1998 Chevrolet Cavalier vs 1998 Ford Mustang
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier | 1998 Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 345 | 236 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 105 | 173 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 36 | 44 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 18–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 83,656 mi | 88,900 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Cavalier | Ford Mustang |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 55 | 40 |
| Electrical System | 66 | 12 |
| Steering | 54 | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 54 | 13 |
| Air Bags | 34 | 15 |
| Power Train | 16 | 21 |
| Structure | 28 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 30 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 5 |
| Steering problems | 5 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
1998 Ford Mustang
Compare all Chevrolet Cavalier vs Ford Mustang years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.