SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1998 Chevrolet Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.5.

About this comparison →
27Owner complaints

Model-year median: 21.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
199627
199836
199924
200045
2001
Compare all Prizm years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
6Electrical System
3Seat Belts
3Steering
3Tires
3
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Structure
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Power Train
1Seats
1

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: 4 of 27 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
150,000 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Seat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES FAILED AND THE SEAT BELTS COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES FAILED AND THE SEAT BELTS COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10448334

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN UNFASTENED AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. WHEN DRIVER EXITS VEHICLE, SEAT BELT FLIES OUT OF CAR, HITTING THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE UNRETRACTED BELT ALSO PREVENTS CAR DOOR FROM SHUTTING UNTIL MANUALLY RETRACTED.

NHTSA ODI #701933

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1998
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

SEAT BELT BUCKLE DAMAGES DOOR WHEN RELEASED DUE TO DESIGN.

NHTSA ODI #536940

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.