Most common 2001 Chevrolet Prizm problems
Share of the 45 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Prizm complaints by model year
Best Prizm years: 2002, 2000. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
What 2001 Chevrolet Prizm owners say
Engine & cooling
My 2001 Chevrolet Prizm has been burning oil since around 60-70K miles and has only gotten worse. Chevrolet didn't build the engine right and the rings/heads I think need replaced (what I read on). And Chevrolet has not fixed this problem and its costly as it burns around a quart every 200 miles.
I got this car a year and half ago and it worked OK. But now it is eating oil like crazy. And also when I try to accelerate it hesitates and wont move forward. It has almost caused me to have 3 wrecks. This is completely unacceptable. Why pay for this car if its going to kill me.
Air bags
While driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a collision and the airbags did not deploy also the seat belts did not restrain the consumer. As a result, the consumer went through the windshield. Dealer notified. The consumer son was run off the road while trying to avoid an accident and loss control of the vehicle and crashed into a cement wall.
While driving 40 MPH vehicle was hit from the side and also on the front. Upon impact the front air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to the emergency room.
Wheels & tires
I had a 180 degree turn accident caused on the morning of 5/16/05 at I-96 east, livonia mi with my Chevy Prizm that had all the four tiers replaced on 11/04. One of the bf goodrich tiers (rear) was the cause of the accident. The relatively new tier (had only 9,000 miles on it) kind of has burst into two or more pieces and had made me slid from one lane to another, hitting the median and turned 180. The rear of the car is greatly damaged. The car was towed and taken to the sam's club where the tier was replaced. We have filed complaints with bf good rich, and GM. The rear tier seems to be the leading cause for the failure. We still have not fixed the car except the rear tier. We have the old tier with us
Right front tire blew out unexpectedly while driving. Had not yet anything. Tire was split radially from bead to bead. The noise was so loud that I originally thought it was the suspension failing. Tire was a sigma tempest by cooper size: p185/65r14. Your database does not include this product / size combination. I put a placeholder in that was closest.
2001 Chevrolet Prizm engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 37 / 31 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 36 / 30 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm a good car?
Based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Prizm rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Prizm at the same age. It is one of the Prizm years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm?
The engine & cooling — 19 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the air bags (6) and wheels & tires (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Prizm?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Chevrolet Prizm years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Prizm problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.