1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

473 complaints filed with NHTSA.

473
Complaints
42
Crashes
11
Fires
38
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP34
STEERING:RACK AND PINION31
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
AIR BAGS12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
STEERING10
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD7
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR7
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE7

Recent Complaints

20150817FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

Mileage: 169,000

20150709CrashAIR BAGS

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. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED SPINE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20120321CrashPOWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT ENGINE STARTUP, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE SAFETY FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO SEVERAL ROCKS. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED AND THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 121,566.

Mileage: 121,566

20071213CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM AND SO DID MY FATHER-IN-LAW WHO DROVE CAR BEFORE ME. ABS WAS ALWAYS VERY SENSITIVE TO ACTIVATING AND WHEN ACTIVATED VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. I HAVE BE DRIVING 40 YEARS AND NEVER OWNED A MORE DIFFICULT VEHICLE TO STOP. HAD BRAKES SERVICED LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO AT DEALER, HAVE BRAND NEW MICHELINS. DOES NOT MATTER, I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT THIS CAVALIER ABS SYSTEM AND IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR

20061018FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG, HAD DRIVEN LESS THAN 1 MILE WHEN TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE WIRING. *NM

Mileage: 82,000

20060914FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK

WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AND STARTED TRUNK FIRE. *NM

Mileage: 65,000

20051223CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I REAR ENDED SOMEONE GOING 45 MPH AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. THIS WAS A FRONTAL CRASH AND FROM ALL THE LITERATURE I HAVE READ, IT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *NM

20050622CrashAIR BAGS

(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SH

Mileage: 100,000

20050622CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT

(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SH

Mileage: 100,000

20050622CrashSEATS

(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SH

Mileage: 100,000

20050301CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE SLOWING FROM A SPEED OF 45 MPH THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *NM THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS THE AIR BAG WAS BLOCKING HER VIEW. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP IN A DITCH. TWO WITNESSES ASSISTED THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION UNTIL THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TC

20041208CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CHEY CAVALIER HAS ABS LIGHT ON FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN A ACCIDENT. ALSO IT HAS FAIL MANY TIMES I CALLED THE COMPANY FOR ANSWERS BUT NO ONE HAS HELP. *JB

20041117CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE FRONT AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. *AK. NO COLLISION PRIOR TO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, SLOWED TO STOP, APPROXIMATELY FROM STOP SIGN. AIR BAG DEPLOYED, VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO A DITCH. *AK

Mileage: 36,813

20041102CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION AND WITHOUT WARNING, ANOTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE DRIVER HEAD ON AT THE INTERSECTION. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD A NECK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

20040422POWER TRAIN

POWER STEERING HAS SLOWLY GONE I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT READ BUT SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEAK BUT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE. IT'S CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO ACT UP AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ANYMORE.!!

20040422SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

POWER STEERING HAS SLOWLY GONE I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT READ BUT SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEAK BUT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE. IT'S CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO ACT UP AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ANYMORE.!!

20040422STEERING

POWER STEERING HAS SLOWLY GONE I TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT READ BUT SAYS THERE SEEMS TO BE A LEAK BUT HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE. IT'S CAUSED THE ENTIRE CAR TO ACT UP AND I DON'T EVEN WANT IT ANYMORE.!!

20031119FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ,THEN THE ENGINE DIED. WHEN CONSUMER POPPED THE HOOD, NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE, PER THE FIRE INSPECTOR.*AK

Mileage: 74,000

20030806FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER WOKE TO IGNITION RUNNING. IGNITION WAS IN OFF POSITION WITH THE KEYS REMOVED. SHE INSERTED THE KEY AND TURNED IT ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. JUST THEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPT. DETERMINED FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. *PH *JB

Mileage: 71,000

20030618CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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. SHE TRIED TO GET OUT OF WAY OF A TRUCK THAT WAS APPROACHING HER BUT COULDN'T AND HER CAR WENT UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE ENGINE STALLED ONCE WHILE IT WAS IDLING SO SHE HAD TO GET IT JUMPED. MY HUSBAND AND I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT HAS LEFT SOMETHING ON OR WASN'T QUITE SURE ABOUT WHAT REALL

Mileage: 27,500