Vehicle recall 98V146000 · June 29, 1998
Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Because of certain calibrations in the air bag's sensing and diagnostic module, an inadvertent air bag deployment could occur in a low speed crash or when an object strikes the floor pan.
- Consequence
- Air bags deploy with great force and can seriously injure unrestrained occupants who are too close to them.
- Remedy
- Dealers will recalibrate the air bag sensing and diagnostic module.
- Notes
- Owner notification began during August 1998.OWNERS who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1022 or Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.ALSO contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4326).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 98V146000
- Reported to NHTSA
- June 29, 1998
- Filed by
- GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Owner notification
- August 11, 1998
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 675,302
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Air bags
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Chevrolet Cavalier (1996-1997): 1997, 1996
- Pontiac Sunfire (1996-1997): 1997, 1996
Has your Chevrolet been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Chevrolet dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.