Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Chevrolet Prizm problems
Owners filed 45 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Dec 2012. The most-cited component is air bags (8).
Complaints
45
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags8
- Steering7
- Tires6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Electrical system4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Suspension3
- Seat belts2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Visibility2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Structure2
- Equipment2
- Power train1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
7
10
3
8
2
4
5
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1999 | 10 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
8 reports4 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH OVER LOOSE GRAVEL, THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL BUT ENDED UP OVER STEERING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.”
Steering
7 reports1 crash
“I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. TO DATE IT HAS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. THERE IS AND HAS BEEN "SOMETHING WRONG" WITH THE FRONT-END OF MY CAR. IT SEEMS THE "CLUNKING" SOUND THAT ONE CAN FEEL AS BEEN THERE FOR QUITE AWHILE. WHILE DRIVING(ON FLAT, STRAIGHT FORWARD, PAVEMENT)(BETWEEN 32 AND 37 MPH) MY CAR WILL VEER, "BOUNCE" TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL MOVING(AS IN TURNING). I HAVE DESCRIBED THE/THIS SITUATION TO A CERTIFIED MACHINIST/MECHANIC, WITHOUT HESITATION PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN RACK AND PINION STEERING. I HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL, IN REGARDS TO SAFETY, TO RENT A VEHICLE IN ORDER TO LEAVE MY SMALL AND SOMEWHAT ISOLATED HOME TOWN. SINCERELY, [XXX] *TR”
Tires
6 reports1 crash
“FIRESTONE, AFFINITY, P21560R15; WHILE LOOKING OVER TIRES NOTICED ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES GROVE HAD CRACKS AROUND TIRES.*AK CONSUMER STATED UPON LOOKING AT TIRES, HE NOTICED THAT THEY CONTAINED CRACKS IN ALL 4, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMERS T HAT TIRES WERE OK.*SLC”
Service brakes, hydraulic
5 reports
“VEHICLE TENDS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING EVEN AFTER THE STEERING COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE SWERVES UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *AK THE STEERING VEARED TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. BRAKE POWER BOOSTER PUMP WENT OUT LEAVING THE VEHICLE BRAKELESS. *TC”
Electrical system
4 reports
“HORN IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK”
Vehicle speed control
3 reports3 crashes
“CORVETTE C5 BOUGHT ON JUNE 12TH, 98. 1G1 YY2 2G3 W51 229 86. MILES ~ 20.000: TWO CRASHES DUE TO A SUDDEN ACCELERATION AT FULL THROTTLE. FIRST ACCIDENT: APRIL 26TH, 02. I WAS STOPPED AT THE ENTRY OF A PARKING, THE ENGINE RACED AND THE CAR PLOUGHED AHEAD, ALTHOUGH I CONTINUOUSLY APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE C5 ACCELERATED AT A TERRIFIC SPEED AND STOPPED ONLY AFTER I APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND CUT THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. THE HEAD MECHANIC, ASSURED ME MY CAR WAS IN ORDER WHEN I TOOK IT BACK. I REQUESTED THE GARAGE CONSULT A GM EXPERT ON THAT SORT OF ACCIDENT. HE DID NOT COMPLY WITH THAT REQUEST.THE DYSFUNCTION OCURRED AGAIN. SECOND ACCIDENT : MAY 7TH, 03. I PARKED. I HAD, AT THE END OF THIS MANEUVER, THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, (TO SLOW THE CAR WHICH AT THIS TIME CRAWLED), WHEN THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. THE C5 STOPPED AFTER I JAMMED ON THE BRAKE AND CUT THE IGNITION REMARKS AND CONCLUSION. THE C5 SUDDENLY TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN, THE THROTTLE IN A FULL OPEN POSITION, WITHOUT THE DRIVER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE SOON ENOUGH TO AVOID THE ACCIDENTS. ONLY SWITCHING OFF THE IGNITION WAS EFFECTIVE TO STOP THE…”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.