Complaints
33
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Chevrolet Prizm Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#13 complaints
Airbags
Crash-related:1
#23 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:1
#33 complaints
Tire Defects
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Column Locking:Anti-Theft Device
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Chevrolet Prizm Years
1998 Chevrolet Prizm — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1998 Chevrolet Prizm has 33 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 3 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
Top reported problems: Airbags (3 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (3 complaints); Tire Defects (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Prizm reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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