2001 Chevrolet PRIZM problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
45 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 45 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 4; Tires: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Air Bags: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10061847 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)
BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNS ON WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY MORE FREQUENCLY OCCURING WHEN WEATHER IS COLD (40 F BELOW). THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE NOV. 1 2003.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110956 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKED BRAKE FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK REAR WHEEL CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 56,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131681 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATE HIS 2001 CHEVROLET PRISM WAS HESITATING AND STALLING ON A COLD START. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING IN THE MORNINGS WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD AND SET OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER WAS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE OWNER DID HAVE A COPY OF TSB 1538049 WHICH INDICATED PROCEDURES THAT COULD BE DONE TO HELP WITH VEHICLE PERFORMANCE. THE OWNERS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES, AND WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD. THE OWNER TALKED TO GM, AND THEY SAID THAT WHAT EVER IT COST TO HAVE THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,083 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166049 · 2006-08-20 (August 20, 2006)
MY 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM, WHICH HAS A TOYOTA ENGINE, STALLS WHEN ACCELERATED JUST AFTER STARTING. PUMPING THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES GETS THE CAR MOVING AGAIN NORMALLY. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR A WHILE. THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010981 · 2003-03-25 (March 25, 2003)
IN MID DECEMBER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS AFTER THE SHIFTER WAS VERY LIGHTLY BRUSHED WITH MY HAND AS I REACHED FOR SOMETHING. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242862 · 2008-09-18 (September 18, 2008)
LEAK FROM TRANSAXLE VALVE DIFFERENTIAL - PLASTIC PLUG FEEL OUT. RUINED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE. ENGINE BURNING OIL LIKE MAD. LEAKS OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE. STARTED AT ABOUT 65,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105984 · 2005-01-08 (January 8, 2005)
THE 36 MONTH OLD 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DASH AREA. MY SON WAS INSIDE A STORE AND SOMEONE TOLD HIM THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT STILL HAD THE FACTORY INSTALLED RADIO/CD WITH NO MODIFICATIONS. CHEVROLET INSPECTED THE CAR AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEN THEY DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE USUAL RESPONSE?
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247718 · 2008-11-05 (November 5, 2008)
1. MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK IN MY 2001 CHEVY PRIZM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. 2. BOTH HEAD LIGHT BULBS, FUSES, BULB SOCKETS WITH WIRING, AND HEAD LIGHT RELAY BURNED UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BECAME DISABLED. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNING AND THE LIGHTS FAILING AFTER DARK. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE COMPLETELY BURNED UP CAUSING INJURY. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO GATES CHEVY WORLD IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336004 · 2010-06-13 (June 13, 2010)
I OWN A 2001 CHEVY PRISM LSI. IT HAS ALWAYS EXPERIENCED A NUMBER OF ANNOYING ISSUES THAT I'VE HAD MECHANICS INSPECT/DIAGNOSE THAT NEVER SEEMS TO GET CORRECTLY DIAGNOSED. IT USES ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A MONTH (BUT NEVER SMOKES OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE), HAS ALWAYS HAD A HESITATION PROBLEM, AND HAS A WEIRD PROBLEM WITH NOISY 'EXHAUST' SOUNDS THAT SOUND LIKE THEY ARE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND ARE WORSE (VERY LOUD) IN WET CONDITIONS. UPON COLD START, THE ENGINE HESITATES PRETTY BADLY WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE HESITATION …
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354985 · 2010-09-11 (September 11, 2010)
2001 CHEVY PRISM; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO BE ON. I HAVE PUT TWO OXYGEN SENSORS ON AT A COST OF OVER $200.00, AND LIGHT STILL COMES ON. MECHANICS TELL ME THE CODE SAYS "LEAN MIXTURE" BUT DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. CAR HESITATES WHEN COLD, ALMOST THROWING YOU INTO THE WINDSHIELD, UNLESS YOU REPEATEDLY PUMP THE ACCELERATOR. MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT MAYBE FUEL PUMP IS GOING BAD, BUT IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS NOW, AND THIS HASN'T HAPPENED. THE HEAD LINER IN VEHICLE HAS TOTALLY TORN AND DISINTEGRATED, EVEN THO IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. GM …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567830 · 2014-03-07 (March 7, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND BOTH WHEELS WERE POINTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10567830 at NHTSA ↗