Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Sometimes, during regular braking, rear brakes lock and car does not stop. Happens on asphalt even at slow speeds. Online research reveals that this is a common issue that seems to stem from a few causes at time of production.
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.
(1) while driving, going over small bumps or small pot holes, car begings to make a loud vibration noise up in the front wheel area and the anti lock brakes freeze and cause car to skid on dry or wet conditions. On several occasions traction control light stays lit then goes off after driving a period of time. (but no noise) took to local Chevrolet dealer, and found no problem, as of today, car continues to do the same incident. Been going off and on for the last 2yrs. Had brakes serviced, new pads and rotors turned, made things worse.. Car wobbles when comming to a stop. Also car grabs and lets off when stopping, feels like it's pushing then letting off the brakes off and on.
2001 Chevrolet Cavalier developed problems with the brakes and the engine.** answer required***. While turning the steering wheel the consumer heard grinding/rubbing noises intermittently. The fog lamp went out. The brakes were noisy and would stick when applied. Water leaking into the trunk. The vehicle wouldn't start and the vehicle check engine light illuminated. The keyless entry system and alarm stopped working. The transmission not shift into low gear. The daytime running light would not shut off. The HVAC blower would not work in the first and second speed. The dealer foun air in the brake line and determined that hte lower control arm bushing was falling out
I was driving my car on the highway and my ABS light came on. Took it to a automobile repair place on 8/26/04 they found code c1214 solenoid relay ckt open. Connector to ebcm was not completely on. They reinstalled. Then on 3/22/05 ABS light came on again while driving on highway. Took it to auto repair shop found code c1214 sollenoid relay coil or contact circuit open. They checked connections and replaced fuse. The ABS light went on again on 4/30/05 same.
The rear brakes on the Chevrolet Cavalier can become unadjusted and when you have to brake quickly, the brakes can lockup and send you into a skid. This happened to me and caused me to have an accident, but I was not aware of the type braking system the car is equipped with so I didn't understand why the car went into a skid until much later, after I almost rear ended someone. Personnel at the repair shop explained the braking system to me.
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.
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.
Two days ago, my ABS (anti-lock brake system) warning light came on. I took it to the shop and they diagnosed that my electronic brake control moduel (ebcm) was bad and that I needed a new one. Given that my car is a 2001 Cavalier with less than 47,000 miles, they said this was very unusual. Repairs will be outrageousely expensive.
Consumer stated the brake rotors experienced premature wear. When the brakes were applied, the vehicle experienced a vibration and extended stopping distance. Dealer notified. The cause due to rotor disc and cooling fin side dimensions, which were not designed for the vehicle.
Brake complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, 17% of the model year's 243 complaints. The component named most often is foundation components › disc › rotor (10 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.