MYRModel Year Report

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier

◆ Worse than typical
1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
345
Recalls
11

Campaigns on file for 1998

Investigations
0

None on file

Top problem
Electrical system

21% of complaints

Complaints per year

1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1998 345 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2001: 243 complaints 2002: 196 complaints 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1996: 503 complaints 1996 1997: 540 complaints 1998: 345 complaints 1998 345 1999: 240 complaints 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints
1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 8 complaints 1984 1985: 4 complaints 1985 1986: 18 complaints 1986 1987: 24 complaints 1987 1988: 12 complaints 1988 1989: 43 complaints 1989 1990: 55 complaints 1990 1991: 56 complaints 1991 1992: 137 complaints 1992 1993: 148 complaints 1993 1994: 217 complaints 1994 1995: 271 complaints 1995 1996: 503 complaints 1996 1997: 540 complaints 1997 1998: 345 complaints 1998 345 1999: 240 complaints 1999 2000: 315 complaints 2000 2001: 243 complaints 2001 2002: 196 complaints 2002 2003: 678 complaints 2003 2004: 330 complaints 2004 2005: 287 complaints 2005

1998: 345 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19821
19833
19848
19854
198618
198724
198812
198943
199055
199156
1992137
1993148
1994217
1995271
1996503
1997540
1998345
1999240
2000315
2001243
2002196
2003678
2004330
2005287

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

21% · 72 reports

Most commonly citing switch and ignition.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving at 35 MPH, there was an odor of smoke inside the vehicle. The contact coasted over to the side of the road, lifted the hood, and noticed that the wires from the alternator were on fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-08-17

Consumer states that a fire started in the trunk of the vehicle. Also states that the fire dept. Said it started from the tail lights. Ts

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-20

On September 3, 2002, I tried starting the car in the morning around 11:15 am. The car did not start after multiple attempts. The car was left in the apartment parking lot.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-01

Service brakes

19% · 65 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Steering

17% · 57 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and gear box (other than rack and pinion).

CRASHINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

16% · 56 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

My daughter was driving her 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier when the engine stalled and she had not power. She tried turning on a side street she had no power steering and no brakes.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-06-18

Air bags

10% · 35 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle hydroplaned on ice. As a result, the contact crashed into the guardrail. The air bags failed to deploy.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-07-09

Vehicle involved in head-on collision at about 40 MPH, and the airbags did not deploy. Dealer has been notified.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-08-04

When vehicle was involved in a rear end crash, traveling at 55 MPH, both air bags deployed. The hot gases from the driver's side air bag burned the driver and the passenger. The driver's right arm was burned.

NHTSA ODI report, 1998-07-30

Safety timeline

11 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1997-11-21Wheels97V219000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The wheel lug nuts were not tightened securely resulting in a fracture of the wheel studs.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque of all wheel nuts and, if necessary, tighten any that may be below required torque.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    1998Complaint volume 345 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2000-03-17Fuel system, other00V053000 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…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reposition the cng fuel and coolant pipes and reposition/repair any damaged fuel or brake pipes as necessary.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2003-01-24Steering02V286000 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…

    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2004-03-01Electrical system04V036000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2007-03-20Fuel system, gasoline07E015000 Certain delphi aftermarket fuel pump modules / module reservoir assemblies (Mra) that were sold for use on the above listed vehicles. During production the mras vent and fuel return tubes were…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the defective mras free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 1-877-335-7443.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2007-04-27Fuel system, other07E021000 Certain delphi fuel pressure regulators, p/nos. Fp10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, and FP10027-11B1, sold after January 9, 2007, as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles listed above. The…

    Remedy: Delphi will notify owners and replace the upr free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2007. Owners can contact delphi at 877-411-8770.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2008-10-16Steering08E063000 Dorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (Sold under dorman's "Oe solutions" Brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059…

    Remedy: Dorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. The recall began on October 16, 2008. Owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 72 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 65 reports on file for this year.
  • Steering: 57 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 97V219000 · Wheels
  • Recall 00V053000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 02V286000 · Steering
  • Recall 04V036000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E015000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 07E021000 · Fuel system, other
  • Recall 08E063000 · Steering
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 21% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.