Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Sep 25, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 243 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
13
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Sep 25, 2014
THE DASHBOARD CRACKED AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET IT FIXED I HAVE LEARNED SINCE THEN THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CHEVROLET CAVALIERS AND I WORRY THAT IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT MY AIRBAGS WONT PROPERLY DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED DASHBOARD. NOW MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP CAUSING VISIBILITY ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS CAUSED BY THE CRACKING. *TR
NHTSA ID
10639178
Incident
Jan 30, 2008
Mileage
92,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecifiedSeat belts+1 more
Filed Jun 3, 2013
Crash reported
2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY COLLAPSED. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A PARK CAR. THE SEAT BELT WAS TIGHT, AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SIDE WHEEL WAS AT A 90 DEGREE PERPENDICULAR ANGLE TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY LOOKED DESTROYED.
NHTSA ID
10514223
Incident
Jun 1, 2013
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 9, 2010
Crash reported
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT WITH A 18 WHEELER IT HIT THE SIDE THE WENT AROUND TO THE FRONT THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE IN THE CAR TWO KIDS AND ONE ADULT DRIVER THE SEAT BELTS POPPED ALOOSED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THERE WERE PICTURES TAKEN AT THE SCENE AND THERE IS A POLICE REPORT THIS IS A VERY BAD PROBLEM MY KIDS ARE ONLY TWO AND FIVE AND THERE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ID
10335588
Incident
Jun 3, 2010
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Oct 7, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO CRACKS RUNNING SIDE BY SIDE FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO THE PASSENGER SIDE ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 5, 2005. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE CRACKED AREA WAS WHERE THE AIR BAG WAS LOCATED. WHEN HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING IN THE DASH AREA WAS CONNECTED TO THE DASHBOARD. THE CRACKED PART OF THE DASHBOARD WAS LOOSENING FROM THE REST OF THE DASHBOARD. *AK
NHTSA ID
10139055
Incident
Oct 5, 2005
Mileage
74,700 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 26, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVILER HAS FAULTY SEAT BELTS. THE CONSUMER WAS IN INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH A GARBAGE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT RAN A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS KNOCKED UNDER THE GARBAGE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER HAD ONE PASSENGER AND TWO FAMILY PETS WITH HIM. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE BUCKLED UP. THE PASSENGERS KNEES WENT THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER SECURELY IN THE SEAT. THE SEATBELT LOOPED THE PASSENGERS BOWELS. THIS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY AND ON MONDAY THE PASSENGER HAD TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY TO REMOVER SOME OF HER INTESTINES. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. A YEAR LATER THE PASSENGER WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER KNEES, FROM THE CRASH. THE PASSENGER ENDED UP WITH CANCER IN THE KNEES, IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT THAT HER KNEES WERE INJURED IN THE WRECK. IN APRIL THE PASSENGER PASSED AWAY, AND THE DRIVER BELIEVES THAT THIS WAS A RESULT FROM THE SEATBELTS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER DOES HAVE PICTURES OF THE CRASH AND A POLICE REPORT. NO INSURANCE REPORT. ALL OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS ALL THAT THE OWNER HAS ACCESS TO OR KNOWS.*AK *NM
NHTSA ID
10128854
Incident
Apr 28, 2002
Mileage
10,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 2004
Crash reported
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10097514
Incident
Oct 12, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2004
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10074191
Mileage
18,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 19, 2004
BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKES WERE SENSITIVE. THE DASHBOARD WAS REPLACED, BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND WENT OFF AT LEAST TWENTY TWO TIMES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10053650
Mileage
11,910 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Feb 2, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported
2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DEFECTIVE. " HAIR TRIGGER PRESS TO RELEASE BUTTON" MY DAUGHTER CHRISTINA, AGE 23 WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT, WHEN ON IMPACT HER BUCKLE UNLATCHED, CAUSING HER TO BE EJECTED FROM HER VEHICLE. *JB CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE INERTIAL UNLATCHING WHERE THE SEAT BELT BECOMES UNLATCHED DURING THE COLLISION. ALSO BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DID NOT DEPLOY AND SIDE IMPACT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10056311
Incident
Dec 11, 2003
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY. *MR THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER'S SIDE AIR DID NOT FULLY DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY AND SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND SUSTAINED INJURIES. *NM
NHTSA ID
10054133
Incident
Nov 2, 2003
Airbags
Filed Dec 1, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS IN A VERY SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT WHERE MY CAVALIER FLIPPED END OVER END AND ROLLED NUMEROUS TIMES. AT NO TIME DID MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS DEEMED A COMPLETE LOSS. THE ACCIDENT WAS DEEMED AN ACT OF NATURE/GOD. NO AT FAULT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10048973
Incident
Nov 6, 2003
Mileage
48,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesSteering
Filed Oct 30, 2003
AT 35,500 MILES FRONT STEERING STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHILE TURNING CORNERS. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT RESET. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ABS MASTER COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. AND STEERING WAS LUBED. AT 37,000 MILES POPPING CAME BACK, DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SINCE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. ALSO, AT 45,000 MILES THE BRAKES WERE SHAKING, AFTER INVESTIGATION, MECHANIC STATED THAT ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 18 MONTHS AND AM LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM AND I ONLY HAVE 55,000 MILES ON THE CAR NOW. THEN TODAY, MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS BEGUN TO STAY ON. AM GOING TO HAVE TO GO, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR FEAR THAT AIRBAGS WON'T INFLATE IN COLLISION. *LA
NHTSA ID
10045129
Incident
Sep 15, 2002
Airbags
Filed Mar 11, 2003
CONSUMER PURCHASED A VEHICLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE AN AIR BAG. *DT *JB
NHTSA ID
568427
Incident
Jun 23, 2002
Airbags
Filed Dec 19, 2002
VEHICLE DID NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS IS. *JB
NHTSA ID
10001248
Incident
Dec 2, 2002
Airbags
Filed Sep 24, 2002
Crash reported
CONSUMER STATES WHILE SITTING, A CAR HIT HIM FROM BEHIND AT HIGH SPEED INTO ANOTHER CAR AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB
NHTSA ID
8019266
Incident
Sep 18, 2002
Airbags
Filed May 24, 2002
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, CONSUMER RAN OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND RAN HEAD-ON INTO AN ENBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *TT
NHTSA ID
8010440
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2002
Crash reported2 injuries reported
AIR BAGS FAILED TO WORK WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH RESULTING IN CAR HITTING BANK AND TURNING UPSIDE DOWN. MY DAD WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAR BUT I FEEL A REPLACEMENT CAR WITH WORKING AIRBAGS WILL KEEP THIS FROM GOING INTO LITIGATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
762170
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed May 2, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
AT 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE, VEHICLE VIBRATED AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THEN SKIDDED 35 YARDS DOWN A EMBANKMENT. PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE ABS DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE GUARDRAIL AND SKID 35 YARDS DOWN THE GUARDRAIL, THE TURN SUGNAL FAILED DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. *JB *NLM
NHTSA ID
8008997
Incident
Feb 23, 2002
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed May 2, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported
AT 55 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE, VEHICLE VIBRATED AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON, THEN SKIDDED 35 YARDS DOWN A EMBANKMENT. PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT THE GUARDRAIL AND SKID 35 YDS DOWN THE GUARDRAIL, THE TURN SUGNAL FAILED DUE TO A BLOWN FUSE. *JB *NLM
NHTSA ID
8008995
Incident
Feb 23, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2001
Crash reported
RENTED VEHICLE. VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A DEAR AT 60 MPH, AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
NHTSA ID
879440
Incident
Jan 23, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jan 1, 2001
I HAVE HAD [XXX] LOOK AT THE DEFECT WITH THE AIRBAG. THEY SAID THEY REPLACED A WIRE. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS A CRASH, IF THE AIRBAG WILL WORK! FOR MY SAFTY, PLEASE HELP ME TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR
NHTSA ID
738581
Incident
Sep 20, 2000
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own