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2001 Chevrolet Cavalier

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Cavalier.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier is a passenger car that uses a 4.5‑quart oil system filled with 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. Owner reports show 254 total complaints, with the electrical system emerging as the leading concern and six recalls issued for the model year. In the broader 1990‑2005 complaint record, the 2001 tally sits well below the 2003 peak of 705 complaints but above the 1990 low of 63, placing it in the middle of the model’s reliability spectrum. This positioning suggests the 2001 Cavalier experiences moderate issue frequency — more than early generations but far fewer than its most troubled year.

Model year2024 2023 2021 2020 2019 2005 2004 2003 2001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731172. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195/70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731172 alt 12731175
Engine air filter	24577608
Fuel filter	25121293 discontinued
Spark plug	19301811 alt 19301812
Front wiper blades	22711469 discontinued · alt 22711468
Serpentine belt	88984195 alt 88984192
Thermostat	24577288 alt 24577118

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	181.1 in
Overall width	68.5 in
Overall height	53.1 in
Wheelbase	103.9 in
Curb weight	2619 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.5 / 56.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cavalier of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–10.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 2003 LS Sport Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2003	LS Sport Coupe 2.2L I-4	7.90 sec	16.10 sec	140 hp	FWD
1996	LS Sedan 2.4L I-4	8.30 sec	16.10 sec	150 hp	FWD
1995	LS Sedan 2.2L I-4	10.10 sec	17.30 sec	120 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	77 code H ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	129 ft-lbs, 90 degrees ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	Bolts, nuts: 17 ft-lbs, studs: 8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	9.6 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	9.2 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	144 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	5000-8000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	9.00 oz
Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	59.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	53-59

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	38 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.786 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.786 in
Rotor Minimum Machining	0.751 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	long bolts 46 ft. lbs.; short bolts 43 ft. lbs.	46 ft. lbs
2	90

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	bolts 1-8	40 ft. lbs
2	turn 90

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Underbody (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The overall generation shows a peak in complaints and recalls during the mid-to-late 1990s, followed by a general decline in recalls and a sharp, steady increase in Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) through 2005. The 2001 model year sits in a relative lull of the complaint arc with 254 complaints and 6 recalls, marking an improvement over the 338 complaints and 7 recalls seen in 2000. While it is more stable than the 2003 model, which saw complaints surge to 705, it has slightly more complaints than the 2002 model's 210. Primary complaint areas for 2001 include the Electrical System (29), Power Train (20), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (20), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. This year also recorded 24 crash and 8 fire complaints, alongside a high volume of 402 TSBs. Given its position as a lower-complaint year compared to the surrounding spikes, 2001 is a relatively good year to buy.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

402

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

254

Owner complaints

24 involved a crash · 8 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00’01’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 254 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System29

Power Train20

Service Brakes, Hydraulic20

Engine & Engine Cooling17

Steering15

Suspension12

Fuel System, Gasoline11

Air Bags11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E050000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF… Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

08E063000SteeringReported 17/10/2008

DORMAN PRODUCTS IS RECALLING 3,900 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS DORMAN PART NOS. 425-151, 425-152, AND 425-153, (SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS" BRAND NAME), BALKAMP #'S 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (SOLD UNDER THE "NAPA"… Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 16, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DORMAN TOLL FREE AT 1-800-523-2492.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 402 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D	2025-02-19	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J	2024-10-25	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H	2024-09-12	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cavalier. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731172 Engine air filter 24577608 Fuel filter 25121293 Spark plug 19301811

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 Cavalier take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 Cavalier have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.