1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 4%of 345 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 81,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, 4% of the 345 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 81,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The engine started having problems where it didn't want to move and the gas pump kept messing up and the gas needle doesn,t show correct it will say you have a half a tank when you really have a quarter tank, and the throttle sensor is messed up I was on I-4 which is a major highway in orlando in the middle of traffic the was on but loss power and stalled out.”
NHTSA complaint #10794298, filed 2015-11, 125,000 miles“I have had several episodes over the past 6 years of my car accelerating without me stepping on the gas. In fact, it usually happens when I have first started the car, and am stepping on the brakes when pulling out of driveway, or coming to a stop at traffic lights, etc. My brakes can barely stop the car, and the only way I can get the car to go back to normal is to put it in park once I have stopped. Immediately I hear the engine stop revving, and then when I put the car in drive it's working normally.”
NHTSA complaint #10100734, filed 2004-11“Accelerator stuck to the floor while merging on to freeway. Vehicle kept going faster. Tried pumping accelerator, nothing happened. Tried braking, but car would not slow down. Put left foot on brake pedal and used right foot to try to loosen the accelerator by stomping on it. No luck. By then, I was approaching vehicles ahead of me at very high speed (I would guess at least 70 MPH.). Both lanes were full, so there was no way to switch lanes. In desperation, I shifted to reverse to try to stop the car. The engine shut off. I steered the vehicle to the shoulder as the vehicle coasted. …”
NHTSA complaint #10056558, filed 2004-02“Egr valve: replaced twice, cleaned once; GM rep. Says not his problem after 24k miles; car has miss and idles rough, codes detected p0300, p0404, p1404, p0405; dlr replace PCM computer. Called state a.g.”
NHTSA complaint #721874, filed 2000-04“Consumer was driving at approximately 60 MPH when the vehicle suddenly started to accelerate to over 100 MPH. Vehicle would not stop even by applying brakes. Had to pull emergency brakes and put it in park.”
NHTSA complaint #835399, filed 1999-04Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 18 | 6% |
| 2004 | 27 | 8% |
| 2003 | 13 | 2% |
| 2002 | 11 | 6% |
| 2001 | 8 | 3% |
| 2000 | 11 | 3% |
| 1999 | 11 | 5% |
| 1998 | 14 | 4% |
| 1997 | 18 | 3% |
| 1996 | 14 | 3% |
| 1995 | 5 | 2% |
| 1994 | 7 | 3% |
| 1993 | 6 | 4% |
| 1992 | 7 | 5% |
| 1991 | 2 | 4% |
| 1990 | 2 | 4% |
| 1989 | 1 | 2% |
| 1987 | 3 | 13% |
Other parts of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
66 complaintsBrakes
59 complaintsEngine cooling
55 complaintsSteering
54 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
11 complaintsSuspension
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology