1998 Chevrolet Prizm
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Chevrolet › Prizm › 1998
These records cover every 1998 Chevrolet Prizm. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm. Newest first.
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 and remedy
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.
Remedy
Ride control will notify owners of record and replace the affected parts free of charge. the safety recall began on march 15, 2010. owners may contact ride control at 1-248-458-1396.
Owner complaints
27 complaints6 involved a crash2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- 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…
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.
- 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…
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.
- 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!!
- 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…
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. *la
- Electrical system › Horn
Horn IS inoperative. Dealer notified. *Ak
- Seats
Consumer states that in a rear end collison both front bucket seat backs collapsed backwards on impact.
- 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.*ak
- 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. *Ak
- 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.*ak
- 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
- 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.*ak
- Tires
Tire blew & bursted. Causing loss of control. Car pulled to extreme right. *ak (dot number: W17J FL6 tiresize: p185/65r14)
- Air bags › Frontal · Air bags › Side/window · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner · Structure › Body › Trunk lid
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…
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 *ML
- Air bags › Frontal
Airbag light comes on indicating a problem with the front or side driver's & passenger's airbags, which may deploy unexpectedly or wont deploy at all in event of a crash, failing to protect the occupants. been to dealer since oct. 24, 1999, and dealer cannot determine the cause of the problem. manufacturer said they may rewire the vehicle,s system. *ak
- 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. *Ak
- Structure › Body › Door
Power lock botton became loose. yh
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
ABS light IS coming on and staying on.consumer contacted dealer. *Ak
- Steering › Column locking › Anti-theft device
Security system failed, purchased from separate source. yh
- Tires
Tire experienced blowout. firestone - dot w18jf6l497, size - p175/65r14.
- Steering · Vehicle speed control
The car accelerates and deaccelerates on its own and cause the steering to malfunction.
- Tires
Driving on highway, the tires grooved in the road, making it unstable to control steering. on five occasions driver lost control, attempting to veer from hitting another vehicle. Ritchey fipps chevrolet IS aware of another vehicle having same problem in which they can't determine cause. *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Seat belt will not retract when unfastened and driver side door IS opened. when driver exits vehicle, seat belt flies out of car, hitting the outside of the car. the unretracted belt also prevents car door from shutting until manually retracted.
- Suspension › Front › Stabilizer bar
Vehicle IS not equpped with the front stabilizer bar, which could cause vehicle to roll over when making a turn. *ak *ML
- Vehicle speed control › Linkages
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. *ak
- Steering
While driving 70 mph or more the steering system malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to sway from side to side which almost resulted in an accident. cause unknown, dealer cannot determine problem. *ak
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10248444Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10232287This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10208027This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10171318This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10168979This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
- 10166638This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10165876This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
- 10157018This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10154641This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10141381This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10138060This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10137901This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85 vehicle.
- 10114947This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10114924This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10113443This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10113258This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Supplemental Inflatable Restraint lamp, Service Vehicle Soon lamp on and/or radio locked, possibly after module replacement. Technician will need to check for an incorrect or non-existent VIN number in modules that require them. Technician should ensure that all modules that are replaced are programmed per currently published Service Information. Technician should also check the Sensing and Diagnostic Module part number if it was replaced.
- 10082506This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in colder ambient temperature areas due to calibration concerns.
- 10010596Service engine soon light due to dtcs p0440 p0441 and or p0446.
- 10009581Fuel tank pressure parameter information.
- 6092333Some customers may comment that the black plastic housing around the outside rear view mirror turns chalky or IS dull in color.
- 601055Comments of a delayed upshift when the cruise control IS engaged.
Every Chevrolet Prizm model year
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