Total Complaints
20 filings
CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL · model year
1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL
20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETCONVENTIONAL carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 CONVENTIONAL is service brakes, hydraulic with 2 filings, followed by exterior lighting:turn signal (1) and visibility:power window devices and controls (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1998 CONVENTIONAL, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20061017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
Mileage: 78,000
20041130SUSPENSION
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130STRUCTURE
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130EQUIPMENT
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
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
Mileage: 35,530
20041130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
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
Mileage: 35,530
20040114SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
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
20040114SEATS
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
20020521STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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
20000322ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL FILTER HOUSING FAILED. YH
19990930STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
PLUG FOR SECURITY SYSTEM FAILED. YH
19990930SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED. YH
19990420ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WATER PUMP FAILED.
19990420POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED.
19990406EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WORKS WITH TRAILER HOOKED UP, BUT WITHOUT USE OF TRAILER, TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK.
19990406VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH CAUSES DRIVER'S KNEE TO INADVERTENTLY HIT THE SWITCH AND THE WINDOW TO GO UP.
Compare 1998CHEVROLETCONVENTIONAL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL have?▼
The 1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL and VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET CONVENTIONAL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.