2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 56 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 76,305 miles. The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (27% of reports).
- 56electrical system complaints
- 76,305median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 46%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 15 of 56 complaints (27%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 30 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 56 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Cavalier | 211 | 74% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Cavalier | 185 | 56% | 54,100 |
| 2003 Cavalier | 106 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Cavalier | 35 | 18% | 64,416 |
| 2001 Cavalier | 56 | 23% | 76,305 |
| 2000 Cavalier | 69 | 22% | 59,700 |
| 1999 Cavalier | 47 | 20% | 57,107 |
| 1998 Cavalier | 66 | 19% | 78,484 |
| 1997 Cavalier | 107 | 20% | 93,500 |
| 1996 Cavalier | 100 | 20% | 60,714 |
| 1995 Cavalier | 59 | 22% | 89,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Chevrolet Cavaliers have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 56 owner complaints about electrical system for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier (23% of the 243 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 76,305 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 15 of 56 complaints.
See all 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier problems or electrical system problems across all Cavalier years.