2002 Chevrolet CAVALIER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
196 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
53,503 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 102 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 196 complaints (10.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 20.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 9.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 8.2% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 4.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 7 |
Electrical System: 20; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 11; Steering: 10; Air Bags: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 94 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 27 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2001: 2; 2002: 30; 2003: 43; 2004: 30; 2005: 27; 2006: 15; 2007: 11; 2008: 3; 2009: 10; 2010: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 6; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000599 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002437 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT REPAIR SHOP TWICE, AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED . *NLM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002526 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED REAR BRAKES SQUEAL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003279 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
DURING FIRST SNOW IN DEC 02, THE ABS IN MY 2MO OLD CAR ACTIVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE NORMAL PEDAL VIBS OCCURED, BUT THERE WAS A PATTERNED PINGING OF A SPRING AT THE PEDALS LOCATION. ALL BRAKING POWER WAS LOST DURING THIS, AND I HAD TO RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE I COULD NOT STOP, EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE AGAIN, WITH THE SAME EFFECT (THIS ALSO OCCURED WHILE PULLING INTO MY GARAGE ON A DRY SURFACE, SO I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO THE BACK WALL). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY CHECKED IT TWICE ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,721 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004308 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THERE IS A GRINDING AND A FLAPPING NOISE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PH *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004901 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER. THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID IT WAS THE EXHAUST. THEY PUT A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM ON IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008560 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
WHEN LEAVING DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND TURNING RIGHT ONTO BUSY 4-LANE HIGHWAY CAR ACCELERATED FROM CREEPING SPEED TO FULL THROTTLE. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THEY MADE A TERRIBLE SOUND AND WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 TO ARTEMIS------769747. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009806 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED THE AIR BAGS THREE TIMES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009806 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.