Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system56
- Power train34
- Service brakes, hydraulic32
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Steering26
- Fuel system, gasoline22
- Air bags21
- Suspension15
- Structure14
- Visibility11
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 24 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 32 2001 Cavalier vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 26 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier failed the safety check 1.67% of the time — 16% less often than the average 2001 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 103,194 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.2–11.1 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 235–255 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 8.5 | 10.2 |
| Cavalier Bi-Fuel · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 8.5 | 10.2 |
| Cavalier · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 8.1 | 10.4 |
| Cavalier · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 8.2 | 10.7 |
| Cavalier · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 9.0 | 11.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier.
| 2004033 28 Jan 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "Start" position for an extended period, high current flowing through the … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637335 | A CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT AN INOPERATIVE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OR A HESITATION MISFIRE UNDER ACCELERATION WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON. *TT |
| 637293 | THIS MESSAGE COVERS VEHICLES WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND A COMPLAINT OF CLUTCH WILL NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE NEW SPO CLUTCH PARTS. *TT |
| 637287 | CONCERNS WITH SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0440 CODE SET. *TT |
| 637259 | THIS SERVICE IS REGARDING A WIRE ROUTING ISSUE THAT CAN LEAD TO SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ACTIVATION AND VARIOUS DRIVABILITY CONCERNS. *TT |
| 636669 | A CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A LOUD CLUK ON ACCEL OR DECEL WITH THE NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION OR STEERING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 636556 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF LOW CLUTCH PEDAL RESERVE OR CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 634966 | CLUTCH PEDAL BUZZ OR VIBRATION. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *TT |
| 634877 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO REVISE THE FRONT SUSPENSION FASTNER TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS.*TT |
| 634811 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634803 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A CLUNK TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING A TURNING MANEUVER. *TT |
| 634710 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0140. *TT |
| 634310 | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY KEY FOB RADIO PERSONALIZATION FEATURE ENABLED (TURNED ON) OR DISABLED (TURNED OFF). *TT |
| 634261 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DTC P0440 SET 9REPLACE FUEL TANK EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM (EVAP VENT SOLENOID HARNESS). NLM |
| 631820 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INOPERATIVE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *SLC |
| 631306 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *SLC |
| 631251 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ON A DRONE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. *SLC |
| 631237 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT INACCURATE OR ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE READINGS. *SLC |
| 631218 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ON A GRINDING OR RATTLE TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *SLC |
| 629851 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE THE RADIO KEY FOB PERSONALIZATION TURNED ON OR OFF. *TT |
| 629807 | SUBJECT REGARDING PROPER REPAIR FOR FUEL GAUGE INACCURACY COMPLAINTS. *TT |
| 629764 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE A COMMENT OF THE VEHICLE BEING DIFFICULT TO FUEL OR THAT THE FUEL GAUGE READS LOW YET THEY CANNOT PUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 629703 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE ENGINE LAGS POWER, STALLS, WON'T START OR IS HARD TO START. *TT |
| 629655 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONCERNED WITH THE CONDITION OF HIGH EFFORT REQUIRED TO CLOSE THE DECK LID. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation