MYRModel Year Report

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier

● Typical for this model
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
243
Recalls
6

Campaigns on file for 2001

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

24% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1997: 540 complaints 1997 1998: 345 complaints 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2001: 243 complaints 2001 243 2002: 196 complaints 2003: 678 complaints 2004: 330 complaints 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1996 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1998 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2001: 243 complaints 2001 243 2002: 196 complaints 2003: 678 complaints 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1987 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1993 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1995 1996: 503 complaints 1996 1997: 540 complaints 1997 1998: 345 complaints 1998 1999: 240 complaints 1999 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2001 243 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints 2005

2001: 243 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19821
19833
19848
19854
198618
198724
198812
198943
199055
199156
1992137
1993148
1994217
1995271
1996503
1997540
1998345
1999240
2000315
2001243
2002196
2003678
2004330
2005287

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

24% · 59 reports

Most commonly citing switch and fuses and circuit breakers.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-05-21

Also filed under Interior lighting

Engine wiring harness started on fire causing smoke to pour out of the engine and damage to the entire wiring harness and other cables within the engine. The wires continued to burn until the battery was disconnected.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-04-28

Vehicle was parked in consumers driveway when it caught on fire. Vehicle was totaled. The consumer complained to dealer that the cd's coming out cd player were very hot. Dealer showed no concern.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-01-02

Service brakes

17% · 42 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Power train

15% · 36 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

INJURY

Engine and engine cooling

12% · 30 reports

Most commonly citing engine and gasoline.

FIREINJURY

Steering

11% · 26 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and pump.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Safety timeline

6 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. I
    2001-01-26SQClosed 2002-09-30 Erratic fuel gauge
  2. I
    2002-09-30Engineering analysisClosed 2003-12-30 Erratic fuel gauge
  3. R
    2004-03-01Electrical system04V036000 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…

    Remedy: 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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 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…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 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…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2008-10-16Steering08E063000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2008-12-17Exterior lighting08E050000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 59 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 42 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 36 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V036000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08E063000 · Steering
  • Recall 08E050000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 24% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
6 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.