FaultScore

2001 Chevrolet Cavalier window and wiper problems

12 of the 356 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

C

12

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Window Devices AND Controls 3 25.0%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 2 16.7%
Windshield 2 16.7%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2 16.7%
Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System 2 16.7%
Visibility 1 8.3%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every Chevrolet Cavalier year

1992 10 3.4%
1994 19 6.5%
1995 37 12.6%
1996 31 10.6%
1997 46 15.7%
1998 16 5.5%
1999 15 5.1%
2000 15 5.1%
2001 12 4.1%
2002 18 6.1%
2003 38 13.0%
2004 25 8.5%
2005 11 3.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 130,000 miles Skokie, IL Fire

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

UPON DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS 20-30 MPH WITH FRONT AND REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER ON,IT BECAME MORE,AND MORE EVIDENT OF A POSSIBLE FIRE. FIRST THERE WAS AN INCREASING BURNING SMELL FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. A CONNECTOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE KICK PANEL HAS MELTED BEING SO CLOSE TO THE CARPET ITS POSSIBLE THAT IT BEING WINTER MOISTURE FROM MELTED SNOW SOMEHOW MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN, A SEARCH ON GOOGLE SEEMS TO PULL MULTIPLE CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO I WANT TO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF MY REAR DEFROSTED WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER SWITCH, I HAD TO PULL THE 30 AMP FUSE THAT STILL HAD A COMPLETE CIRCUIT IN IT!

NHTSA complaint #10555521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Blue Springs, MO

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE DEFROST WOULDN'T WORK WHEN REALLY RAINY OR COLD AND THIS STARTED IN WINTER OF 2009. IN SUMMER OF 2010 THE AC WORKED ONLY WHEN FAN WAS ON MED OR HIGH, BUT FINALLY ONLY ON HIGH. THESE WERE ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS: AC DUE TO BLOWER RESISTOR BURNED OUT AND DEFROST CAUSED BY A RESISTOR BURNED OUT. AC STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL WAS BURNING. IF THIS WASN'T FIXED ANY SOONER COULD HAVE CAUSED FIRE I'M SURE. NOW I HAVE TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW THAT I HAVE SERVICE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. WITH THESE ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAD NO SERVICE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COME ON. O2 SENSOR REPLACED @ 68,000 AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER CHANGED @ 56,000 AND THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10372414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lacey, WA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THREE YEARS AGO, THE MOTOR WENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW OF MY 2001 CHEVY CAVALIER. THREE MONTHS AGO, THE MOTOR (WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $400 AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT) WENT AGAIN. AT THE SAME TIME THE WINDOW WENT, THE A/C COMPRESSION SYSTEM DIED ALSO. I'VE BEEN QUOTED A COST OF $800 TO REPAIR BOTH, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE CRAFTMANSHIP AND I WILL NEVER BY A CHEVROLET AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10171685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bridgeport, CT

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

THE LAMINATE HAS COME APART FROM THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10089182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Moundsville, WV

VISIBILITY

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOUR TIMES. THE SPARK PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN MOTION THEN WOULD RESTART. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED ON ONE OCCASION. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS CLICKING, AND THE REGULATOR IN THE FRONT DOOR WINDOW WAS REPLACED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10074301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ 1 injured

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

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)

NHTSA complaint #10047625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greensburg, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #566616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Youngstown, OH

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IS RUNNING LOW.

NHTSA complaint #566068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maple Valley, WA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. WINDOW WAS CLOSED AND NOTHING HIT IT.

NHTSA complaint #891436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, GA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

I KEEP TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT HELP; I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A SQUELING NOISE IN MY TIRES, AND MY STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN MAKES A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE; MY DRIVERS WINDOW HAS LOCKED UP ON ME TWICE; WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED FOR MY TIRES THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURE DID NOT INSTALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS CORRECTLY AND THE SAME WITH MY STEERING COLUMN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!!! ; I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY 3-4 WEEKS NOW; THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR THE KEPT IT ALL DAY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. PLEASE WARN PEOPLE ABOUT THESE CARS I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS; EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALMOST THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAS ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM I HAVE.

NHTSA complaint #744761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverdale, GA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

I KEEP TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT HELP; I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A SQUELING NOISE IN MY TIRES, AND MY STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN MAKES A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE; MY DRIVERS WINDOW HAS LOCKED UP ON ME TWICE; WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED FOR MY TIRES THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURE DID NOT INSTALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS CORRECTLY AND THE SAME WITH MY STEERING COLUMN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!!! ; I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY 3-4 WEEKS NOW; THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR THE KEPT IT ALL DAY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. PLEASE WARN PEOPLE ABOUT THESE CARS I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS; EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALMOST THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAS ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM I HAVE.

NHTSA complaint #744761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH WITH SUN ROOF UP, AND IT SUDDENLY SHATTERED. GLASS WAS ALL OVER . DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL TO HAPPEN, AND CAUSE COULD HAVE BEEN A ROCK ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #885610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier problems

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