What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier

Typical pattern

17.2% of complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2001 vehicle — around the middle of the 216 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (56 complaints), typically at 3.8 yr or about 85,610 miles.

Complaints
319
Median age at failure
3.2 yr
Median mileage
56,000 n=142
Crash / fire / tow
17.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
56 reports · 85,610 mi
3.8 yr
17.9%
Power train
30 reports · 56,000 mi
2.1 yr
3.3%
Service brakes, hydraulic
28 reports · 26,432 mi
1.4 yr
21.4%
Engine cooling
25 reports · 67,000 mi
2.8 yr
8%
Fuel system
24 reports · 43,000 mi
5.3 yr
4.2%
Steering
23 reports · 37,000 mi
2.1 yr
17.4%
Air bags
19 reports · 74,700 mi
2.0 yr
68.4%
Suspension
16 reports · 28,500 mi
2.1 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E063000 2008-10-17
Steering

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" BRAND NAME), AND PLATINUM PARTS #'S 2425151, 2425152, AND 2425153 MANUFACTURED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2007. THESE REPLACEMENT STEERING SHAFTS CAN BE USED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WELD CONNECTING THE INNER TUBE TO THE OUTER TUBE MAY BE DEFECTIVE.

IF THE WELD FAILS, LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

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 FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

07E021000 2007-03-12
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief devices

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

04V036000 2004-01-27
Electrical system:ignition:switch

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 2 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH SOMETHING FELL FROM UNDER VEHICLE, HITTING THE LOWER FRAME/BUMPER AND HOOD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF COMPUTER MODULE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 3 mo in service
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY, AT ANY SPEED, AND WILL START AGAIN AFTER 3 TO 10 MINUTES. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, ONCE A BURNT OUT WIRE ON ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED. DEALER KEPT TELLING CONSUMER THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. *AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 5 mo in service
AFTER 500 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER LATER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IDLE ARM. VEHICLE CONTINUED GRINDING NOISE, AND DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALER WILL NOT PROCESS FURTHER REPAIRS. *AK
Air bags mileage not reported 0 mo in service
I HAVE HAD [XXX] LOOK AT THE DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG. THEY SAID THEY REPLACED A WIRE. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS A CRASH, IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK! FOR MY SAFTY, PLEASE HELP ME TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

Other Cavalier model years

20052004200320022001200019991998

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