2002 Chevrolet Cavalier problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (12) · Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls (10) · Steering (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Cavalier model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
102 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (444)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Electrical System 2024-08-26 · General Communication · Service Campaign
vehicle wide programming (vwp) is a new process to update software on gm vehicles. it provides the ability via a single selection within techline connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). the updating of modules is com
Showing the 6 most recent of 444 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-06-07 · Seat Belts · 💥 crash“was in a horrible car wreck yesterday and none of my airbag is avoid but yet my no check engine light none of my lights were on so i don't understand the problem you could have nearly killed me is what i got spent around three times and put back at the gas station that i left…”
2023-06-07 · Unknown Or Other“horn doesn't work..replaced fuse still not working..so i wonder if my air bag will work...how do i fix it no body know not even the dealer…”
2021-05-06 · Steering“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??…”
2020-07-19 · Exterior Lighting · 170,000 mi“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 ma…”
2017-08-12 · Electrical System · 150,000 mi“key get stuck in ignition in the on position. cannot shut the car off or remove the key. must pull ignition fuse to shut off engine and then disconnect the battery. gm acknowledge this as a problem in 2014 but never issued a recall.…”
2016-11-04 · Structure:body · 60,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet cavalier. the contact stated that the dashboard of the vehicle was fractured and deteriorating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired due to parts being unavailable. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the fail…”
2015-01-22 · Service Brakes · 70,000 mi“brake lines are corroded way too early. began leaking. i'm trying to replace them myself, because i don't have 1500-2000 dollars for parts and labor. luckily the brakes pedals went to the floor in the driveway when i found the leaks. *tr…”
2014-11-30 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 165,000 mi“car would just not turn over. can not hear fuel pump running. *tr…”
2014-11-11 · Steering · 90,000 mi · 💥 crash“driver was heading south on i684, on the exit ramp to 287 west, in heavy traffic. vehicle suddenly appeared to shut off, making it impossible to steer and brake. driver ran off the road and went nose first into a ditch, damaging the frame, radiator, airco and nose of vehicle. the vehicle was totaled as a result. *tr…”
2014-09-14 · Unknown Or Other · 63,543 mi“the ignition switch locked and would not operate. first there was a problem with the ignition turning on and shutting off. then after the vehicle was parked, the ignition would not switch on. just like the information disseminated about the chevy cobalt, but a year before the announced recall. i contacted gm but they indicated that my make, mo…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.