1998 Chevrolet Cavalier reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 473
- 1 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
- 34 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 42 reported crashes · 38 injuries · 11 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,105
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+165
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 1996-2000
+205
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
7%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 34 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
- 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
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier reliable?
NHTSA has 473 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (34 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Owners most often report problems with: 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). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.