Most common 1998 Chevrolet Prizm problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Prizm complaints by model year
Best Prizm years: 2002, 2000. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
What 1998 Chevrolet Prizm owners say
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The car accelerates and deaccelerates on its own and cause the steering to malfunction.
1998 Chevrolet Prizm engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 34 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Prizm rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Prizm at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm?
The air bags — 6 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the seat belts (3) and steering (3).
How many recalls does the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Chevrolet Prizm. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Prizm?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Chevrolet Prizm years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Chevrolet Prizm problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 133,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.