Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND FELT SOMETHING DROP FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE; THEREFORE, IT HAD TO BE TOWED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,675 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,525.
I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MILE PH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR HESITATED ACTED LIKE IT COULDN'T GET INTO GEAR -THE TRACK OFF LIGHT WAS ON-I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACE NO WET CONDITIONS THIS HAPPENED MORE THEN TEN TIMES. HAD CAR LOOKED AT BY MECHANIC COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT RESETS AFTER TURNING OFF CAR AND STARTING IT UP AGAIN IT WAS CHECKED ON COMPUTER FOUND NO PROBLEM BUT ON LAST TIME THE CAR DIED AS I WAS DRIVING INTO THE REPAIR SHOP IT WAS AGAIN CHECK AND THE REPAIR MAN SHOWED ME THAT HE SHOULDN'T GET ANY INFO BECAUSE IT WASN'T SENDING INFO TO HIS COMPUTER. THIS SCARES ME I DRIVE MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN THIS CAR .IT IS STILL DRIVABLE BUT FOR SHORT DISTANCES. I I HAVE CONTACTED MANUFACTURER THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO INFO ON THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE. I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO DEALER TO PUT ON THEIR COMPUTER TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG MY REPAIR PERSON THINKS THE PCM NEEDS REPLACED. *TR
THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT HAD 14 MILES ON IT AT PURCHASE. BEFORE IT HAD 5,000 MILES, THE STRUT MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. WHEN IT HIT CLOSE TO 60,000 MILES THE TRAC OFF/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED SOME COMPONENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM TO PACIFY ME BUT STATED IT HAD TO DO WITH THE GAS CAP NOT BEING ON RIGHT. NOT THE PROBLEM AT ALL BECAUSE I COMPLAINED TO CHEVROLET AND THEY REPLACED THIS PIECE YET AGAIN (WAS REPLACED BEFORE) AND I DROVE IT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP TO NC AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE WAY DOWN THERE. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SHORTLY AFTER THE TRAC OFF LIGHT COMES ON AND IT MAKES A NOISE LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS READY TO FALL OUT OF IT. SEEMS THE PROBLEMS START WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO CLIMB A HILL WHICH TO ME HAS NEVER SOUNDED LIKE A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS CAP! NOW IT'S COMPLETELY OUT OF WARRANTLY, AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT'S GONNA DIE ON ME SOMEWHERE. HUBBY DRIVES IT LOCALLY AND HE'S GOTTA SHIFT IT INTO SECOND OR THIRD TO TRY TO KEEP IT FROM DOING THAT. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. YOU CAN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE IT AUTOMATICALLY KICKS THE LIGHTS ON BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION CAN'T STAY AT AN EVEN KIEL. WHEN YOU GO TO STOP, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT A MINUTE, TURN IT ON, PUT IT IN SECOND AND THEN GO. THE TRAC OFF LIGHT THEN GOES OFF AND SOMETIMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OFF TOO. (50/50 CHANCE OF THAT ONE). THE RPM GUAGE FOREVER REVS UP TO 4-5 WHICH ALSO KICKS ON THE LIGHTS. I DONT' KNOW. ANYONE CONSIDERING PURCHASING THIS CAR BETTER RUN NOT WALK TO A FOREIGN CAR DEALERSHIP AND BUY SOMETHING TRUSTWORTHY. I JUST BOUGHT A NEW CAR. TOYOTA COROLLA S AND I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY! NO MORE CHEVROLET CAVALIER'S FOR ME! THIS CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I FEEL CHEVROLET AND THE DEALERSHIP PACIFIED ME ITL IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN SAID, "TOO BAD!". NEVER AGAIN WILL I BUY A CHEVY. *JB
MY CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. IT CAUSED A TRAFFIC JAM AND WAS ALMOST HIT. I COULDN'T GET MY CAR INTO GEAR, I FINALLY SHUT OFF MY ENGINE AND STARTED IT IN FIRST GEAR. *JB
DT: HORN DID NOT BLOW UNLESS CALLER HIT THE RIGHT SPOT. CALLER SAID THERE WAS A DEAD SPOT IN THE HORN PAD. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, TORQUE CONVERTER LIGHT DID NOT COME ON.. COIL PACKS WERE DEFECTIVE. CALLER STATED THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND CALLER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DETECTED UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. DEALER REPLACED THE COIL PACKS. MANUFACTURER SAID WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THEY COULD NOT HELP. ALSO, SEAT BELTS COME OUT OF THE GUIDE AND HIT THE PEOPLE IN THE EYE. CALLER SAID THE FRONT BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE. WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. CALLER DOWN SHIFTED THE GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. ALSO, HAD TO REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS THREE TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE TRUNK LATCH HAD A GAP IN IT, THE LID DID NOT CLOSE TIGHTLY. *AK *NM
HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AT 50,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AT 40,000 MILES.
MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT(2001 Z24 CAVALIER) HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM. PISTON RODS FAILING, FUEL PUMP LEAKING, CRANKSHAFT FAILURE, GEAR BOX BENT CAUSING ME TO ONLY START CAR IN NEUTRAL AND CAN'T PARK ON HILLS. ALSO... VALVES HAVE BROKEN NUMEROUS TIMES, ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN, FUEL GAUGE WAS BROKEN, POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKING, SUNROOF SHATTERED ON ME... EVERYTHING HAS BROKEN ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HELP ME EVEN UNDER WARRANTY... I GOT A LEMON AND THEY WANT ME TO KEEP IT. SO MANY PROBLEMS I CANT LIST THEM ALL... MOST RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 11 MONTH OLD SON AND WE JUST GOT THE CAR OUT OF THE SHOP AFTER 14 DAYS REPAIR ON A VALVE, AND THE NEXT DAY WE WERE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SEIZED UP ON ME AND BRAKES, AND I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP US FROM CRASHING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN AND THE CONNECTED SOME HOSE THEY "FORGOT" TO CONNECT AND TOLD ME TO LEAVE. AFTER WE ALMOST COULD OF DIED, I WILL NOT GET INTO THE VEHICLE THAT I AM STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR TOO. I WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP ME! (INCIDENT DATE IS MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE) *LA
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. *AK *JB *NM
TRANSMISSION IS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. MY WIFE AND I ASKED THE DEALER WE BOUGHT IT FROM, IF THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. (17,000 MI, STILL UNDER WARRANTY). THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. HOWEVER, WE RAN INTO THE PREVIOUS OWNER, AND HE SAID THE DEALER GAVE HIM A 5 YEAR OR 60,000 MI WARRANTY JUST ON THE TRANSMISSION. AND STILL WITH THE WARRANTY NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING.*AK
ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON FOR THE 10TH TIME IN 2 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP RESETS THE COMPUTER AND SOMETIMES DOES REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPT. MANAGER HAS ASKED ME TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN RELATED TO EITHER GAS OR POWERTRAIN. THE ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON AFTER ACCELERATION GOING UP A HILL. *AK
AT 30,000 MILES I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL WITH HALF A TANK OF GAS, MY CAVILER DIED. TOWED TO THE SERVICCE CENTER AND THE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT 45,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING NOISE, A GRINDING NOISE, TOOK IT IN AND CHEVOLET PUT IN A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION. IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY SO COST ME ALOT! FOR A NEW CAR THIS IS REALLY UPSETTING. MOST RECENTLY JUNE, 2003 THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING IN TWO PLACES, TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND CHEVOLET KEPT IT FOR 5 DAYS, COULDNT DIAGNOISE THE LEAK, ASSUMED IT WAS BOLTS ON THE FRAME OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WAITING NOW FO RTHE NEXT PROBLEM. VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED FROM SECOND GEAR TO THIRD GEAR IT MADE A RATTLING NOISE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT. *NLM
CONSUMER STATED THE CLUTCH REPEATEDLY STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO MOVE. TS . THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH CYLINDER LINE ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED, THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE CLUCTH SLAVE CYLINDER AND PRESSURE PLATE AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED, CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, ALSO THERE WAS A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED THAT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
TRANSMISSION RATTLE/NOISE; REPLACED TRANSMISSION FLUID, DID NOT FIX PROBLEM; GM SERVICE WOULD NOT WRITE UP DEFECT AFTER 1ST ATTEMPT: CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED TO RELEASE; 1ST ATTEMPT WAS TO REPLACE CLUTCH CYCLINDER LINE ASSEMBLY, 2ND ATTEMPT WAS TO REPLACE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SLAVE CYCLINDER, 3RD ATTEMPT, REPLACED PRESSURE PLATE, 4TH ATTEMPT COULD NOT REPRODUCE FAILURE, FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DEFECTIVE, REPLACED IT AND SENDER. DT
THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TWICE. *JG *TS
TRANSMISSION KNOCKS AND SQUEAKS WHEN PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTING GEAR , VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD. *AK THE VEHICLE LOSES SPEED, HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING AND MAKES GRINDING NOISES, CONSUMER STATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ALL THREE TIMES IT HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL.*MJ
WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMING UP IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BRAND NEW CAR, 2 RACK AND PINION STEERING PUT IN IT WITHIN A YEARS TIME, POPPING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END, MAYBE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK
THIS CAR CUTS OFF WHEN IN REVERSE OR DRIVE.*AK
I HAVE RETURNED MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR A REPEAT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUE TO HEAR, AFTER EACH REPAIR IS TRIED, GRINDING IN THE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO GOES DOWN WHILE TURNING IT UP. BOTH MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE HEARD CREAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THESE ARE ALL CONTIUAL PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR OR EVEN NOTICE.*AK
TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING VERY BADLY. TOOK TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC SAID IT WAS A FALTY GEAR, AND THEY WOULD FILL IT WITH SATURN TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONSUMER STATED IT SHOULD BE DEXTRON 3. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK
CONSUMER IS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM LEFT FRONT WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING, COOLING SYSTEM MOTOR WAS MAKING THE NOISE.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATING ALONG WITH THE CLICKING NOISE, DEALER FIRST STATED IT WAS THE COOLING SYSTEM MOTOR, AND THEN THE BEARING AND HUB ASSEMBLY, CONSUMER STATES THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. DEALER STATED A FUSE SHORTED AND WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING ROUGH, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER WAS MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. *SLC
DECEMBER 2000, THE VACUUM LEAK IN THE FRONT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. IT WAS TAKEN INTO MOODY'S TO BE FIXED, THEY BLEW A FUSE FOR THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. MAY 14, 2001 BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT WENT ON AFTER CAR STALLED IN PARKING LOT. TOOK TO DEALER, THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS, IT TOOK A WEEK. DEALER FIXED IT ON MAY 22, 2001, THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL, REPLACED FOUR WHEEL ANTI-LOCK.. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED A FEW DAYS LATER. REPORTED TO DEALER, TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS, THERE WAS A WIRE THAT WAS FRAYED. THEY REPLACED THE WIRE AND THEN BLEW THE CIGARETTE FUSE AGAIN. STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A CRUNCHING PLASTIC SOUND WHILE TURNING AND WHILE SHUT OFF ON JUNE 6, 2001. REPORTED TO DEALER ON SAME DAY. TOOK IT IN MORNING OF JUNE 7, 2001, THEY FOUND A BULLITEN ON THAT PROBLEM THAT WAS SENT OUT BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY CANNOT FIND PARTS IN THE TWIN CITIES AREA, I HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK OR MORE FOR PARTS TO COME IN.( DOT NUMBER: )
WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1. TO 2. GEAR THERE IS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE THATS GETTING LOUDER AS TIME GOES BY. TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE SAID AFTER TEST DRIVING VEHICLE SHE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, THEY COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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