CarBrief

The 2002 Cavalier has 196 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, the fewest of any Cavalier model year in our data[1][2]. NHTSA lists no recalls for this year[2].

196owner complaints[1]
21–25MPG combined (EPA)[3]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 196 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Of those, 24 mention a crash, 4 a fire and 33 injuries, and none report a death[1]. These are unverified owner reports. One complaint can name more than one part, and counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

The groups with the most complaints:

Component group Complaints Crashes Fires Injuries Median miles at failure
Electrical system[4] 35 1 3 4 64,416
Brakes[5] 29 7 0 1 17,839
Engine[6] 22 0 0 0 54,016
Visibility[7] 16 0 0 1 35,000
Steering[8] 16 4 1 2 62,405
Air bags[9] 14 9 0 15 21,648
Exterior lighting[10] 14 0 0 0 69,057
Power train[11] 13 1 0 0 38,350

Brakes. In a sample of brake complaints we read, owners describe an ABS warning light with a loss of braking, or shaking when braking that was blamed on warped or thin rotors[5]. Brakes have the lowest median mileage at failure of the groups above[5].

Electrical. In the sample we read, owners describe traction control trouble and the car shutting down while driving[4]. This group also holds 3 of the 4 fires[4][1].

Engine. The engine sample shows owners describing stalling, and coolant leaks or overheating[6]. This group has no reported crashes, fires or injuries[6].

Visibility. In the sample we read, owners describe power window motors or regulators failing, sometimes more than once[7].

Air bags. This group is small, but it has 9 crashes and 15 injuries, the most injuries of the groups listed[9]. One complaint can name several parts, so read this as a flag to check, not a verdict.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2002 Cavalier[2]. That is the same count as the 2005 model year and lower than every other year listed except 2005[2]. A recall count of zero does not mean the car has no faults. It only means NHTSA has no recall campaign on file for this year.

Fuel economy

EPA lists several versions. Ratings are city / highway / combined MPG.

Engine and transmission MPG Annual fuel cost
2.2L, Automatic 4-spd[12][13] 21 / 30 / 24 $2,800
2.2L, Manual 5-spd[3] 22 / 30 / 25 $2,700
2.2L, Manual 5-spd (second listing)[14] 21 / 30 / 24 $2,800
2.4L, Automatic 4-spd[15] 18 / 26 / 21 $3,200
2.4L, Manual 5-spd[16] 19 / 29 / 23 $2,900
2.2L Dual-fuel, Automatic 4-spd, gasoline or natural gas[17] 20 / 28 / 23 $2,900

The 2.2L engines rate higher than the 2.4L in every pairing above. EPA's annual cost uses current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA has not rated the 2 door or the 4 door in its 5-Star Safety Ratings[18][19]. There is no star score to compare.

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, converted to inches and pounds, and they can differ slightly from US cars[20][21][22][23].

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
2 door coupe VL/VLX[20] 183 in 69 in 53 in 104 in 2,619 lb
2 door coupe Z24[21] 183 in 69 in 53 in 104 in 2,749 lb
4 door sedan VL/VLX[22] 183 in 68 in 55 in 104 in 2,676 lb
4 door sedan Z24[23] 183 in 68 in 55 in 104 in 2,729 lb

EPA lists 2.2L and 2.4L four-cylinder engines for this year[12][15].

How 2002 compares with other years

1995: 270 complaints, 4 recalls19951996: 503 complaints, 7 recalls19961997: 540 complaints, 7 recalls19971998: 345 complaints, 4 recalls19981999: 240 complaints, 2 recalls19992000: 315 complaints, 2 recalls20002001: 243 complaints, 1 recalls20012002: 196 complaints, 0 recalls19620022003: 678 complaints, 1 recalls20032004: 330 complaints, 1 recalls20042005: 287 complaints, 0 recalls2005
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Cavalier model year. The 2002 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19952704
19965037
19975407
19983454
19992402
20003152
20012431
20021960
20036781
20043301
20052870

Among the Cavalier years in our data, 2002 has the fewest complaints at 196[2]. The 2001 model year has 243 and 1999 has 240[2]. The most complaints are on the 2003 model year at 678, followed by 1997 at 540 and 1996 at 503[2].

On recalls, 2002 has 0, matching 2005[2]. The 1996 and 1997 years each have 7[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide to how much owners reported, not a reliability score.

Should you buy a used 2002 Cavalier?

On paper this is one of the quieter Cavalier years, with the fewest complaints of any year listed and no recalls[2]. The complaints that exist lean toward electrical faults, brakes and engine trouble[4][5][6], and the brake and air bag groups have the most reported crashes of the groups listed, 7 and 9[5][9]. If you look at one, have a mechanic check the brakes and rotors, the ABS light, the traction control system and the power windows. Choose the engine with fuel cost in mind, since the 2.4L automatic is rated at 21 MPG combined against 24 for the 2.2L automatic[15][12]. There are no NHTSA star ratings to lean on[18][19].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Electrical system has the most complaints with 35, then brakes with 29 and engine with 22[4][5][6]. Owners in the samples we read describe ABS and rotor trouble, traction control shutdowns, stalling and window motor failures[4][5][6][7].
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2002 model year[2].
How many miles per gallon does a 2002 Cavalier get?
EPA rates the 2.2L automatic at 21 city, 30 highway and 24 combined MPG[12]. The 2.4L automatic is rated 18 city, 26 highway and 21 combined[15].
Which Cavalier model year has the fewest complaints?
Among the years in our data, 2002 has the fewest at 196 complaints[2]. The 2003 year has the most at 678[2].
What is the safety rating of the 2002 Cavalier?
NHTSA lists both the 2 door and 4 door as not rated[18][19].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 196 owner complaints on file for the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier (24 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 33 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. 35 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,416). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 29 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 17,839). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 22 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,016). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 16 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 35,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 16 complaints name the steering component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,405). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 14 complaints name the air bags component group (9 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, median mileage at failure 21,648). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 14 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,057). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 13 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 38,350). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  13. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.2L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 30 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  16. EPA rating for Cavalier, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 29 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for Cavalier Dual-fuel, 2.2L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Gasoline or natural gas, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  19. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  20. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 2DR COUPE VL/VLX: length 183 in, width 69 in, height 53 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,619 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  21. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 2DR COUPE Z24: length 183 in, width 69 in, height 53 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,749 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 4DR SEDAN VL/VLX: length 183 in, width 68 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,676 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, CAVALIER 4DR SEDAN Z24: length 183 in, width 68 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 104 in, curb weight 2,729 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.