

77,115 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingSuspension

I BOUGHT THIS CAR A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 2005, AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS 25K ORIGINAL MILES SO I WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN 5 RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR VARIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS, NONE OF WHICH I WAS EVER TOLD ABOUT PRIOR OR DURING MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SIGNALS HAVE FAILED, I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM …

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT THIS CAR A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER IN 2005, AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS 25K ORIGINAL MILES SO I WAS TOLD. SINCE THEN I HAVE FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN 5 RECALLS ON THIS CAR FOR VARIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS, NONE OF WHICH I WAS EVER TOLD ABOUT PRIOR OR DURING MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. THE SIGNALS HAVE FAILED, I HAD TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED, THE BEARINGS ON THE TIRES CAUSED DRY ROT AND I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THOSE, BOTH WERE ON THE RECALL LIST. THE ENGINE WOULD OVER HEAT IN THE IDLE POSITION, AND THEY REPLACED AN AIR FILTER SITTING THAT AS THE PROBLEM AND IT WASN'T. THE PEDAL STICKS WHEN I ACCELERATE AND SOMETIMES GETS STUCK, THE ROCKERARMS HAVE STARTED TO GO BAD AND IT HAS CAUSED THE VALVE STEMS TO BEND,THUS CAUSING THE OILPUMP TO SEIZE UP AND NOW MY CARS ENGINE HAS A BLOWN GASKET,THIS IS UNDER THE ENGINE COMPONENT SYSTEM RECALL, WHICH WAS REPORTED IN 2007. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. AND NOW IM PAYING 350 PER MONTH FOR A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10315340

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WILL BLINK FOR A SHORT TIME THEN GO STATIONARY. NEW BULBS ARE PUT IN REGULARLY BUT THE SOCKET IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE BULB SECURELY RESULTING IN THE BLINKERS NOT WORKING MOST OF THE TIME. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC SO I HAD HIM REPLACE THE…

Read full complaint

BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WILL BLINK FOR A SHORT TIME THEN GO STATIONARY. NEW BULBS ARE PUT IN REGULARLY BUT THE SOCKET IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE BULB SECURELY RESULTING IN THE BLINKERS NOT WORKING MOST OF THE TIME. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC SO I HAD HIM REPLACE THE BULBS WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, HE DID THIS IN THE EVENING, THE NEXT DAY I USED THE BLINKER IF WORKED FINE FOR MY FIRST TURN THEN THE SECOND TURN IT WAS A FAST BLINK WHICH INDICATES THAT ONE OR MORE BULBS ARE BURNED OUT WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE BULBS AGAIN LATER THAT EVENING. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE CHANGED THESE BULBS AND STILL NOTHING IS WORKING. I AM AFRAID OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE HAND SIGNALS FOR LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WANT OVER $100.00 FOR A NEW SOCKET. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AT MY COST WHEN THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178140

61,000 miles · Nov 9, 2006
Exterior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TAIL LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WERE OBSERVED TO BE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TAIL LIGHT CIRCUIT BOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10173040

56,000 miles · Jul 18, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingParking Brake

WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS INSPECTED BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT! HEAD LIGHT OUT OF ADJUSTMENT BRAKE AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING ENGINE STARED RUNNING ROUGH FEW HOURS AFTER WE DROVE OFF A CD WAS FOUND STUCK IN THE PLAYER DOOR NEEDED ALIGNMENT PARKING BRAKES NOT WORKING RIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10162718

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2005
Exterior Lighting

DRIVER NOTICED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10113822

50,000 miles · Feb 8, 2005
Exterior Lighting

THE BLINKER ASSEMBLY UNIT IS BURNING OUT THE BULB ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE EVERY OTHER DAY. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WHO WANTS TO CHARGE THE OWNER $34.00 JUST TO LOOK AT THE DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111076

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.