FaultScore

2002 Chevrolet Cavalier fuel system problems

18 of the 254 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the fuel system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Fuel Pump 7 38.9%
Fuel System, Gasoline 2 11.1%
Fuel Injection System 2 11.1%
Filler Pipe AND CAP 2 11.1%
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 11.1%
Fuel Gauge System 1 5.6%
Pressure Relief Devices 1 5.6%
Fuel Injection System 1 5.6%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Chevrolet Cavalier year

1996 19 3.1%
1997 25 4.1%
1998 15 2.5%
1999 17 2.8%
2000 43 7.1%
2001 33 5.4%
2002 18 3.0%
2003 406 66.9%
2004 15 2.5%
2005 16 2.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Brandon, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 complaint #11415422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles Trenton, OH

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #10661319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Natchez, MS Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

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.

NHTSA complaint #10330400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Mabistique, MI

FUEL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10329719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 147,000 miles Livonia, MI

FUEL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10281106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Independence, MO

FUEL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10279492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,428 miles Orlando, FL

FUEL 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.

NHTSA complaint #10216109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,527 miles Bonita Springs, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHOLE VEHICLE FILLED WITH GAS FUMES. CHECK GAUGES LIGHT WENT ON AND FUEL GAUGE FAILED IN IDLE. REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF 770.72.

NHTSA complaint #10209385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,507 miles Centerville, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE AND IT LOOSES POWER AGAIN. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. NO OTHER REPAIRS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED. UPDATED 02/21/06.

NHTSA complaint #10148587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,500 miles Riva, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

MY CAR IS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD AND HAS A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES. I HAD 80,000 MILES ON THE CAR (I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOG WELL OVER 220,000 MILES ON PAST CARS OVER 5-6 YEARS DUE TO HIGHWAY MILEAGE). ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME THE "TRAC-OFF" LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE CAR WOULD OCCASIONALLY LOSE SPEED. EVENTUALLY THE TRAC OFF LIGHT STAYED ON THE CAR BEGAN TO DIE OUT ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROLE. AS A RESULT I HAD MY CAR TOWED IN AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. TOTAL COSTS WERE WELL OVER $800.00. I WROTE TO GM BUT WAS REJECTED ON REIMBURSEMENT. THE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AS I'VE LOOKED AT COMPLAINTS THE FIRESTONE AUTO REPAIR CENTER SAID THE DESIGN/PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP HAS CAUSED THEM TO BURN OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10140350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Carpentersville, IL

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

CONSUMER STATED FUEL FILLER NECK DEVELOPED A BLOCKAGE. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO FILL HE VEHICLE FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND.

NHTSA complaint #10092563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shiprock, NM

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10081345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Lusby, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FRONT ROTORS WARPED PREMATURELY, ABOUT EVERY 10000 MILES. GRINDING NOISE HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS, WHETHER IN GEAR OR COASTING & NOT BRAKE RELATED. PREMATURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE, CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10049686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,026 miles Tampa, FL

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, THEN STOPPED. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED. THEN, CALLED THE DEALER/MECHANIC, WHO SENT SOMEONE TO PICK UP CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS LATER CALLED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS TOO NEW. ALSO, CONSUMER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS STILL FLOWING AT NORMAL SPEED WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY.*AK CONSUMER WAS IN THE LEFT LANE PREPARING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TURN ON HIS HAZARD LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10046254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Federalsburg, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10038625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Maineville, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, READS FULL WHEN FUEL TANK IS ON EMPTY. THIS RESULTS IN VEHICLE STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10032245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederick, MD

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

TRANSMISSION NOISE/IDLE PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO MAJOR COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAVALIER FIRST: THE 5SP MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION 5 TIMES, AND THE IDEL 4 TIMES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH PITCHED NOISE IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE FIRST WEEKEND I OWNED IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. DEALER COULDN'T DIAGNOSE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER. THEY HEARD THE NOISE AND SAID IT WAS THE EXHAUST. THEY PUT A NEW EXHAUST SYSTEM ON IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT DID NOT FIX IT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AGAIN A FEW MONTHS LATER, THEY SAID IT WAS SYNCHRONIZERS. TSB 02-07-29-001 SERVICED. AGAIN, THE CAR WAS NOT FIXED. BUT THIS TIME CHEVY TOLD ME IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. (WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY REPLACE PARTS, AND DO THE TSB IF IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT) THEY TOLD ME I COULD GET A SECOND OPINION, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP OUT OF POCKET. SECOND: I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS 4 TIMES. WHEN DRIVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I HAVE TO SLIGHTLY REV THE GAS TO LET THE CLUTCH OUT TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE. THE IDLE WILL STICK. I'VE HAD IT STICK ANYWHERE FROM 2500RPM - 4000RPM. (THE LINKAGE/PEDEL DOSEN'T STICK BUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE COMPUTER, OR FI IS NOT RIGHT. DEALERS DIAGNOSIS "COMPUTER CONTROLS THE IDLE" "NO CODES" "NO PROBLEM". NOTHING FURTHER WAS DONE. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST REAR END OTHER CARS ON MULTIPLE OCCASSIONS NOW OTHER THAN THESE PROBLEMS I'VE ALSO HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE STARTER. IT WORKS 99% OF THE TIME CORRECTLY. OTHER TIMES IT GRINDS, SOMETIMES DISENGAGES, TURNS OFF, AND SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. THE DEALER ALSO CAN'T FIND THIS PROBLEM EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #10004901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grove, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

WHEN REFUELING VEHICLE IT DOES NOT ALLOW FUEL TO GO IN THE TANK. FUEL WILL SPILL ALL OVER CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8018862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

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