1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the power steering becoming suddenly hard to turn, especially at low speed or while parking, and frequent ignition switch trouble with starting and with the key. Coolant leaks, overheating and brake complaints (including ABS behaviour and long stopping distances) also recur, and by high mileage several owners report a rusted or cracked front subframe. Most of these appear at moderate to high mileage rather than when the car was new, and several complaints mention that a recall existed but their vehicle was not covered by it.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering suddenly goes heavy or locks

   • 51 complaints (15%)
   • median 78,484 mi at 6.7 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2012

   Owners describe the steering wheel becoming very hard to turn, sometimes all at once, at low speed, while parking, turning left or pulling out of a space. Some say the wheel would not move at all until they used both arms or the car was restarted, and a few report a pop or clicking noise beforehand. Complaints describe mechanics identifying the rack and pinion as the source and replacing it; several owners say the dealer found nothing or told them the car was designed that way, and some mention the rack and pinion recall but say their vehicle was not included by VIN. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 140,000 miles, often during low-speed turns and parking maneuvers.

   Recall 02V2860002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Turn the wheel through full lock at idle and listen for popping or clicking, and ask whether the rack and pinion recall (02V286000) was performed on this VIN. Confirm the intermediate shaft lubrication bulletin was applied if a clunk is present.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering: rack and pinion. At times when I come to a stop I can't turn the wheel either way it's to hard to turn. I went to a garage to see what was wrong they checked it over and they said that the steering: rack and pinion is going. This has happened to me four times so far.”

   NHTSA complaint #10098390, filed 2004-11, 98,900 miles

   “I was attempting to turn left to pull out of a parallel parking space when I heard something pop and it suddenly felt as if my car had lost all power steering. One month later I heard of rack and pinion steering recall on 1998 cavaliers which is what I drive and my car had all of the effects of what were listed. After taking my car into a chevy dealer, I was told my car did not fit the recall and that I needed a whole new transmission. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10062255, filed 2004-03, 67,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch hard to turn, no start, smoke or fire

   • 42 complaints (12%)
   • median 78,484 mi at 6.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Complaints describe the key not turning, the key needing to be held partway out, the engine cranking without firing, or the car refusing to shut off. Some owners report smoke or flames from the steering column area while starting or after the car was parked, and one says the alternator wiring caught fire while driving. Several mention repeated ignition switch replacements, and some say problems continued after the recall repair was done. Reported from about 30,000 to 130,000 miles, often during starting or shortly after a recall repair.

   Recall 04V0360001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for proof that recall 04V036000 was completed, then test starting several times and check that the key turns freely and the engine shuts off cleanly. Look for melted or discolored plastic around the ignition switch and any burnt smell under the dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had my 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier for almost 5 years now; in feb. 2003 I had to pay 321.25 to have an ignition switch replaced in my car (which was an recall issue); I asked martin burks Chevrolet on forest park parkway in forest park, ga if the ignition problem was a recall issue and bob allen, the auto part service manager lied to me and stated that it was not a recall issue, so I paid $321.25 for repair service to find out a year later that the ignition system problem was a recall issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10067751, filed 2004-04, 76,968 miles

   “I have replaced the ignition switch in my 1998 Cavalier 3 times in the past three years - this is not a cheap endeavor. I know there was a recall on 1995-1997 - but what about 1998?”

   NHTSA complaint #10045164, filed 2003-10, 69,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Coolant leaks, overheating and engine stalling

   • 32 complaints (9%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners describe smelling coolant, seeing smoke or steam from under the hood, and the temperature gauge climbing, sometimes shortly after a coolant flush and fill or a belt replacement. Some complaints link overheating to the engine dying on the road, leaving the car without power steering or power brakes. A few mention the check engine light with a sticking EGR valve, and others describe the engine stalling at speed with no warning and dealers unable to reproduce it. Mostly between about 55,000 and 100,000 miles, with several reports following recent cooling-system service.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for crusty residue or dye at hoses, the water pump and the radiator, and ask whether the intake manifold gasket or cooling parts have been replaced. Have a shop pressure-test the cooling system and scan for stored codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ever since I bought my car brand new, I have had issues with the engine stalling on hills or inclines. My car will start to feel as if it's going to stall, and the RPM's jump up as if I am accelerating the gas, but since this normally only happens on hills, when I apply the brakes, my car will not stop, b/c the RPM's are still high, then that's when the car stalls, and of course my steering wheel locks, and I cannot stop without using the e-brake, or put it back into neutral and restart it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257007, filed 2009-01, 2,000 miles

   “I took my car in for a noise in the engine. After I had the car serviced I was then informed that a guide for the timing chain broke and the timing chain bent a baring on the cam shaft.”

   NHTSA complaint #10053008, filed 2004-01, 65,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brakes slow to respond and ABS pulsing

   • 51 complaints (15%)
   • median 58,387 mi at 6.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2012

   Owners report the pedal feeling delayed, the car continuing to roll when braking, or long stopping distances, particularly in wet weather. Others describe the ABS engaging when it should not, with the pedal pulsing and releasing repeatedly, and one says the ABS simply failed. Complaints note repeated dealer visits where the problem could not be duplicated, and some owners replaced rotors and pads themselves with limited improvement. Spread across the sample from very low mileage up to about 85,000 miles, often noticed in wet conditions.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test braking on a wet, empty road and feel for pulsing or a long pedal, and check the ABS warning lamp. Ask whether the ABS pump running bulletin was addressed and when the fluid, pads and rotors were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: consumer states there is a malfunction with the ABS system. At any speed, when brakes are applied, ABS kicks on and does not catch, but starts to jolt. Brake pedal seems to catch/release over and over, which caused extended stopping distances. Also causes rolling foward or backward in any weather condition or under any driving circumstances. Consumer has barely had an accident up to this point. Vehicle has rolled into traffic several times and consumer was forced to use the emergency brake to avoid an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10120996, filed 2005-05, 85,000 miles

   “Consumer stated when brakes were applied there was a delay in braking. Cause was unknown. Please provide any further information. When the road is wet, the braking distance is the length of two telephone poles. Vehicle was taken to the dealership five times but they weren't able to duplicate the problem. Consumer was told bring the vehicle back when its raining. Consumer did so and each time they stated they were busy. Mechanic wrote one repair order. Consumer installed new rotors and pads which helped a little bit. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10032421, filed 2003-09, 5,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Front subframe rust and cracking

   • 12 complaints (3%)
   • median 141,500 mi at 13.7 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners describe a pull to one side, wandering or fishtailing over small bumps, and difficulty steering that traced to a rusted, cracked or split front subframe. Some learned of it during tire work or a traffic stop when a wheel sat visibly out of line, and others had the subframe replaced. Complaints describe the damage as progressing unnoticed until the car handled oddly. Mostly reported between about 120,000 and 175,000 miles, on older cars in rust-belt use.

   What to check: Put the car on a lift and inspect the front subframe and its mounting points for rust-through, flaking metal or cracks, especially on cars from salted-road areas. Also check the convertible top and window motors for water intrusion on convertibles.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at red light and when the light turned green I took off and felt a pull to the passenger side. I had my brother in law check it out and the sub-frame was rotted. We replaced it but feel this needed to be brought to your attention.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251848, filed 2008-12, 133,000 miles

   “No events except the sub frame just split in half ,causing the vehicle has very little control and pulls erratically from one way to another, had to replace the sub frame.”

   NHTSA complaint #10399097, filed 2011-05, 131,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, most of the practical risk sits in the steering rack, ignition switch and front subframe, so confirm any recall work by VIN and have the underside inspected before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection covering cooling, brakes and the subframe is worth more here than the service history alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.