Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On 08.25.2003 sun Chevrolet (in pittsburgh, pa) performed recall work on my 1998 Chevy Cavalier. This was classified as "rack and pinion campaign 02049, ma-96-v0948.7". At that time the only part listed on my receipt as being installed on the Cavalier was bearing k 6.835 a. Recently I have been encountering difficulty turning the steering wheel, where it feels as though the power steering has become disabled intermittently. This is very startling when it occurs, and has LED to several "near misses" in traffic when trying to negotiate turns. So, on 07.21.2005, I took the vehicle back to sun Chevrolet for them to evaluate this problem. They told me the vehicle needs a new "steering gear" for $1168.95, and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. …
I was attempting to turn left to pull out of a parallel parking space when I heard something pop and it suddenly felt as if my car had lost all power steering. One month later I heard of rack and pinion steering recall on 1998 cavaliers which is what I drive and my car had all of the effects of what were listed. After taking my car into a Chevy dealer, I was told my car did not fit the recall and that I needed a whole new transmission. I asked if they had checked my transmission fluid, and they said yes that there was plenty and that I would have to pay 1200 for a new transmission. I declined their services to fix my vehicle and later had my uncle who is an airplace mechanic take a look at it. He told me there was nothing wrong with my transmission I was just very very low on fluid. …
When driving at low speeds steering wheel locked up. Consumer towed the vehicle to dealer for inspection. However, mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem. Consumer went to a mechanic to have a recall repair on the vehicle (type of recall repair wasn't stated). When the repair was finished, consumer heard a noise in the vehicle. Consumer asked the mechanic where the noise was coming from. The mechanic couldn't figure out the cause of the noise and thought that the noise was coming from the belt for the air conditioner. Consumer decided to have it consulted to a different mechanic. Vehicle was driven to the mechanic by (presumably) a friend of the consumer. As the driver was about to resume coming from a stop sign, steering rack and pinion mechanism fell which also LED to steering lock-up. The steering failure resulted the driver to over turn vehicle into a ditch. …
There was a recall on the steering rack and pinion on 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier build in 4-01-1997 to 10-31-1997 mine was made 11-01-1997. I know that what the problem is with mine because at times I can't turn the wheel at all when I slow down. The reason I'm writing about this is I would like to know if there been other reports on this problem with other 98 cavaliers made at this time. I would like a report sent to general motors to see if they will go good for this part. I have a child and I feel this is a safety that they should go good for it and have it fix by a dealer and they should pay the dealer for the problem. Please email me back . You have my email address. I would like to hear back on this real soon. Thank you.
Chevrolet cavlier 1998 - the car is only 5 1/2 years old with 33,000 miles on it. I have had steering issues for more than 3 years with this car. I can not parallel park or make hard turns with out the steering locking up or forcing me to you my entire body weight to ge the wheel to move. When I've taken it to a dealership they simply say this is how the car is designed use the gas and that a recall has not been issued although according to this web page there has been. Apparantly according to GM my VIN number is not included in the nov/2002 recall for steering rack/pinion which sounds as if it is exactly what the problem is and that there are no recalls scheduled in the future.
I was experiencing trouble in my car when iturned left at low speeds. If felt almost as though I was losing power in the steering part of my car. Shortly after that, a friend of mine emailed me a notice tham Chevy was conducting a recall on my car type and described the same problem that I was having. The article from reuters said that it cause accidents but no fatalities. I immediately got my car fixed and was told that there was not an official recall out yet. I waited and once the recall was out, my car was not included. My car fits all of the parameters of the recall and was experiencing the same problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. While driving in reverse approximately 5 MPH, the contact attempted several times to turn the steering wheel but the steering wheel would not respond. The failure was a continuous occurrence in any selected gear. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 02V286000 (steering: rack and pinion) but was advised that his VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired for the failure. The vehicle was no longer being driven. The failure mileage was 139,000. Updated 5/24/11 updated 1/18/2012
The rack and pinion on my car failed as I was driving it. I had to have it replaced. Although there is a recall on the lower pinion seperation as of jan. 2003, it only seems to cover a certain range of VIN #'s for this make. My mechanic called in jan. Of '03, but was not able to obtain any information on it. I guess until a large number of people complain, and there are no injuries, the manufacturere does not take it seriously. I have 3 young kids, and I can not wait for a fatality for the manufacturer to acknowledge there is a problem.
A recall repair on the steering mechanism was performed in 2003; less than four years later, the same repair was needed at an exorbitant cost due to the failure of the recall-replaced part. Chevy refused monetary assistance. Is it common practice to place defective parts in recalls so the consumer has to pay the repair, hence the company getting their money back for the recall repair? Thank goodness no one was injured when the steering mechanism broke.
As listed in the May 2004 c.r. The recalls on the Chevrolet lumina, monte carlo, and malibu 97-98 on replacing the pinion bearing in power-steering gear could separate and allow pinion shaft to move. I have had the same problem on my 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, whereas I could barely turn my steering wheel to the right while turning. My rack and pinion had to be replaced by the dealer. Why is this not included in your recall listings.
Related recalls
Steering › Rack and pinion
Certain passenger vehicles and Mini vans have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These and some other retainers used in vehicles assembled between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began January 24, 2003.
Steering complaints in other Cavalier years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the steering of the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier, 16% of the model year's 345 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (31 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-286 (rack and pinion, Nov 4, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.