2001 Chevrolet Cavalier Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 9%of 243 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 48,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the air bags of the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, 9% of the 243 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,000 miles. 13 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10639178, filed 2014-09, 92,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10048973, filed 2003-12, 48,000 miles“Brakes malfunctioned, resulting in extended stopping distance. 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10053650, filed 2004-02, 11,910 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10128854, filed 2005-08, 10,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10139055, filed 2005-10, 74,700 milesAir bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 6 | 2% |
| 2004 | 15 | 5% |
| 2003 | 18 | 3% |
| 2002 | 14 | 7% |
| 2001 | 21 | 9% |
| 2000 | 18 | 6% |
| 1999 | 24 | 10% |
| 1998 | 34 | 10% |
| 1997 | 78 | 14% |
| 1996 | 73 | 15% |
| 1995 | 20 | 7% |
| 1994 | 4 | 2% |
| 1993 | 1 | 1% |
| 1991 | 1 | 2% |
| 1989 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
56 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
34 complaintsEngine cooling
29 complaintsFuel system
29 complaintsSteering
26 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsEquipment
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology