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2001 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

104 reports with mileage · 139 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports8 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

243 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2002
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS, CONSUMER ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT AND ONLY REPLACED A BURNED OUT FUSE, 9 DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER AND HER SON WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A DRY ROAD AT APPROXIM…

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CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS, CONSUMER ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT AND ONLY REPLACED A BURNED OUT FUSE, 9 DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER AND HER SON WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A DRY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND SPUN AROUND, HITTING A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS ELECTRICAL RELATED AND FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE PROPERLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE TIME OF THE FAULTY TURN SIGNALS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #566616

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Parking Brake

VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO STILL ROLL BACK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM DRIVER'S REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE ROLLED ALSO ON LEVEL LAND. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012988

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THERE WAS A VIBRATION SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. ON 27 JUNE 2002 VEHICLE OVERHEATED, COOLANT LEAKED FROM VEHICLE. DEALER DETERMINED SOMETHING HAD RUBBED ON THE WATERHOSE AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8012865

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2002
Unknown Or Other

WHILE IN MOTION, VEHICLES DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED CAUSING THE RADIO TO LOCK. DEALER CLAIMS THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ODI #786027

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

HYDRUALIC BRAKES SQUEALED AND WON'T STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT. ROTORS WERE GROUNDED AND REPLACED. THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKE LIGHT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE TO SHOW A PROBLEM. ALSO VEHICLE WAS SHIMMYING AFTER BRAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKTHE SHIMMY EFECT WAS RESOLVED WHEN THE DEALERSHIP GROUND OUT THE HARD SPOT ON THE ROTOR…

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HYDRUALIC BRAKES SQUEALED AND WON'T STOP ON DRY PAVEMENT. ROTORS WERE GROUNDED AND REPLACED. THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. BRAKE LIGHT DIDN'T ILLUMINATE TO SHOW A PROBLEM. ALSO VEHICLE WAS SHIMMYING AFTER BRAKING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AKTHE SHIMMY EFECT WAS RESOLVED WHEN THE DEALERSHIP GROUND OUT THE HARD SPOT ON THE ROTOR. THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE STILL PERSISTANT. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8012370

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE DEALER HAS REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8011856

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2002
Power TrainVisibility

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS RUNNING LOW.*JB

NHTSA ODI #566068

Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPING AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR. HAD ROTORS REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8011437

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THROTTLE STUCK AND CONSUMER COULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A CRASH. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *JG

NHTSA ODI #8010442

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2002
Fuel System, Other

GAS GAUGE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. GAS GAUGE WILL READ THAT TANK IS EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS REALLY FULL. CONTACTED DEALER WHO IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8010441

Official recalls

1

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA02028 · Erratic Fuel Gauge

Opened Sep 30, 2002 · Closed Dec 30, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System

ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SQ01002 · Erratic Fuel Gauge

Opened Jan 26, 2001 · Closed Sep 30, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available