AI Damage1998 Chevrolet Prizm: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 22% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 11% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 11% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 7% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Air bags: 6 complaints (22% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Steering: 3 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Tires: 3 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer states that in a rear end collison both front bucket seat backs collapsed backwards on impact.
Tire blew & bursted. Causing loss of control. Car pulled to extreme right. (dot number: w17j fl6 tiresize: p185/65r14)
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.
The car accelerates and deaccelerates on its own and cause the steering to malfunction.
Consumer has experienced a problem with accelerator. Accelerator made the vehicle move by itself, causing the consumer to be involved in a frontal collision. The manufacturer has not been contacted.
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.
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!!
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,189 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Prizm has 19 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 27, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, seat belts. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (11%), seat belts (11%), unintended acceleration (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.