Most common 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Share of the 196 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Cavalier complaints by model year
Best Cavalier years: 2002, 2001, 1999. Years to avoid: 2003, 1997, 1996. Compare all years →
What 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier owners say
Electrical system all 35 →
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.
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.
Brakes all 29 →
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 the road, and once with the sensor checks (no codes were found, they said). Of course I had them document this. On jan 21 '03, I was forced to slam on my brakes because the vehicle in front of me stopped too fast. Although the pedal felt pressurized as it should be, there was again no braking power, although the ABS did not activate. …
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.
Engine & cooling all 22 →
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. …
Engine and vehicle speed sometimes, but intermittently, do not respond to driver control - vehicle accelerates on its own. When that happens, had to ride brakes to control speed. This happened five times with increasing severity over a period of time - on the sixth time the vehicle reached 60mph without the accelerator being touched. Review of odi compliants shows an increasing number of similar related complaints on this model with age. Had purchased car to give to my newly licensed daughter, who, due to lack of experience, was initially unsure if the problem was with her or the car. The last time scared her, and the dealer's rep said "it was an accident waiting to happen". …
2002 Chevrolet Cavalier engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.2L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 30 / 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier a good car?
Based on 196 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Cavalier rates average: 34% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Cavalier at the same age. It is one of the best Cavalier years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The electrical system — 35 complaints, 18% of all complaints for this model year, most often about ignition. Next are the brakes (29) and engine & cooling (22).
How many recalls does the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Cavalier?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2001 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 1997 and 1996. See the full Chevrolet Cavalier years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 43% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.