IllustrationWAS DRIVING A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS SPORT AT 40 MPH. WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME,I ENDED UP T-BONING THE 2ND VEHICLE AT 40MPH NO TIME TO HIT BRAKES, ALL FONTAL DAMAGE AND AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.*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
What owners actually said
196 reportsFRONT ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY, ABOUT EVERY 10000 MILES. GRINDING NOISE HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS, WHETHER IN GEAR OR COASTING & NOT BRAKE RELATED. PREMATURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. *AK
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
WHILE REVERSING ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK AND THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE PLASTIC COVER AT THE ANCHORAGE POINT OF THE SEAT BELT STRUCK THE FRONT PASSENGER IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD. THE PASSENGER HAD TO GET 14 STITCHES. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, THEN STOPPED. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. THEN, CALLED THE DEALER/MECHANIC, WHO SENT SOMEONE TO PICK UP CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS LATER CALLED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED B…
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CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, THEN STOPPED. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. THEN, CALLED THE DEALER/MECHANIC, WHO SENT SOMEONE TO PICK UP CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS LATER CALLED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS TOO NEW. ALSO, CONSUMER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS STILL FLOWING AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY.*AK CONSUMER WAS IN THE LEFT LANE PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TURN ON HIS HAZARD LIGHTS. *PH
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEELS OF HER VEHICLE LOCKED WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THEM. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A POLE, INJURING BOTH HER AND HER DAUGHTER. CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A SPRAINED RIGHT ARM AND A BUMP ON HER HEAD. HER DAUGHTER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ARM AND KNEES.…
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CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WHEELS OF HER VEHICLE LOCKED WHICH PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THEM. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO A POLE, INJURING BOTH HER AND HER DAUGHTER. CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A SPRAINED RIGHT ARM AND A BUMP ON HER HEAD. HER DAUGHTER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER ARM AND KNEES. CONSUMER STATED SHE REPORTED THE VEHICLE'S BEHAVIOR TO THE DEALER/MECHANIC TWICE BEFORE, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE INTO THE MECHANIC TO BE CHECKED. SHE STATED THAT EACH TIME SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE CHECKED, SHE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK. SHE STATED THAT SHE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. PLEASE HELP.*JB
CAR SURGES WHEN COLD, UNDER SLOW ACCELERATION. GIVES A FEELING OF HOLDING BACK, UNDER SLOW ACCELERATION. RUNS FINE WHEN WARM. FIRST 3 MINUTES THEN CLEARS UP. *LA
THE WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TOO SHORT AND WILL INTERMITTENTLY CAUSE THE AC TO KICK IN. WHEN THE AC KICKS IN THIS WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. *PH
CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENTS ENHANCED TRACKING SYSTEM CAME ON. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
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
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.