RoadVitals

1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Interior & seats Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Interior & seats reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest Jun 22, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 345 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming interior

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsInterior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jun 22, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

(1) MY COUSIN WAS DRIVING HER 1998 CAVALIER WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE (2) HER DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR BROKE LOSE AND HER SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF ITS FASTENER AND THE METAL "HOOK" STRIKING HER BODY RESULTING IN A LACERATION. HER BODY WAS THEN THROW FORWARD WITH SUCH GREAT FORCE THAT SHE HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HER HEAD TWICE RESULTING IN A CONCUSSION, BLACK EYE, SWOLLEN FOREHEAD AND OTHER CUTS AND BRUISES. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE POINT OF IMPACT, DESPITE THE FORCE WITH WHICH SHE WAS STRUCK, HER AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE FURTHER PREVENTED HER STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. EVERY SAFETY DEVICE IN THIS VEHICLE FAILED MISERABLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY.

NHTSA ID
10126221
Incident
Jun 21, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
Interior & seatsOther / unspecified
Filed May 16, 2004

IN AUGUST OF 2002 I HAD THE FRONT RIGHT ANTI-LOCK SENSOR FOR MY 1998 CHEVY CAVALIER REPLACED. WITHIN NINE MONTHS, MAY 2003, I HAD TO HAVE THE SAME SENSOR REPLACED. NOW IT IS MAY OF 2004 AND MY DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED THE SAME SENSOR REPLACED. MY THINKING IS THAT THEY SHOULD OF FOUND SOMETHING AFTER THE SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. SINCE THE 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY IS DONE I HAVE TO RELY ON THE PARTS WARRANTY, WHICH DOES NOT HELP ME IF I HAVE TO REPLACE IT EVERY YEAR. THREE SAME EXACT SENSORS REPLACED LESS THAT TWO YEARS IS SENSELESS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10072694
Incident
May 15, 2004
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 29, 2002

OJ REAR BACK DOOR CAME OPENED AND THE LOCK WAS ON AT THE TIME. THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE, REPLACE RT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY. RUSTED/CORRODED LUBRICATED TO FREE UP, NEEDS REPLACEMENT, REMOVE AND REPLACE RT REAR DOOR LOCK ASSY.

NHTSA ID
9005896
Incident
Nov 21, 2001
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 25, 2001

THIS IS THE THIRD CAVALIER I HAVE OWNED, AND THE LAST. THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT CAR, GUESS I WAS WRONG. THE RADIO HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE BRAKES 3 TIMES (THEY WEAR FUNNY), THE SEAT BROKE AND I FELL INTO MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE BACK SEAT. AND CHEVROLET HAS ONCE AGAIN STOOD BY THEIR WORD, I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, SO THEY WILL DO NOTHING. WHAT A COMPANY.

NHTSA ID
749174
ElectricalFuel systemInterior & seats
Filed Jun 19, 2001

EVER SINCE WE'VE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE THERE'S BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY IT WILL STALL OUT AND SHUT OFF. IN FEB OF 2000 THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE GAS GAUGE FLUCUATES. IT WILL SHOW 1/4 TANK OF GAS LEFT AND TEN MINUTES LATER THE CHECK GAS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE GAUGE DROPS. SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WENT BAD. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WON'T SHUT ANY MORE, THE LATCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT'S LIKE EVERY 3 OT 4 MONTHS SOMETHING WITHER MINOR OR SIGNIFICANT GOES WRONG WITH IT AND PERSOANLLY I AM SICK OF IT. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS A LEMON AND I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
747074
Incident
Apr 21, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed May 16, 2001

THE WIRING ON MY 1998 CAVLIER WORE THRUGH AND SHORTED OUT IGNITION AND OTHER ACCESSORIES. I PAID DEALER TO MAKE REPAIRS THE SAME PROBLEM HAS NOW HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER'S 1998 CAVALIER AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE THE DEALER SHE IS TALKING TO SAYS THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE CLIP THAT RETAINS THE WIRING HARNESS AND THEY STATE THE DEFECT IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO TALK BECAUSE SHE HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY CHEVROLET SUPPORTS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH IF IN ONE FAMILY THE SAME DEFECT DEVELOPS AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE, ON THE MAKE, AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. OTHERS MUST BE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
745422
Incident
Jul 10, 2000
AirbagsHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Apr 15, 2001

AIR BAG STAYS ON, 3 MODULES REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. HORN WOULD NOT WORK WITH STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT, REPLACED CANCELLING CAM. OK. CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT, REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX, OK. A/C RUMBLES AT IDLE WHEN HOT, REPLACED BELT AND TENSIONER, PROBLEM STILL PRESENT BUT NOT AS LOUD. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, REPLACED ALARM MODULE, OK.

NHTSA ID
744075
Incident
Oct 10, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Jan 3, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS REARENDED, SEAT BROKE. WAS REPAIRED AT DEALER, BUT STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN SEAT IS IN UPRIGHT POSITION, IT TAKES PUSH OF ONE FINGER TO MAKE IT RECLINE AGAIN, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN COLLISION. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
877308
Incident
Jan 2, 2001
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 21, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REARENDED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER'S SEAT RECLINED ALL THE WAY, DRIVER'S SEAT 3/4 OF THE WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
876860
Incident
Dec 20, 2000
Body & structureInterior & seatsTransmission
Filed Nov 28, 2000

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *MJS

NHTSA ID
558140
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 7, 2000
1 injury reported

CONSUMER SHUT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ON THE OCCUPANT'S FINGER WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR LATCH TO JAM, AND OCCUPANT COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO TAKE HER FINGER OUT. THE OCCUPANT HAD SQUEEZED HER FINGER OUT, AND SUSTAINED INJURIES. WHEN THE FINGER WAS OUT OF THE DOOR MECHANISM, THE DOOR WAS ABLE TO OPEN AND CLOSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
865039
Incident
Aug 10, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Apr 12, 2000

DRIVER'S SEAT MOVING BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING. APPOINTMENT BEING MADE WITH DEALER CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
860241
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 1, 2000

WHEN TURNING A CORNER AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FLEW OPEN AND WOULD NOT CLOSE. DEALER HAD VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS, AND STILL COULD NOT FIX THE DEFECT PROPERLY, LOCK IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
857701
Interior & seats
Filed Nov 28, 1999
2 injuries reported

MY 13 YR OLD DAUGHTER AND 12 YR OLD NIECE TRIED TO HIDE FROM ME AFTER A RIDE IN THE TRUNK OF THE CAR. THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD LEAVE A SEATBELT BETWEEN THE BACK SEAT AND THE TRUNK TO PREVENT IT CLOSING. IT LOCKED. THEY WERE TRAPPED FOR 20-30 MINUTES BEFORE I HAPPENED TO WALK BY THE CAR (IT WAS 90 DEGREES) AND HEARD THEM. LUCKILY THEY WERE OKAY BUT A FEW MORE MINUTES AND THEY MAY HAVE PASSED OUT - THEN WHO KNOWS? PLEASE HAVE ALL CARS WITH SIMILAR BACK SEATS (OPEN FROM PASSENGER AREA TO THE TRUNK, BUT NOT VICE VERSA) HAVE SAFETY LATCHES PLACED IN THE TRUNK BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT WILL SAVE LIVES!

NHTSA ID
715347
Incident
Jul 4, 1999
Body & structureBrakesInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Oct 6, 1999

#1, THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND THE PADS WERE WORN. DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY SO I PAID OUT OF POCKET. NOW SECOND SET OF ROTORS AND PADS IS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. #2 TRUNK LID LATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH KEY, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, SO I PAID OUT OF POCKET. #3 REVERSE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED, AGAIN DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, I PAID OUT OF POCKET. SWITCH HAS GONE BAD AGAIN AND I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACE A SECOND TIME. #4 DRIVER'S DOOR HINGES WERE BENT AND DOOR DID NOT ALWAYS CLOSE TIGHTLY, DEALER REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. #5 DRIVER'S SIDE SIDE HAD A METAL BAR STICKING THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY INTO MY BACK. DEALER REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ID
712908
Incident
Aug 12, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 22, 1999

LEVER ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT THAT ADJUSTS THE SEATBACK, STICKS OUT AND INTERFERES WITH EXITING AND ENTERING OF THE DRIVER INTO THE VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T DO ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID
848399
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 8, 1999

TRUNK LOCK--TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN.

NHTSA ID
609185
Incident
Dec 15, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 26, 1999
1 injury reported

THE DESIGN OF VEHICLE HAS AN LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO RELEASE THE HATCHBACK, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A RELEASE BUTTON / LATCH TO OPEN ON THE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED TWO CHILDREN TO BE STUCK INSIDE VEHICLE ALMOST RESULTING IN DEATH, INJURY TO HAND DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID
547526
Incident
Jul 4, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 15, 1999
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, OUR VEHICLE STRUCK FROM BEHIND (REAR-ENDED) BY AN SUV. THE IMPACT CAUSED BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS TO COLLAPSE BACKWARD PROVIDING NO SUPPORT AND CAUSING INJURY TO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

NHTSA ID
704462
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999

CHILD SAFTEY LOCKS OUT OF ORDER, DOOR DOES NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE AT ALL. YH

NHTSA ID
609280
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TRUNK LATCH FAILED TWICE. *YC

NHTSA ID
606245
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
BrakesEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Dec 3, 1998

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER CAN SMELL THE BRAKES BURNING. CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS/HOOD LATCH AND CALIPERS STICKING. ALSO, HAD THREE MUFFLERS REPLACED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WON'T WORK. IN ADDITION, WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ROCHER ARM GASKET, AND THE BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
831751
Incident
Feb 12, 1998

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .