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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

16 reports
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8,663 miles · Dec 11, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingLatches/locks/linkages

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS TURNED OFF THEN FLICKERED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS OPERATED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK ON FOR OCCASIONS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONSUMER IS EXPER…

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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON. WHEN DRIVING LIGHTS TURNED OFF THEN FLICKERED. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS OPERATED POORLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.*AK ON FOR OCCASIONS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. ANOTHER PROBLEM CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING IS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE IN USE. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DURING ONE SERVICE VISIT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM WAS PROGRAMMED. EVEN AFTER SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS VEHICLE STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HAZARD LIGHTS.*MR

NHTSA ODI #10050410

20,000 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Visibility

SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT DEVELOPED A LEAK WHEN IT RAINED OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS WASHED. THE LEAK WAS CAUSING THE INNER LINING OF THE ROOF TO DETERIORATE BECAUSE OF THE WATER INTAKE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10046391

30,000 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Visibility

POWER WINDOWS FAIL-THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WITH ONE YEAR THAT THE POWER WINDOW HAS FAILED, ORIGINALLY THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED, HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED, NOW THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER HAS FAILED AND AT TIMES THE LEFT DRIVER'S WINDOW STOPS WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10036990

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2002
Visibility

I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. GLASS WENT IN THE CAR AND OUT, THE GLASS THAT WAS LEFT IN THE SUNROOF WAS ALL POINTED UP . IT WAS AROUND 35-40 DEGREES NO RAIN/HAIL. DEALER SAYING A ROCK HIT IT, NO ROCK FOUND AND THE GLASS WOULD BE POINTED DOWN IF SOMETHING STRUCK IT.

NHTSA ODI #10000599

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Visibility

CONSUMER STATES SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE INOPERATIVE, HAD VEHICLE SERVICED 3 TIMES, PROBLEM STILL ACCURS. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019792

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2002
Electrical SystemVisibility

THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WINDOWS, SUNROOF AND IGNITION. MR

NHTSA ODI #767844

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.