Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Conventional, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and visibility categories. 4 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1999 | 5 | 6 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 7 |
| Feb 2004 | 1 | 8 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 10 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE WATER PUMP DEVELOPED A LEAK. UPON REPLACING BOTH THE PUMP AND THERMOSTAT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED AND I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN CAVALIERS. *NM
WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT HAD LIFTED OFF THE GROUND ABOUT A FOOT THEN PULLED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. *NM FUMES AND SMOKE WERE COMING FROM THE WHEELS FRONT AND BACK, THE VEHICLE WAS USING 2 OR MORE QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK, OUT OF ALIGNMENT, A/C COMPRESSOR MAKES NOISE AS IF IT WERE A BAD PULLEY BEARING, THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS BROKEN, THE CREW CAB OUTSIDE LIGHTS NEVER WORKED, THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS PREMATURELY, THE REAR END LEAKED, THE REAR END WHEEL SEPERATED ABOUT TWO INCHES OUT OF POSITION, THE WATER PUMP WAS INOPERATIVE, THE WIPERS FAILED DURING A RAIN STORM, UPPER AND LOWER PULLEYS FAILED AT SEPERATE TIMES, RADIATOR EXPLODED SENDING ANTI FREEZE ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC
WHEN BRAKING CONSUMER WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING. *AK SHORTLY AFTER THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS STARTED. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE STEERING WOULD LOCK, BIND AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, GET STIFF WHEN BACKING AND TURNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE PRESSURE BUILT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM CAUSED THE MASTER CYLINDER TO LEAK AND PRESSURE BUILT UP AND BLEW THE TOP OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT BRAKES TO WEAR OUT. THE SEATS WERE WEARING BADLY AT THE EDGES ON BOTH SIDES. *SC
SWING OPEN DOOR ON LEFT SIDE BROKE COMPLETELY OFF THE HINGES, AND OTHER DOOR WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
OIL FILTER HOUSING FAILED. YH
BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. YH
PLUG FOR SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED. YH
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
THIS TECHNICAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPROGRAM THE MEDIA DISC PLAYER WITH THE LATEST CALIBRATIONS TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THE REAR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM NOT OPERATING AS INTENDED IN COLDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AREAS DUE TO CALIBRATION CONCERNS.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Vehicle Recalls
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.