IllustrationTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
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.
36 crash reports10 fire reports23 injury reports
What owners actually said
345 reportsTHE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT REALIGN PROPERLY AFTER MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *JB
POWER STEERING HAS SLOWLY GONE I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT READ BUT SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEAK BUT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE. IT'S CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO ACT UP AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ANYMORE.!!
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. AFTER I HAD THE CAR SERVICED I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT A GUIDE FOR THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND THE TIMING CHAIN BENT A BARING ON THE CAM SHAFT. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ,THEN THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN CONSUMER POPPED THE HOOD, NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, PER THE FIRE INSPECTOR.*AK
CHEVROLET CAVLIER 1998 - THE CAR IS ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 33,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD STEERING ISSUES FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS WITH THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PARALLEL PARK OR MAKE HARD TURNS WITH OUT THE STEERING LOCKING UP OR FORCING ME TO YOU MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT TO GE THE WHEEL TO MOVE. WHEN I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP THE…
Read full complaint
CHEVROLET CAVLIER 1998 - THE CAR IS ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 33,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD STEERING ISSUES FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS WITH THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PARALLEL PARK OR MAKE HARD TURNS WITH OUT THE STEERING LOCKING UP OR FORCING ME TO YOU MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT TO GE THE WHEEL TO MOVE. WHEN I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY SIMPLY SAY THIS IS HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED USE THE GAS AND THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED ALTHOUGH ACCORDING TO THIS WEB PAGE THERE HAS BEEN. APPARANTLY ACCORDING TO GM MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NOV/2002 RECALL FOR STEERING RACK/PINION WHICH SOUNDS AS IF IT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS SCHEDULED IN THE FUTURE.*AK
REQUEST OF RESTITUTION FOR REPAIRS MADE TO A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED THAT A PINION BEARING WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RACK AND PINION LOCKING UP. *SCC THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. *JB
I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY 1998 CAVALIER 3 TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS - THIS IS NOT A CHEAP ENDEAVOR. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON 1995-1997 - BUT WHAT ABOUT 1998? *LA
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL 02049.*MR PLEASE REVIEW FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS. *CB THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER TAKING MY '98 CAVALIER IN FOR RECALL 02V286000 REPAIR I STARTED HEARING A TERRIBLE SOUND FROM THE STEERING EVERY TIME I MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THIS NOISE IS ONLY HEARD WHEN MAKING LEFT-HAND TURNS. *JB
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.