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2001 Chevrolet Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

37 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
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150,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WILL NOT RAISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS BEEN FULLY RETRACTED (SUCH AS AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW, OR WHEN THE "AUTO" FEATURE FULLY RETRACTS IT BEFORE I CAN STOP IT). IT WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF INOPERATION; SOMETIMES ONLY PARTIALLY AT A TIME. IF I HAVE INTENTIONALLY HAD THE WINDOW DOWN FOR…

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THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WILL NOT RAISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS BEEN FULLY RETRACTED (SUCH AS AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW, OR WHEN THE "AUTO" FEATURE FULLY RETRACTS IT BEFORE I CAN STOP IT). IT WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF INOPERATION; SOMETIMES ONLY PARTIALLY AT A TIME. IF I HAVE INTENTIONALLY HAD THE WINDOW DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE IS NO PROBLEM - YET. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE WINDOW IS FULLY RETRACTED, AND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619175

92,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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 WARNI…

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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 DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HEAD LIGHTS AND WIRING COMPONENTS TYPICALLY BURN UP ON VEHICLES WITH DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMBS. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS NORMAL AND VERY COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247718

48,000 miles · Jan 8, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

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 …

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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?

NHTSA ODI #10105984

49,385 miles · Aug 16, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PROBLEMS WITH FUEL SYSTEM ON 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM.*MR THE VEHICLE'S OXYGEN SENSOR, FUEL FILTER INSIDE THE TANK AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10089135

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.