2002 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11525935

Incident

Jun 22, 2016

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

NHTSA ID

11525914

Incident

Jun 6, 2023

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 ID

11415422

Incident

May 6, 2021

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 ID

11340196

Incident

May 21, 2020

Mileage

170,000 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.

NHTSA ID

11014821

Incident

Aug 11, 2017

Mileage

150,000 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ UPDATED 7/3/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ID

10924264

Incident

Nov 8, 2014

Mileage

60,000 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

NHTSA ID

10678433

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

CAR WOULD JUST NOT TURN OVER. CAN NOT HEAR FUEL PUMP RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10661319

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10654166

Incident

Oct 9, 2014

Mileage

90,000 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, MODEL AND YEAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I HAD TO INSTALL A IGNITION CYLINDER AND KEY KIT ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR INVOICE. I BELIEVE THAT SHOULD A TOTAL REVIEW OF GM VEHICLES OF THE IGNITION PART AS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633036

Incident

Jul 14, 2013

Mileage

63,543 mi

WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ON-RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I WAS USING MY MULTI-FUNCTION DEVICE (SIGNALING MY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THEN ONCE AT 65MPH SETTING CRUISE CONTROL) WHEN THE CAR LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE WHEEL LOCKED. I TURNED MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AND COASTED/BRAKED MY WAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO TRIED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT WAS ON A SATURDAY. ON MONDAY WHEN THE SHOP WAS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, THEY TRIED THE CAR AND IT STARTED/RAN JUST FINE. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY CHARGED ME FOR THE TOW ONLY. PREVIOUSLY, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START. SIMILARLY DEAD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION - REPLACED THAT TWICE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP - REPLACED THAT. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH-REPLACED THAT THREE TIMES. WINTER 2013 THE CAR STARTED FINE AND THEN A BLOCK FROM HOME ALL POWER WENT OUT AND ENGINE FAILED TO START UP AGAIN. TOWED CAR TO ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RUSTED OUT WIRE. REPLACED THE WIRE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN SIX MONTHS LATER. THEY REPLACED ANOTHER WIRE. I'VE NOTICE THE CAR WILL THINK A BLINKER IS OUT BEFORE THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST FAILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630431

Incident

Nov 24, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

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 ID

10593311

Incident

Jul 12, 2013

Mileage

116,872 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND A DRIVER TRAVELING WELL UNDER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED SLIDING AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TURN THE WHEEL TO AVOID COLLISION, THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED AND WOULD NOT TURN CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR SQUARE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AIRBAGS NEVER TOUCHED ME, BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE COVER SHATTERED THE PASSENGER WINDOW. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585689

Incident

Apr 29, 2014

MY 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER WAS IN FOR FRONT BRAKES....MECHANIC PHONED AND TOLD ME THAT MY CAR'S SUBFRAME WAS CRACKED. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT WAS COMMON WITH THIS MODEL CAR. CALLED GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CAR (2002) AND MILEAGE (64,500) THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I TOLD GM THAT MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. STILL THEY TOLD ME NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHICH I DID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY I COULD MAKE OTHER FOLKS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS TO CONTACT NHTSA. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE THIS TYPE OF CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN IF NOT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549827

Incident

Oct 17, 2013

Mileage

64,000 mi

ENGINE CRADLE SUBFRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON RIGHT SIDE. LOW MILEAGE, CAR IS PARKED IN A GARAGE, SO IT DOES NOT SIT OUTSIDE ALL DAY AND NIGHT. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME HE HAS SEEN THIS A LOT WITH CHEVYS. HE SAYS IT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WITH GM CARS DRIVEN IN THE NORTH BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER...SO MUCH FOR BEING IMPORTED FROM DETROIT; ISN'T THAT IN THE NORTH? HE SAYS HE CAN ORDER A USED REPLACEMENT FROM THE SOUTHERN US. I KNOW A CAVALIER IS NOT A TOP-OF-THE-LINE CAR, BUT ISN'T THE FRAME SUPPOSED TO BE THE STROGEST PART? COME ON GM, FIX THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES! I WAS GOING TO LET MY 16 YEAR OLD KID DRIVE THE CAR, NOW I HAVE TO TELL HIM THAT HE CAN'T BECAUSE AN AFFORDABLE CAR MADE BY THE BIGGEST US AUTOMAKER IS CHEAPLY MADE AND UNSAFE!? *TR

NHTSA ID

10465998

Incident

Jul 17, 2012

Mileage

72,049 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HIS VECHILE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS ABNORMALLY COLLAPSED BACKWARD AND BOTH THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

NHTSA ID

10437660

Incident

Nov 23, 2011

Mileage

57,000 mi

MULTIPLE TIMES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WOULD NOT FLOW ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. I WOULD FILL THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID TANK SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. FINALLY, I NOTICED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUIDS TUBING INTO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS FLAWED. THE TUBING IS ROUTED SO THAT IT PASSES THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TANK AND SEATS UP AGAINST THE HOT CAR BATTERY. AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE TUBING APPARENTLY HAD ROTTED AND MELTED, AND IT CREATED A HUGE HOLE IN THE TUBING. I DO NOT KNOW WHY GENERAL MOTORS DECIDED TO PASS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TANK, AND SEAT THIS TUBING UP AGAINST THE BATTERY, AND THEN GO DOWN AGAIN, AND FINALLY FIT INTO THE BOTTOM VALVE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TANK, BUT IT SEEMS POINTLESS AND STUPID AND A DEFINITE DESIGN FLAW!!! NOW, I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS TUBING REPAIRED AND PROBABLY REROUTED THE SIMPLER ROUTE, WHICH WOULD ALLOW IT TO BYPASS THE BATTERY, COMPLETELY, INSTEAD OF PRACTICALLY WRAPPING IT AROUND THE BATTERY!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10425297

Incident

Nov 12, 2010

Mileage

48,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SUDDENLY THE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFT AND ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE WITH CAUTION. THE CONTACT DETECTED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10409164

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

Mileage

104,000 mi

WHEN THE CD PLAYER HAVE BEEN ON FOR A FEW MINUTES IT WILL STOP PLAYING BECAUSE IT HAVE GOT OVER HEATED. AN I CANNOT USED IT FOR A LONG TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10400667

Incident

May 9, 2010

MY 2002 CAVALIER HAD THE FUEL PUMP GO. WHEN THE GARAGE FIXED IT THEY SAID THE CLUSTER DOESN'T WORK. THEY KEPT TRYING TO IMPLY THAT IT WAS ALREADY BROKE BUT IT WASN'T. I HAD 2 LIGHT BULBS GONE BUT THAT'S IT. THEY REPLACED IT AND WITHIN A WEEK THE SAME 2 LIGHT BULBS ARE BURNT OUT AND THE ODOMETER NUMBERS NOW FLICKER CONSTANTLY. THERE MUST BE A WIRING PROBLEM. SEEING FIRES STARTING IN A COUPLE CAVALIARS MAKES ME REALLY CONCERNED. FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, THE RADIO CHANGES EVERYTIME I TURN THE CAR ON AND THE LIGHT BY THE HEATER CONTROL DOESN'T WORK UNLESS YOU TAP ON IT. SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT AND I'M TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION. I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY A GARAGE TO TEAR MY CAR APART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399469

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

Mileage

162,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN BROKE ON 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER LS CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AUTOMOBILE ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON A WELL MAINTAINED MOTOR. GM INSTALLED FAULTY OIL NOZZLE AS WELL AS TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IN MOTOR ORIGINALLY BUT REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH CHECKED AT GM CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER 4 MONTHS PRIOR COMPLAINING OF TIMING SYMPTOMS. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE AT THIS TIME. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL VEHICLES FROM 2002 AND 2003 THAT HAVE 2.2L ECOTEC MOTORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393539

Incident

Mar 17, 2010

Mileage

72,000 mi

I DROVE MY 02 CHEVY CAVALIER ON THURSDAY BACK FROM TAHOE,CA AND MY GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK DOWN AND KEPT INCREASING IN SPEED, SO I PRAYED AND THEN STARTED TO MESS WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL AND FINALLY CAME BACK UP, THIS MORNING SAME THING HAPPENED, SO I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THE REP-ERIC TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSES BEFORE I CAN GET ANY ANSWERS, HE CALLED UP THE CLOSEST DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT GIVE HIM A QUOTE, I WOULD RATHER BUY A NEW CAR IF I HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR A DIAGNOSES. THIS INCIDENT IS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM WHICH OCCURS ON ITS OWN. I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AS OF RIGHT NOW AND AM STILL USING MY CAR FOR WORK. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY I SHOULD DO?? *TR

NHTSA ID

10372599

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS WHEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED BY HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AND HE COULD NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED OR WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED EVOQ 06/08/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10330400

Incident

May 7, 2002

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE ENGINE QUITS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITHOUT ANY WARNING. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,THE ENGINE MAY RESTART IMMEDIATELY OR AFTER A FEW MINUTES. A TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THIS AS A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329719

Incident

May 7, 2010

Mileage

68,000 mi

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 ID

10315340

Incident

Feb 27, 2010

Mileage

77,115 mi