Total Complaints
4 filings
CHEVROLET IMPALA · model year
1998 CHEVROLET IMPALA
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998CHEVROLETIMPALA carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 IMPALA is steering:rack and pinion with 1 filings, followed by power train (1) and steering (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 IMPALA, 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.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20151219POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL CAR LOCKS UP ALL THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, MAKES LOUD NOISE I THINK FROM AC AND IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK WANT TURN SOMETIMES. HAVE TO GET HUBS FIXED AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH JUST STARTED
Mileage: 120,000
20151219STEERING
TAKATA RECALL CAR LOCKS UP ALL THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, MAKES LOUD NOISE I THINK FROM AC AND IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK WANT TURN SOMETIMES. HAVE TO GET HUBS FIXED AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH JUST STARTED
Mileage: 120,000
20151219WHEELS
TAKATA RECALL CAR LOCKS UP ALL THE TIME WHEN TRYING TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, MAKES LOUD NOISE I THINK FROM AC AND IGNITION SWITCH GETS STUCK WANT TURN SOMETIMES. HAVE TO GET HUBS FIXED AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH JUST STARTED
Mileage: 120,000
20050817FireSTEERING:RACK AND PINION
THE STEERING WAS HARD WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, AS IF THE VAN DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. MAKING RIGHT TURNS DIDN'T REQUIRE ANY EFFORT AT ALL, IT TURNED TOO EASY. CITY CHEVROLET FIXED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER VENTURES THAT WERE LISTED IN THE RECALL. FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY I HAD TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED AND COULDN'T WAIT FOR A MANUFACTURE RECALL ON MY VAN'S VIN# BECAUSE AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T A RECALL
Compare 1998CHEVROLETIMPALA 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 IMPALA have?▼
The 1998 CHEVROLET IMPALA has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET IMPALA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET IMPALA is STEERING:RACK AND PINION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and STEERING.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET IMPALA 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.