Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
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.
CAR WOULD JUST NOT TURN OVER. CAN NOT HEAR FUEL PUMP RUNNING. *TR
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
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
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
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
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
BOUGHT A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER OCT.2007, HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION A TOTAL OF 7 WEEKS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND CANNOT BE FIXED. EACH TIME I GET IT BACK IT WORKS FOR SOME TIME THEN FAILS AND IS TAKEN BACK. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE HENNA CHEVY OLDS DEALERSHIP IN AIKEN, SC. *TR
2002 CAVALIER- REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL AND STOP LIGHT BECOME INACTIVE- I THOUGHT THAT THE BULB BURNED OUT. WHEN I REPLACED THE BULB, IT STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AFTER A WHILE. I PUT ELECTRICAL GREASE INTO THE SOCKET AS ADVISED BY MY DEALER, BUT IT STOPPED WORKING NONETHELESS. WHEN I PULLED OUT THE BULB AND RE-INSERTED IT, IT WORKED AGAIN FOR SHORT TIME. I HAVE TO PULL OUT THE BULB TO BREAK THE CIRCUIT, AND THEN INSERT THE BULB BACK AGAIN EVERY FEW BLOCKS. THE TURN SIGNAL WILL WORK FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT WILL STOP, ESPECIALLY WHEN I TURN ON MY DASHBOARD VENTILATION ON HIGH. I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR-MISSES OF BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN MAKING A TURN. APPARENTLY, THE DEFECTIVE BULB HOUSING HAS BEEN A RECALL ISSUE FOR THE 2001 AND 2003 CAVALIER DUE TO ACCIDENTS. THE BULB HOUSING IS THE SAME DESIGN AND PRODUCED BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER FROM 2001 TO 2003, BUT MY DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH IT. *TR
CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING WHEN IT GETS HOT. REPLACED CD PLAYER/RADIO-SAME PROBLEM. *AK
BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN USING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT WILL BLINK FOR A SHORT TIME THEN GO STATIONARY. NEW BULBS ARE PUT IN REGULARLY BUT THE SOCKET IS LOOSE AND WILL NOT HOLD THE BULB SECURELY RESULTING IN THE BLINKERS NOT WORKING MOST OF THE TIME. MY HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC SO I HAD HIM REPLACE THE BULBS WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, HE DID THIS IN THE EVENING, THE NEXT DAY I USED THE BLINKER IF WORKED FINE FOR MY FIRST TURN THEN THE SECOND TURN IT WAS A FAST BLINK WHICH INDICATES THAT ONE OR MORE BULBS ARE BURNED OUT WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE BULBS AGAIN LATER THAT EVENING. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE CHANGED THESE BULBS AND STILL NOTHING IS WORKING. I AM AFRAID OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE HAND SIGNALS FOR LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WANT OVER $100.00 FOR A NEW SOCKET. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AT MY COST WHEN THIS HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *NM
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND I ALMOST HAD A BAD ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR. THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WHEELS LOCKED UP ON ME AND I WAS STILL IN ONE PLACE AND A EIGHTEEN WHEELER RAN INTO ME. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS CAR EVERYTIME I LOOK UP. *JB
ACCORDING TO THE OVERLAND PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED NEAR THE PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ON MY SONS 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Z MODEL. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED BEFORE FIRE/RESCUE COULD ARRIVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT CAN INJURE OTHERS. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DISPLAYS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY GO OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DISPLAY THAT GOES OFF MOST FREQUENT IS THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP HOWEVER THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. *NM UPDATED 8/16/2006 - *NM
GOING TO THE BANK TO USE AN ATM MACHINE...ROLLED WINDOW DOWN, BUT THE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP...EARLIER I HAD MY CAR WORKED ON DUE TO CRACKED DASH...WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR SPOILER WAS REPLACED, BUT IT IS STARTING TO CRACK AGAIN...WHEN I DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN AND GO TO USE THE BRAKES IT SLIDE TO THE RIGHT AND SEEMS TO LOCK UP ON THE FRONT PASSAGER SIDE...NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE BRAKE, BECAUSE THE DEALER LOOKS AT ME AS IF I AM CRAZY...THE DASH WAS REPLACED...
I GOT THE CAR BRAND NEW AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING THE CAR. IT IS NOT EVERYTIME BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TRY 4 OR 5 TIMES JUST TO GET IT TO START. MY SEAT BELTS NO LONGER RETRACT. I'M NOT A FAT PERSON , AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE BIG ENOUGH TO RUIN MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. MY REAR DEFROSTER BARELY WORKS, AND MY PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MOTOR ALREADY WENT BAD. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS CAR. *AK
POWER WINDOWS FAIL - THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT I AM RETURNING MY CAR TO THE DEALER, NESSINGER CHEVORLET, MEDFORD, NY FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITHIN A TIMEFRAME OF LESS THAN A YEAR. THIS TIME IT'S FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE MOTOR THAT FAILED, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY TELL ME THE PROBLEM IS THIS TIME, I'M SURE IT WILL BE SOMETHING ELSE FOR THEM TO CHARGE ME WITH. THIS WINDOW IS OPEN AND WILL NOT CLOSE. THIS CAR IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. I FIND THIS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE NOT TO MENTION A MAJOR INCONVEINENCE. *AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM (ETS). *NM WHEN THE TRACTION LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE VEHICLE WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, WHICH OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. *SC *JB
SINCE PURCHASING MY 2002 VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO ALREADY PUT A NEW BATTERY, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW TIRES (ACCEPTABLE) TWO SETS OF BRAKES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIND OUT WHY SO THEREFORE I CAN'T GET AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE UNTIL LIGHT IS OFF. HELP. *NM
TRAC OFF WARNING LIGHT ETS (ELECTRONIC TRACTION SYSTEM) CAME ON. REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ETS. *BF NAR *JLS THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED AN CLEANED BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM IN WHICH IT DID NOT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. *SC *JB
THE TRACTION OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM BUT THE REPAIRS MADE DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM. *BF THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED THE FULL AMOUNT. *NM *SC *JB
THERE WERE ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM PROBLEMS WHICH WERE CONTINUOUS. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ETS. *BF THE TRAC OFF WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT HAD ALSO COME ON. *SC
VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ON HIGHWAY, OTHER VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY EXCEEDING SPEED OF 50 MPH. *BF THE CONSUMER IS SUING TURNERVILLE AUTO COMPLEX FOR REPAIRS MADE TO AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DEFECT IN THE ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM OR ETS SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. *TC
HARD START/NO CRANK REGARDING IGNITION. BURNING SMELL.......FROM ENGINE..2002 CHEVY CAVALIER. *NM
WHEN DRIVING, CAN SMELL COOLANT AND SEE GREASY FILM ON WINDSHIELD. WHICH MAKES ALL OCCUPANTS THIRSTY. (THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE IT HIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES) OVERFLOW COMPARTMENT FOR COOLANT STARTED OVERFLOWING AND LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE KEEPS MOVING AROUND, AND STAYS ABOVE NORMAL MOST OF THE TIME. WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST DIED OUT ON ME, I RESTARTED THE CAR AND MOVED OFF THE BUSY HIGHWAY. WITH ALL OF THESE INCIDENTS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE HEAT SENSOR WAS OUT AS WELL AS THE THERMOSTAT. THE GAUGE CONTINUED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN. I HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACED BUT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS WAS ALL IN THE COURSE OF THREE MONTHS. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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