Problems · by component

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier engine and engine cooling problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier cite engine and engine cooling, 11% of all 248 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON IR 80 IN THE RIGHT LANE. UNIT 1 CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WHILE DRIVING. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0259-90) *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10404865
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH, THE TRACTION LIGHT FLASHED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE KNOCKING AND RATTLING NOISES. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO CHECK THE ENGINE AND THE NOISE STOPPED. WHEN HE BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN, EVERY LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AGAIN AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE KNOCKING STOPPED AND THE LIGHTS STOPPED FLASHING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,358 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10270098
“IN DECEMBER, 2006 I HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR AND A NEW FUEL PUMP PUT IN (895.00). 1/10/07 MY IGNITION MODULE AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WENT OUT (695.45). 5/14/07 MY IGNITION COIL NEEDED REPLACING (252.18). NOVEMBER 8, 2007 I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND VALVE COVER GASKET ($500) I'M AM TIRED OF REPAIRING. IT'S GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT'S CAUSING MY IGNITION STUFF TO BURN OUT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, EquipmentODI 10252905
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. ONE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND AN INJECTOR, PUSH ROD, AND SPARK PLUG WERE INSTALLED. APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 91,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10242444
“IN WEEKS PRIOR, A CLUNK WAS HEARD UPON LOW SPEED MANUVERING, LATER A RATTLE @ 2000-3300 RPM. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE, SAVE TO GET $3,000 ESTIMATE AND SEVERAL OPINIONS, THAT A CONNECTING ROD IS DEFECTIVE, MAKING THE ENGINE VALULESS, WHICH ALL CONCUR THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS ENGINE, AND GM MAY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS, AND DONE NOTHING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10191459
“2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER MAKES A CLICK NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN TURNING HARD RIGHT. *TS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. THE VALVE COVER GASKET, CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2006Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10150824

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.