Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Cavalier CNG.
Body PASSENGER CAR
The 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier CNG is a passenger car that requires 5 quarts of 5W-30 API engine oil. This model year's reliability record includes five recalls and a total of 210 owner complaints. The electrical system stands as the top complaint area, establishing the primary trend in the vehicle's reported reliability history.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
Fitment & sizes
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
Battery groupBCI 75 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195/70R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified
OE service part numbers OEM · verified
Engine oil filter
12731175 alt 12731172
Engine air filter
24577608
Fuel filter
25121293 discontinued
Spark plug
19301812 alt 12681663
Front wiper blades
22711469 discontinued · alt 22711468
Serpentine belt
88984191 alt 12575450
Thermostat
24577288 alt 12622410
Full specifications
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC
Overall length
182.7 in
Overall width
68.5 in
Overall height
52.8 in
Wheelbase
103.9 in
Curb weight
2619 lb
Track (front / rear)
57.5 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)
64/36
Service quick specs OEM factory data
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier CNG top in one area — the electrical system, 22 of 210 reports (10%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 5 recall campaigns target the electrical system, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 26 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the electrical system pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
456
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
210
Owner complaints
26 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component
All 210 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Electrical System22
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Engine & Engine Cooling14
Visibility13
Power Train11
Steering10
Exterior Lighting9
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Recalls NHTSA · verified
Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
08E063000SteeringReported 17/10/2008
DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA"… Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.
Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified
Showing 5 of 456 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
Bulletin
Date
Component
Summary
PIP5601C
2025-07-18
Unknown Or Other
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D
2025-02-19
Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J
2024-10-25
Electrical System
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H
2024-09-12
Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H
2024-09-12
Unknown Or Other
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
Common OBD-II trouble codes
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.