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1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cavalier years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier are substantially higher than the model-year median of 140.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 83 of 345 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

36 crash reports10 fire reports23 injury reports

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSON SLIPS SOMETIMES AND NO ONE CAN TILL ME WHAT IS WRONG. THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE AND THERE IS ONLY 29,917 MILES ON IT. THE CAR VIBRATES REALLY BAD WHEN YOU ARE JUST SETTING IN IT WITH THE CAR RUNNING LIKE WHEN YOU ARE AT A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. YOU JUST START THE CAR UP AND IT CLUNKS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT CL…

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TRANSMISSON SLIPS SOMETIMES AND NO ONE CAN TILL ME WHAT IS WRONG. THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE AND THERE IS ONLY 29,917 MILES ON IT. THE CAR VIBRATES REALLY BAD WHEN YOU ARE JUST SETTING IN IT WITH THE CAR RUNNING LIKE WHEN YOU ARE AT A RED LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. YOU JUST START THE CAR UP AND IT CLUNKS YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT CLUNKS.

NHTSA ODI #715006

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Air

THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT CONSISTANTLY REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RSPONSIBILITIES FOR THE JUNK THAT THEY SOLD ME. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS ON THE MANUFACTURER GROUND EFFECTS PACKAGE THE TRANSMISSION THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM THE I HAVE HAD TO…

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THIS CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT CONSISTANTLY REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RSPONSIBILITIES FOR THE JUNK THAT THEY SOLD ME. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TO THE BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS ON THE MANUFACTURER GROUND EFFECTS PACKAGE THE TRANSMISSION THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM THE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE ROTORS TURNED AND WITHIN FOUR MONTHS HAVE BRAND NEW ROTORS BUT ON. THE SUNROOF DOESN'T OPEN PROPERLY, THE TRUNK LID HITS THE BUMPER WHEN YOU CLOSE IT,THE ENGINE MAKES A WEIRD RATTLE NOISE WHEN YOU GO OVER A BUMP,THE DOORS DO NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY, THER IS TONS OF RUST ON THE INSIDE WALLS OF MY TRUNK, I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF A RECALL ON THE OIL CONSUMPTION VALVE TWO WEEKS AFTER ALL THE OIL IN MY CAR HAD LEAKED OUT CAUSING MY ENGINE TO KNOCK ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK (HAD TO PUT FOUR QUARTS OF OIL IN IT THREE DAYS FROM HAVING AN OIL CHANGE, I NEVER RECEIVED THE AIRBAG RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. TO WRAP THIS UP IN A NUTSHELL I WILL NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET PRODUCT AGAIN I WILL RESULT TO A FORIEGN CAR MAKER (HONDA) TO PURCHASE MY NEXT VEHICLE. NK

NHTSA ODI #706089

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1999
Power Train

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESIATE WHILE DRIVING WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIME ,BUT DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835943

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 1999
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

THERE HAS BEEN ONE THING WRONG AFTER THE OTHER EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE IT A PIECE OF CRAP BUT I GUESS THAT I AM STUCK UP IT SINCE CHEVROLET DECLINED MY BUYBACK REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI #702242

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

SMELL OF BURNING WIRES WHEN DRIVING. RADIATOR HOSE FAILED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. ALSO, TRANSFER CASE MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS 98V013000. IN ADDITION, REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI #781745

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #541613

Official recalls

4

04V036000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Jan 27, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

02V286000 · Steering:rack And Pinion

Nov 4, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

00V053000 · Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Feb 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BI-FUEL COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES. THE CNG FUEL LINE AND THE CNG HIGH PRESSURE REGULATOR COOLANT LINES CAN CONTACT OTHER FUEL (GASOLINE) AND BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE. ABRASION FROM CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LEAK IN THE BRAKE PIPE, FUEL PIPE, OR BOTH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ABRASION FROM CONTACT CAN CAUSE A LEAK IN THE BRAKE PIPE, FUEL PIPE, OR BOTH. A BRAKE FLUID LEAK COULD DISABLE A PORTION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES. GASOLINE LEAKING FROM A FUEL PIPE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPOSITION THE CNG FUEL AND COOLANT PIPES AND REPOSITION/REPAIR ANY DAMAGED FUEL OR BRAKE PIPES AS NECESSARY.

97V219000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE WHEEL COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE OF ALL WHEEL NUTS AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN ANY THAT MAY BE BELOW REQUIRED TORQUE.

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.