2001 Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
243 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
49,310 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 104 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 243 complaints (10.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 47 | 19.3% |
| Steering behavior | 30 | 12.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 22 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 8.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 18 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 6.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 17 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 13 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 10 |
Electrical System: 26; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 13; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 7
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (32). 139 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 32 |
| 2002 | 48 |
| 2003 | 39 |
| 2004 | 38 |
| 2005 | 22 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 32; 2002: 48; 2003: 39; 2004: 38; 2005: 22; 2006: 3; 2007: 11; 2008: 11; 2009: 4; 2010: 8; 2011: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010413 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE CAR DIES WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE, THE HEADLIGHTS GO DIM WHEN PUTTING ON THE BRAKES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND ARE GETTING STUCK HALF WAY UP THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAR ALSO ACCELERATES EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING THE GAS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021766 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
WITH APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JERKED. *TT THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT GIVE THE CORRECT READING AND WAS FIXED THREE TIMES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020791 · 2003-05-31 (May 31, 2003)
RACK AND PINION UNIT MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. CAVALIERS IN GENERAL SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STEERING UNITS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO WHY THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON-GOING FOR YEARS. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FROM 1992 TO TODAY LIST A HISTORY OF STEERING UNIT PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043093 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES THE STEERING CASE STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING, THEY LUBED SOMETHING. AFTER THAT THE NOISE WENT AWAY BUT JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER I STARTED FEELING A CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING, IT TURNS OUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR MY ANNUAL INSPECTION THE MECHANIC STATES IN ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO THE STEERING WILL NO LONGER WORK. TURNS OUT A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH STEERING, WHILE COMING OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, THEY COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL, THEY EVENTUALLY H…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015942 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
WHEN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD GEAR IT MADE A RATTLING NOISE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025712 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
AT 30,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL WITH HALF A TANK OF GAS, MY CAVILER DIED. TOWED TO THE SERVICCE CENTER AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT 45,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISE, A GRINDING NOISE, TOOK IT IN AND CHEVOLET PUT IN A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SO COST ME ALOT! FOR A NEW CAR THIS IS REALLY UPSETTING. MOST RECENTLY JUNE, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING IN TWO PLACES, TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND CHEVOLET KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS, COULDNT DIAGNOISE THE LEAK, ASSUMED IT WAS BOLTS ON THE FRAME OF THE TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044650 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ALL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER REPLACED THE BODY CONTROL MODULE TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056457 · 2004-02-03 (February 3, 2004)
SINCE PURCHASING THE 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, LET ME TELL YOU, IT HAS TRULY BEEN LIKE A ROCK THROWN IN THE WATER. LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I HAD TO BRING THE CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAR ALMOST DIED ON ME ON THE ROAD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. I WAS LATE FOR WORK, AND I WAS STUCK IN THE WAL-MART PARKING LOT FOR FOUR HOURS. I FINALLY GOT OVER THAT. OF COURSE, I DIDN'T TAKE OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, WHICH IF I HAD KNOWN THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015921 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
THE VEHICLES FUEL GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. *NLM FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 TANK OF GAS WHEN ACTUALLY THE TANK WAS EMPTY WHICH LEFT THE CONSUMER STRANDED ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE FUEL TANK SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033267 · 2003-08-21 (August 21, 2003)
GAS GAUGE READS INCORRECTLY. SHOWS 1/4 TANK OF GAS HOWEVER GAS TANK IS BONE DRY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW. CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL THIS GAS SENSOR AS I HAVE READ ABOUT MANY CARS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. RIDICULOUS THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN TAKEN CARE OF YET.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016633 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
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. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017113 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
DEFECTIVE BATTERY CAUSED LEAKING ON ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS CAUSING BURNING AND DAMAGE. GM MECHANIC STATED COMMON PROBLEM WITH FACTORY BATTERIES. GM HQ WILL NOT AGREE TO REPLACE NOR COMPENSATE FOR DAMAGES OR REPAIRS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017113 at NHTSA ↗