U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Chevrolet CAVALIER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

252 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

82,525 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering:Rack And Pinion is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 252 complaints (11.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	49	19.4%
Braking behavior	44	17.5%
Electrical and battery issues	22	8.7%
Engine operation	19	7.5%
Transmission and shifting	9	3.6%
Fuel system concerns	4	1.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering:Rack And Pinion

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Electrical System

Air Bags:Frontal

Electrical System:Ignition

Steering

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Steering:Rack And Pinion	30
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	21
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	14
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	12
Electrical System	11
Air Bags:Frontal	10
Electrical System:Ignition	10
Steering	10

Steering:Rack And Pinion: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 21; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 12; Electrical System: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Electrical System:Ignition: 10; Steering: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 13

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 169 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017

2018

2020

2023

2000: 51; 2001: 33; 2002: 23; 2003: 41; 2004: 46; 2005: 19; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Steering:Rack And Pinion leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001271 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

RECALL CAMPAIGN: STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION (RECALL NUMBER 02V286000). THE VEHICLE'S RACK AND PINION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT HE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001271 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006839 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. *JB SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006839 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004753 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IT FEELS LIKE REAR WHEELS ARE GRABBING. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE AND REPLACED REAR HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10018357 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE AT APPROX 55-60 MPH MY ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT GO BELOW 40 MPH. I CALLED 9-1-1 FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS WENT ON FOR APPROX 8 MILES, I EVENTUALLY SHUT THE IGNITION OFF AND THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT AND EXPECT ME TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES THAT WERE RUINED AS A RESULT OF THE CARS DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR. THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND FIXED BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS RELEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018357 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10023313 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)

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 REALLY HAPPENED WHEN IT DIED WHILE BEING PARKED. I DRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023313 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032276 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032276 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009139 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IDLING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE EGR POSITION DIDN'T MATCH THE ACTUAL EGR POSITION ON THE DASH. SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10005148 · 2003-02-03 (February 3, 2003)

CLUTCH WENT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. TRANMISSION SYNCHRONIZERS ALSO WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER REFUSED TO RECTIFY PROBLEM UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAVE DOES NOT COVER TRANSMISSIONS. I WAS NOT OFFERED ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY CHOICES WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WAS JUST ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE ONE. I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAVE USED 1 TIME FOR A FAULTY FUEL PUMP. MEANWHILE, I HAVE HAD A NEW CLUTCH PUT IN ($650), BUT HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION R…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005148 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10010757 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER/5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION TOTAL FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING - WENT TO MAKE A TURN - SOMETHING SNAPPED - STEERING WHEEL SNAPPED BACK - FRONT END SHIFTED AND MOTOR TWISTED - VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN - THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION FUNCTION . *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 57,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010757 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034508 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP.*MR THE VEHICLE BLEW FUSES AND DIDN'T START UNTIL IT SAT AND COOLED OFF WHICH WAS DUE TO THE BAG FULE PUMP. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034508 at NHTSA ↗