Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA data on file today
The 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 243 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E063000 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT/LOSS OF STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V036000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 55 complaints
- Power Train 33 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 32 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 28 complaints
- Steering 26 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 22 complaints
Of the 243 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 243 complaints, owners report 23 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier has a below-average reliability rating due to significant complaints about the electrical system and power train, along with six recall campaigns. The evidence suggests recurring issues, but data on typical failure mileage is limited.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | Unknown | $150–$500 | common |
| power train | Unknown | $300–$1,200 | common |
| brakes | Unknown | $200–$600 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacements
- Tire rotations
- Coolant system flush
- Spark plug replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Battery replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Erratic dashboard lights
- Grinding noise in gearbox
- Unresponsive brakes
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Low fuel efficiency
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.