1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
473 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 34 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 31 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 22 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 20 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 14 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 14 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 12 |
| AIR BAGS | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 12 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 11 |
| STEERING | 10 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 7 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 7 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 7 |
Recent Complaints
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
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
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
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
NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG, HAD DRIVEN LESS THAN 1 MILE WHEN TRUNK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO DEFECTIVE WIRING. *NM
Mileage: 82,000
WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT AND STARTED TRUNK FIRE. *NM
Mileage: 65,000
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
(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
(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
(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
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
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
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
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
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.!!
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.!!
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.!!
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
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
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