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1998 problems

FaultScore report

1998 Chevrolet Prizm problems

Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm with NHTSA between 1998 and 2012. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 5 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Prizm All 1998 cars

FaultScore 64/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Prizm.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 43: Against the median year of the Chevrolet Prizm. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100: 27.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported: Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1998 compares with every other Chevrolet Prizm

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 2 1 33 47 32 59 20

90 91 96 98 99 00 01 02

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Airbags 7 21.2%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 125,000 mi

Seat Belts 3 9.1%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

Tires 3 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Steering 3 9.1%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 3 9.1%

Median failure at 34,000 miles

Doors, Latches & Locks 2 6.1%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 6.1%

2 crashes, 0 fires

Suspension 2 6.1%

Body & Structure 2 6.1%

Brakes 2 6.1%

Equipment & Accessories 1 3.0%

Seats 1 3.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 3.0%

Median failure at 132,900 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 3.0%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 25.0%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 2 50.0%

150,000+ miles 1 25.0%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.

Configuration	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
1998 Chevrolet Prizm 4-DR.	—	—	—	—

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 1998 peak 5 Dec 2012

Recalls on the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

10E002000 11 Feb 2010

SUSPENSION

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 11 Dec 2012 at 125,000 miles Butler, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10487999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Oct 2002 Baltimore, MD Crash

SEATS

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A REAR END COLLISON BOTH FRONT BUCKET SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ON IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint #8020340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Mar 2001 Gainesville, FL Crash

TIRES

TIRE BLEW & BURSTED. CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR PULLED TO EXTREME RIGHT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W17J FL6 TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

NHTSA complaint #741547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Jan 2000 Boca Raton, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, AND AS A RESULT OF AN ACCICENT BY HITING A WALL, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #854751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Feb 1999 Rocky Point, NY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CAR ACCELERATES AND DEACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #703067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Feb 1999 Rocky Point, NY Crash

STEERING

THE CAR ACCELERATES AND DEACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #703067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 11 Dec 2012 at 125,000 miles Butler, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

NHTSA complaint #10487999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Feb 2012 at 150,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES FAILED AND THE SEAT BELTS COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECEPTACLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10448334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Jul 2005 Riverside, CA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I BOUGHT MY 98 CHEVY PRIZM IN OCT. 1999. WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS THE DOOR HANDLES STARTED TO BREAK, ONE AFTER ANOTHER. I TRIED TO GET CHEVROLET TO REPAIR THEM WHEN 2 HANDLES WERE BROKE, AND WHEN 5 WERE BROKE, SAID I NEED DIAGNOSIS, COSTS MONEY, I DONT HAVE, NOW 8 ARE BROKEN. MY CAR IS A DEATH TRAP!!

NHTSA complaint #10128684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Nov 2003 at 132,900 miles Bonner Springs, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1ST TIME: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TOTAL INTERNAL, AT AROUND 63000 MILES, EARLY SUMMER 2000. CALLED CHEVROLET FOR REQUEST ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR, REQUEST DENIED. MAINTENANCE DONE PER SCHEDULE. REPLACED WITH USED TRANSMISSION WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. 2ND TIME: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, INTERNAL. REVERSE AND NEUTRAL GO FORWARD. ABOUT 132900 MILES ON CAR. NOVEMBER 2003. CAR SET IN NEUTRAL NEARLY HIT CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. MAINTENANCE DONE PER SCHEDULE. OVERHAULED/REBUILT AT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA complaint #10047297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Jun 2003 at 34,000 miles Yukon, OK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #10022810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Oct 2002 Baltimore, MD Crash

SEATS

CONSUMER STATES THAT IN A REAR END COLLISON BOTH FRONT BUCKET SEAT BACKS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS ON IMPACT.

NHTSA complaint #8020340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Aug 2002 Shaker Heights, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS LIGHT WENT ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING. COMPUTER CHECK AT QUA BUICK-PONTIAC IN SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH 216 561-1177 IN OCTOBER 2001 REVEALED THAT THE PMV VALVE HAD FAILED. MILEAGE AT TIME WAS 52,836. PART LISTED WAS $1,046. ISN'T THIS EARLY TO HAVE AN ABS FAILURE? ARE THERE OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS? PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #765585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Dec 2001 Milwaukee, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN STARTER WHICH CAUSED A ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT TO OCCUR ,CAUSING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #8001119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Dec 2001 Milwaukee, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE FROZE UP/ NOTHING WOULD WORK. STARTER BURNED UP EVERYTHING IN THE DASH.

NHTSA complaint #8001158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 27 Aug 2001 Alexandria, VA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND FLASH. DEALER WOULD THEN REPLACE AIRBAG MODULE. LIGHT HAD COME ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ON SECOND INCIDENT AIRBAG WAS RESET. ON THIRD INCIDENT DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG COMPUTER RELAY.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #895260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 2 Jul 2001 Teaneck, NJ

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD FLASHES ON AND OFF, INDICTATING A DEFECT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND INFORMED THAT AIR BAG MODULE HAS SHORTED OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #891799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Mar 2001 Gainesville, FL Crash

TIRES

TIRE BLEW & BURSTED. CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. CAR PULLED TO EXTREME RIGHT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W17J FL6 TIRESIZE: P185/65R14)

NHTSA complaint #741547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Jul 2000 Taft, TN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER HAS FRONTAL & SIDE AIRBAGS. THEY DON'T DEPLOY, BUT THE SENSORS GO OUT WHICH MEANS THEY WILL NOT WORK & THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED THROUGH THE DEALER 5 TIMES. GMC SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD ORDER ANOTHER PART. VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SURGES, AC TROUBLE, AND TRUNK LEAKING, FOR ALL OF WHICH VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR. *AK