1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, and owners have filed 345 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (electrical system)
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.
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…
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Rack and pinion (steering)
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.
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…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reposition the cng fuel and coolant pipes and reposition/repair any damaged fuel or brake pipes as necessary.
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
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.
345 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier have filed 345 complaints with NHTSA; 36 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 33 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 90,678 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 62 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Transmission failed out of nowhere for no reason no check engine light yes available for inspection”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 29, 2023 · Power train
“The starter went out the first week i got it did tires start rubbing the sucks went out making it hard to drive and a second time start rubbing i end up buying three times cuz they got ball real fast”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 6, 2020 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–21 / 27–31 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2.2/2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Cavalier model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Cavalier model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 Chevrolet Cavalier | 5 | 3 |
| 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 8 |
| 1985 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 4 |
| 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 18 |
| 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 24 |
| 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 12 |
| 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 43 |
| 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 55 |
| 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 55 |
| 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 134 |
| 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 146 |
| 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 212 |
| 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 270 |
| 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 503 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier | 7 | 540 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier | 4 | 345 |
| 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 240 |
| 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier | 2 | 315 |
| 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 243 |
| 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 196 |
| 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 678 |
| 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1 | 330 |
| 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier | 0 | 287 |
Checking a specific 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
How do I know if my 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V053000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.