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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.

About this comparison →
45Owner complaints

Model-year median: 21.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
27
199836
199924
200045
200119
2002
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
15Air Bags
6Electrical System
4Engine
4Tires
4
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
3Power Train
3Structure
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel System, Other
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Seat Belts
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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

Power Train complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
138,000 miles · Dec 11, 2009
Power Train

THIS CONCERNS A 2001 CHEVY PRISM WITH 138K MILES. THE ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED DUE TO OIL DEPRIVATION. THERE WAS NO WARNING OTHER THAN THE KNOCKING SOUND AND BY THEN IT WAS TOO LATE. OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3K MILES USING HIGH QUALITY CONVENTIONAL OIL & FILTERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295336

65,000 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10242862

42,000 miles · Mar 25, 2003
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #10010981

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.