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2001 Chevrolet Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

37 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
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92,000 miles · Nov 5, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

1. MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK IN MY 2001 CHEVY PRIZM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. 2. BOTH HEAD LIGHT BULBS, FUSES, BULB SOCKETS WITH WIRING, AND HEAD LIGHT RELAY BURNED UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BECAME DISABLED. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNI…

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1. MY DAUGHTER WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK IN MY 2001 CHEVY PRIZM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. 2. BOTH HEAD LIGHT BULBS, FUSES, BULB SOCKETS WITH WIRING, AND HEAD LIGHT RELAY BURNED UP. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BECAME DISABLED. COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO WARNING AND THE LIGHTS FAILING AFTER DARK. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE COMPLETELY BURNED UP CAUSING INJURY. 3. I TOOK THE CAR TO GATES CHEVY WORLD IN MISHAWAKA, INDIANA TO HAVE THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER 5 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT HEAD LIGHTS AND WIRING COMPONENTS TYPICALLY BURN UP ON VEHICLES WITH DAYLIGHT RUNNING LAMBS. THEIR OPINION IS THAT THE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING IS NORMAL AND VERY COMMON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247718

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2006
Exterior Lighting

THIRD TAIL LIGHT IN BACK WINDOW PROBLEM ,I NOTICED A SMELL OF PLASTIC , THOUGHT IT WAS TURNING BECAUSE I TURNED ON THE HEAT ( DUE TO WEATHER CHANGING). I WENT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GET SOMETHING AND THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG . I CHECKED THE BACK LIGHT ( WINDOW TAILLIGHT) ,IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTING THE PLASTIC LIGHT TAIL , REMOVED…

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THIRD TAIL LIGHT IN BACK WINDOW PROBLEM ,I NOTICED A SMELL OF PLASTIC , THOUGHT IT WAS TURNING BECAUSE I TURNED ON THE HEAT ( DUE TO WEATHER CHANGING). I WENT INTO THE VEHICLE TO GET SOMETHING AND THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG . I CHECKED THE BACK LIGHT ( WINDOW TAILLIGHT) ,IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTING THE PLASTIC LIGHT TAIL , REMOVED THE LIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10168809

54,000 miles · Mar 10, 2004
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNS ON WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS IS ESPECIALLY MORE FREQUENCLY OCCURING WHEN WEATHER IS COLD (40 F BELOW). THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE NOV. 1 2003.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10061847

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.