Chevrolet Cavalier Complaints (2002)
196 consumer complaints on file.
- #10393539March 28, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10372599December 27, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10330400May 14, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10329719May 10, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10315340March 2, 2010SUSPENSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10281286August 21, 2009STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEEL EXHIBITED SEVERE LOOSENESS. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE SPEED RATE WAS REDUCED AND CONTINUED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURES. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREME DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10281106August 19, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. A LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS FUEL PUMP FAILED AND HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $500 TO REPAIR IT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279492August 5, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2002 CHEVY LOOKS LIKE IT NEEDS A FUEL PUMP. 3YEARS AGO I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE TOW SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND I HAD THE FUEL FILTER CHANGED NOW SINCE THEN IT RAN OK. I STILL EXPERIENCED HESITATION BUT AFTER HEARING THE COMPLAINS. I WANT TO ADD MY CONCERN. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10274643June 22, 2009TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
HELLO. I HAVE A 2002 CHEVY CAVALIER. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2003. I HAVE AROUND 75,500 MILES ON THE CAR. SINCE OWNING THE CAR MY 'TRAC OFF" LIGHT HAS COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY CAR JERKS EVERYTIME THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS. IN THE PAST MONTHS IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY AND IT NOW IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. ON TWO RECENT OCCASIONS, WHEN THE LIGHT HAS COME ON, WHEN I WAS MAKING A TURN MY CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND MY STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THERE WAS HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT LUCKILY IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND READ ABOUT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED CHEVROLET BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM THAT CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK ON THE CAR DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM A STUDENT TRYING TO PAY MY WAY THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL SO I CAN'T EXACTLY AFFORD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM PAYING TO GET IT FIXED BUT I FEEL THAT SINCE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE EFFECTED BY THIS THAT IT IS CHEVROLET'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE DEFECTIVE CARS FIXED SO THAT OUR ROADS ARE SAFER. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED SOON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266856April 27, 2009SEAT BELTS, SEATS
I OWN A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT MADE WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY THE LOWER ANCHORS IN THE FOLDS OF THE SEAT, SO I CAN INSTALL A CAR SEAT. THE CAR ALSO DOES NOT COME WITH THE CHILD LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE 3 POINT LAP AND SHOULDER BELT. AT THIS POINT I AM UNABLE TO USE MY VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY 2 CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE CAR SEATS AS THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY INSTALL THE CAR SEAT. I CALLED THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND THIS PART (LOWER ANCHOR OR SEATBELTS WITH CHILD LOCKING MECHANISM). I CALLED GM AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS AND I HAVE CALLED AFTERMARKET PARTS STORES WHO ARE UNABLE TO FIND PARTS. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET I FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO SOLUTION. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10265642April 16, 2009TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
PURCHASED FOUR GOODYEAR TIRES 11/06. WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, VALVE STEM ON LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED (4/16/09) CAUSING TIRE TO COME APART (TREAD SEPARATED FROM SIDEWALL). AFTER SPARE TIRE INSTALLED BY AAA, PROCEEDED TO STORE WHERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED. GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER STATED VALVE STEM HAD FAILED; I PURCHASED NEW TIRE AT PRO-RATED COST. SERVICE CENTER ALSO REPLACED VALVE STEMS ON THE OTHER TIRES BECAUSE THEY LOOKED BAD. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM ANOTHER CUSTOMER ABOUT VALVE STEMS FROM CHINA, THE CLERK MENTIONED THOSE VALVE STEMS HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CENTER'S INVENTORY. OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10258232February 10, 2009SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH AND PULL OVER HIS SHOULDER. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.UPDATED 03/10/09.*LJ UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10255848January 21, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FRONT BRAKES WERE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT AFTER 10,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES CONTINUED TO LOCK ON THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN FORWARD OR REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS THAT INDICATED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. IT WAS LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE WARNING INDICATOR SYSTEM ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER INSTALLED AN ATS LIGHTING SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE WARNING PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE IF THERE WERE ANY FURTHER FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,500. UPDATED 02/10/09. *LJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT. UPDATED 02/11/09. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10254998January 14, 2009UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING WHEN THEY FLICKER THE HEATER LOSES PRESSURE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10254715January 12, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE BRAKES LOCK WHEN THE CONTACT DRIVES OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. HE WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO UNLOCK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SPRING IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE THAT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK. THE SPRING WOULD TRIP A SENSOR ON THE DASH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE DEALER IS REPAIRING THE FAILURE AND IS ALSO INSTALLING AN ABS SENSOR LIGHT FOR THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF UPDATED 02/0909. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10223577April 7, 2008UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS IS WITHOUT A WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EMITTING STRONG FUMES REGARDLESS IF THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT. SHE STATED THAT THE FUMES MAKE HER ILL. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT THE FUMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE SMELL WOULD GO AWAY, BUT IT STILL PERSISTS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,788 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,545.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10221746March 19, 2008VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW MOTORS HAVE BURNED OUT ON BOTH OF MY AUTOMATIC WINDOWS AT A LOW MILEAGE. THE PASSENGER SIDE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35,000 MILES AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE MUST BE REPLACED AT 60,000. I RARELY USE THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY HAVE BOTH FAILED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10216109January 22, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD GONE OUT. *KB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10213156December 29, 2007POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10211317December 10, 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CHARGED $600 FOR THE REPAIR. SHE TOOK A LONG TRIP AND THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. ON A SHORTER TRIP, THE ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH TO THE DEALER, THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $5,000 AND COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACTUALLY BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT LEARNED THAT THE HEAD FAILED BEFORE AT 28,000 MILES. SHE BELIEVES THAT HER VEHICLE WAS MIS-DIAGNOSED THE FIRST TIME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB 12/31/07. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0