Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 344 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E025000 FMVSS 108/REPLACEMENT HEADLAMPS/AMBER REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E063000 INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT/LOSS OF STEERING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E015000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMP MODULES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V036000 GM/IGNITION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V286000 GM/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V053000 GM/BI-FUEL CNG COOLANT LINES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V219000 GM/WHEEL LUG NUTS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 65 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 53 complaints
- Steering 53 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 52 complaints
- Air Bags 34 complaints
- Structure 26 complaints
Of the 344 complaints on file, 35 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 344 complaints, owners report 32 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier demonstrates several reliability concerns, particularly in electrical and steering systems, as evidenced by their high complaint counts. However, the data is somewhat limited, preventing a comprehensive evaluation.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$600 | occasional |
| Steering system | Unknown | $300–$800 | occasional |
| Braking system | Unknown | $250–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and alignment
- Transmission fluid changes
- Coolant flushes
- Spark plug replacement
- Drive belt inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Intermittent electrical issues
- Steering wheel noise
- Brake pedal softness
- Engine overheating
- Transmission slipping
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.