# NHTSA recall 98V146000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 98V146000
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Reported: 1998\-06\-29
- Owners notified: 1998\-08\-11
- Component: AIR BAGS
- Units potentially affected: 675302

## What is wrong

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.


## What can happen

AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH GREAT FORCE AND CAN SERIOUSLY INJURE UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANTS WHO ARE TOO CLOSE TO THEM.


## The 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 \(1\-888\-327\-4326\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-04\-01 to 1996\-08\-31.
- [1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-05\-31.
- [1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-04\-01 to 1996\-08\-31.
- [1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-05\-31.

## Investigated as EA98001 and RQ98013

This recall followed 2 NHTSA investigations. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA98001: Engineering analysis, opened 1998\-01\-23, closed 1998\-07\-31. OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS. AIR BAGS.
- RQ98013: Recall query, opened 1998\-08\-26. OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS. AIR BAGS.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V146000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V146000/investigations)

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V146000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/98V146000)

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