Illustration`I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS REPLACED TWICE AND TURNED TWICE WITH BRAKE PADS. THREE OF THESE WERE COMPLETED BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *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.
36 crash reports10 fire reports23 injury reports
What owners actually said
345 reportsWHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER NOTICED POPPING NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE STALLS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
I HAVE THE COMPLETE CASE HISTORY IN EMAIL FORM, IF YOU NOTIFY ME OF YOU ADDRESS I WILL SEND. *AK
CONSUMER STOPS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS CONSTANTLY ON BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE WAS PUT IN TO PARK. *SLC
CONVERTIBLE TOP IS LEAKING WATER INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARMENT WHICH HAS CAUSED CARPET TO MOLD . CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
MY VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE DOING EVERYTHING A NEW CAR SHOULD DO. THIS VEHICLE HAS JEOPORDIZED MY FAMILIES SAFETY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. HAVING THE HORN NOT WORK WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLS OUT ON ME IS A SERIOUS MATTER WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. EVERYTIME THE OIL IS CHANGED ON THE CAR THEY COME BACK AND TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION IS…
Read full complaint
MY VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE DOING EVERYTHING A NEW CAR SHOULD DO. THIS VEHICLE HAS JEOPORDIZED MY FAMILIES SAFETY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. HAVING THE HORN NOT WORK WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLS OUT ON ME IS A SERIOUS MATTER WHICH SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. EVERYTIME THE OIL IS CHANGED ON THE CAR THEY COME BACK AND TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY REPLACING THE SHAFT SEAL IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WHEN IT LEAKS AGAIN 3000 MILES IN BETWEEN DEALERSHIP VISITS. HAVING A CONSTANT GASOLINE AND SULFER ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE WORRIES ME ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING I HAVE TWO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.WHEN BROUGHT UP TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE MATTER ANYMORE UNLESS A ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THIS VEHICLE WILL SHORTLY RUN OUT OF WARRANTY AND I BELIEVE GENERAL MOTORS HAS BLOWN OFF MY LETTERS, PHONECALLS AND E-MAILS KNOWING THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER, SINCERELY CLIFTON COLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A WARNING OR A REASON. *AK
284-334-1038. ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER CLAIMS LOSS OF POWER. *AK
MY VEHICLE DIES WHILE IN REVERSE AND AT STOPS INTERMITTENLY DEALER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ANYMORE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER AT LEAST 25 TIMES.
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.