Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1998 vs 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 335 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 30.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	1998 share	1999 share	Share change
SERVICE BRAKES	13.2%	17.7%	▲ 4.4 pts larger share
STRUCTURE	7.4%	2.9%	▼ 4.4 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN	1.8%	5.9%	▲ 4.1 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM	2.4%	5.5%	▲ 3.1 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	17.1%	14.3%	▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
STEERING	13.5%	10.9%	▼ 2.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION	1.5%	3.8%	▲ 2.3 pts larger share
AIR BAGS	8.5%	6.7%	▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY	2.9%	4.2%	▲ 1.3 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS	1.8%	2.9%	▲ 1.2 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	3.8%	2.9%	▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
WHEELS	1.2%	0.4%	▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
ENGINE	13.2%	12.6%	▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	2.9%	3.4%	▲ 0.4 pts larger share
TIRES	0.3%	not reported	▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE	0.3%	0.4%	▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	80.6%	75.6%	▼ 5.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

1998 11

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STEERING, and WHEELS

1999 8

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, and FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21