2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cavalier years
- Fewer complaints than other years 9th of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 243 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier. That ranks 9th out of 11 Cavalier model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (56 complaints, 23%), typically at around 76,305 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 8 fires, 24 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 243owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 56 | 23% | 76,305 | “ignition switch” (27%) | — |
| Power Train | 34 | 14% | 51,763 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 13% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 12% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 26 | 11% | 37,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 | 9% | 45,560 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 9% | 48,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 15 | 6% | 27,137 | — | — |
| Structure | 14 | 6% | 82,350 | — | — |
| Equipment | 11 | 5% | 50,060 | — | — |
| Visibility | 11 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 4% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 3% | 50,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 3% | 62,650 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 3% | 78,052 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 2% | 24,793 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 2% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 99,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 1% | 42,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 188,288 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1% | 39,500 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:ignition:switch
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles. If the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "start" position for an extended period, high current flows through the ignition switch, and sometimes produces enough heat to melt internal switch parts.
Risk: If the switch is damaged, a fire could occur in the steering column, even with the engine off and the key removed. The fire could spread to the interior of the car, which could injure occupants or cause damage to adjoining structures.
Fix: Dealers will install a relay kit in these vehicles to prevent high current from flowing through the ignition switch, and check that your car will start with a properly charged battery and, if necessary, replace the ignition switch. Owner notification will begin on march 1, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, buick at 1-866-608-8080, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537. Customers can also check their vehicle online by going to www.mygmlink.com and entering the vehicle's identification number.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Erratic fuel gauge (EA02028) — opened Sep 30, 2002, closed Dec 30, 2003.
- Erratic fuel gauge (SQ01002) — opened Jan 26, 2001, closed Sep 30, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet cavalier. The contact stated that the gear shift was difficult to move and the lever became stuck. Occasionally, the key became stuck in the ignition and the gear shift would not go into gear. Also, the hood was hot, the engine overheated, and the vehicle…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet cavalier. Upon exiting the vehicle and closing the doors, the interior dome light remained illuminated. The contact also noticed a burning odor coming from the light bulb wiring in the roof. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or…
Ignition switch and the ignition lock cylinder malfunctioned in 2009, roughly five years after gm's recall. The original owner of the vehicle took advantage of the ignition switch's service. In addition to the recall, gm installed an ignition wiring harness. Back in 2009, the vehicle's ignition…
The whole front dash has many cracks in it and appears to be danger since pieces are flying off as i drive.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 chevrolet cavalier. While driving approximatley 35 mph, an unusual noise emitted from the steering wheel and the entire instrument panel illuminated. In addition, the vehicle began to jerk. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The…
Other Chevrolet Cavalier years
← 2000 Cavalier · 2002 Cavalier →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 287 | 0 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 330 | 1 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 678 | 1 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 196 | 0 |
| 2001 | 243 | 1 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 315 | 2 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 240 | 2 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 345 | 4 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 540 | 7 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 503 | 7 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 270 | 4 |
See all Chevrolet Cavalier problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
Similar Chevrolet models
Embed this 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners most often report electrical system, power train, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 56 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cavalier model years, the 2001 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.