Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system66
- Engine and engine cooling55
- Service brakes, hydraulic54
- Steering54
- Air bags34
- Structure28
- Exterior lighting17
- Power train16
- Visibility15
- Vehicle speed control14
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 33 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 1998 Cavalier vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 10 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier failed the safety check 2.52% of the time — 47% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 97,135 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 9.5–10.8 L/100 km (about 22–25 mpg US), CO₂ 219–248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavalier · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.4 | 7.2 | 9.5 |
| Cavalier · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.3 | 10.3 |
| Cavalier · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.0 | 10.3 |
| Cavalier · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 8.0 | 10.3 |
| Cavalier · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.2 | 9.0 | 10.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier.
| 2004033 28 Jan 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, if the engine fails to start and the driver holds the key in the "Start" position for an extended period, high current flowing through the … |
| 2002199 5 Nov 2002 | Steering On certain vehicles, the lower pinion bearings retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between Janua… |
| 2000109 28 Apr 2000 | Engine Note: Certain 1997-99 vehicles in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces and 1995-99 vehicles in all other provinces and territories. Moisture may enter t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED SECURELY RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634877 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO REVISE THE FRONT SUSPENSION FASTNER TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS.*TT |
| 634811 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634803 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A CLUNK TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DURING A TURNING MANEUVER. *TT |
| 634710 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0140. *TT |
| 628900 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION, AND HAVING TO ADD OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. *TT |
| 628890 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON LEAKAGE OF A FEW DROPS OF COOLANT AFTER PARKING THEIR VEHICLE. *TT |
| 628094 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK TYPE NOISE ESPECIALLY FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. *TT |
| 628092 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CLUNK TYPE NOISE WHILE TURNING, ESPECIALLY FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 628053 | CUSTOMER CONCERN OF PREMATURE FOG LAMP FAILURE. *TT |
| 627673 | INFORMATION REGARDING CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE DURING TURNING. *YH *TT |
| 625380 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION AND HAVING TO ADD OIL BETWEEN CHANGES. *JG |
| 622716 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) REPLACEMENT. NLM |
| 619370 | OWNERS OF SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRA-MATIC 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E OR 4T65-E TRANSAXLES MAY COMMENT ON A GRINDING AND / OR GROWLING NOISE THAT IS NOTICEABLE WHEN STANDING IN PARK ON A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE PARKING BRAKE NOT APPLIED. *TT |
| 619039 | THIS MESSAGE CONCERNS VEHICLES EXHIBITING A CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMERS MAY STATE THAT A CLUNK NOISE IS HEARD WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 618179 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING CLUNK OR BUMP NOISE USUALLY HEARD WHEN TURNING EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL OF VEHICLE WITH THE CAR IN PARK OR MOVING SLOWLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS ROTATED FROM STOP TO STOP. *TT |
| 618119 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DURING TURNING MANEUVERS OR STEERING WHEEL ROTATION. *JB |
| 618086 | CONCERNS WITH CLUNK NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE TURNING MANEUVER / STEERING WHEEL ROTATION.*JB (LUBRICATE OR REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AS APPROPRIATE). UPDATED 10/05/07. *NJ UPDATED 4/1/08. *NJ UPDATED 7/1/2008 *PE |
| 618071 | EXHIBITING A LOUD HOOT / WHISTLING NOISE AT START UP DURING COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. *JB |
| 615103 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN INVOLVING VEHICLES EXHIBITING INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 615098 | UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONTACTING BATTERY TRAY. *TT |
| 614376 | EXPERIENCING A RATTLE / SQUEAK IN RIGHT SIDE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL OR RIGHT FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL SCRATCHED OR RIGHT SIDE END OF INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTACTING DOOR TRIM PANEL. *TT |
| 613590 | INFORMATION REGARDING SNOW INTRUSION INTO REAR DRUM BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. **MR |
| 613587 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE ILLUMINATION OF THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) LIGHT AND CODE P0300 (GENERAL MISFIRE), WITH DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE MISFIRE, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. **MR |
| 612663 | UPPER RADIATOR HOSE CONTACTS THE BATTERY TRAY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN ENGINE COLLANT LEAK, WITH A LOW COOLANT TELLTALE (WARNING LAMP) ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *MJS |
| 612033 | GENERAL MOTOR HAS DEDICED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.2L ENGINES (VIN 4), MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE UPPER RADITOR HOSE CONTACTS THE BATTERY TRAY. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)