CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENHANCED TRACTION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. IT COMES ON AND IT STAYS ON. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cavalier years →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
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.
What owners actually said
345 reportsDISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE OF A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER REGARDING RECALL REPAIR 04002. *PH *MR
AS LISTED IN THE MAY 2004 C.R. THE RECALLS ON THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, AND MALIBU 97-98 ON REPLACING THE PINION BEARING IN POWER-STEERING GEAR COULD SEPARATE AND ALLOW PINION SHAFT TO MOVE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, WHEREAS I COULD BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNI…
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AS LISTED IN THE MAY 2004 C.R. THE RECALLS ON THE CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO, AND MALIBU 97-98 ON REPLACING THE PINION BEARING IN POWER-STEERING GEAR COULD SEPARATE AND ALLOW PINION SHAFT TO MOVE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MY 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, WHEREAS I COULD BARELY TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT WHILE TURNING. MY RACK AND PINION HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. WHY IS THIS NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR RECALL LISTINGS. *LA
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE (02-V-286-000) FOR REPLACEMENT OF RACK AND PINION BEARING. THE DEALERSHIP THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS THE SERVICE MANAGER (RICK JACKSON). *NM
NHTSA 04V036000\ IGNITION \SWITCH. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR RAN AND REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO GET THE REMEDY DO…
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NHTSA 04V036000\ IGNITION \SWITCH. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR RAN AND REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DASHBOARD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER TO GET THE REMEDY DONE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT TO PULL OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING POP AND IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF MY CAR HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING. ONE MONTH LATER I HEARD OF RACK AND PINION STEERING RECALL ON 1998 CAVALIERS WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE AND MY CAR HAD ALL OF THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WERE LISTED. AFTER TAKING M…
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I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT TO PULL OUT OF A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE WHEN I HEARD SOMETHING POP AND IT SUDDENLY FELT AS IF MY CAR HAD LOST ALL POWER STEERING. ONE MONTH LATER I HEARD OF RACK AND PINION STEERING RECALL ON 1998 CAVALIERS WHICH IS WHAT I DRIVE AND MY CAR HAD ALL OF THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WERE LISTED. AFTER TAKING MY CAR INTO A CHEVY DEALER, I WAS TOLD MY CAR DID NOT FIT THE RECALL AND THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED IF THEY HAD CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THEY SAID YES THAT THERE WAS PLENTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1200 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I DECLINED THEIR SERVICES TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND LATER HAD MY UNCLE WHO IS AN AIRPLACE MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK AT IT. HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION I WAS JUST VERY VERY LOW ON FLUID. MY TRANSMISSION IS PERFECT NOW AND HE AGREES THAT MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SEEING AS THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS BROKEN. REPEATEDLY I HAVE CALLED GM TO NO AVAIL ON WHY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, AND I FEEL VERY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY THE CHEVY DEALER OUTZ CHEVROLET FOR NOT BEING HONEST WITH ME ABOUT MY CAR.*AK
THE RACK AND PINION ON MY CAR FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE LOWER PINION SEPERATION AS OF JAN. 2003, IT ONLY SEEMS TO COVER A CERTAIN RANGE OF VIN #'S FOR THIS MAKE. MY MECHANIC CALLED IN JAN. OF '03, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION ON IT. I GUESS UNTIL A…
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THE RACK AND PINION ON MY CAR FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE LOWER PINION SEPERATION AS OF JAN. 2003, IT ONLY SEEMS TO COVER A CERTAIN RANGE OF VIN #'S FOR THIS MAKE. MY MECHANIC CALLED IN JAN. OF '03, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN ANY INFORMATION ON IT. I GUESS UNTIL A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN, AND THERE ARE NO INJURIES, THE MANUFACTURERE DOES NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I HAVE 3 YOUNG KIDS, AND I CAN NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM.
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
WHEN KEY IS INSERTED INTO IGNITION STEERING IS LOCKED AND KEY WILL NOT TURN. TRYING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT BUDGE IT. CAR IS IMOBILE AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. NO SURE WAY TO TELL WHEN IT WILL OCCUR.*AK
ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHILE MERGING ON TO FREEWAY. VEHICLE KEPT GOING FASTER. TRIED PUMPING ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED BRAKING, BUT CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PUT LEFT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND USED RIGHT FOOT TO TRY TO LOOSEN THE ACCELERATOR BY STOMPING ON IT. NO LUCK. BY THEN, I WAS APPROACHING VEHICLES AHE…
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ACCELERATOR STUCK TO THE FLOOR WHILE MERGING ON TO FREEWAY. VEHICLE KEPT GOING FASTER. TRIED PUMPING ACCELERATOR, NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED BRAKING, BUT CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. PUT LEFT FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL AND USED RIGHT FOOT TO TRY TO LOOSEN THE ACCELERATOR BY STOMPING ON IT. NO LUCK. BY THEN, I WAS APPROACHING VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME AT VERY HIGH SPEED (I WOULD GUESS AT LEAST 70 MPH.). BOTH LANES WERE FULL, SO THERE WAS NO WAY TO SWITCH LANES. IN DESPERATION, I SHIFTED TO REVERSE TO TRY TO STOP THE CAR. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AS THE VEHICLE COASTED. I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AS THE VEHICLE COASTED. WHEN THE CAR STOPPED, THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS ON. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I STOMPED ON IT A FEW TIMES, AND IT BROKE LOOSE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A CHEVROLET DEALER. *AK
Official recalls
404V036000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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