1995 Chevrolet Lumina Suspension Problems

ON OR ABOUT 10-6-10 I ASSISTED MY GRANDSON IN PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A CAR LOT IN CLEVELAND OHIO. THE CAR WAS A 1995 CHEVY LUMINA. WE WERE TOLD THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED AT AN AUCTION IN PA. AND DRIVEN TO CLEVELAND WITHOUT A PROBLEM. I PAID $635 FOR THE DOWNPAYMENT WITH ADDITIONAL $300 TO BE PAID BY 11-5-10 FOR A TITLE TRANSFER. THEN $200 A MONTH THEREAFTER FOR 12 MONTHS. WE LEFT WITH AN ELATED YOUNG MAN WHO NOW HAD A WAY TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK FOR HIS TWO JOBS. THE NEXT DAY HE TAKES IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND IS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, LEAKING GASKETS, BAD STRUTS, RUSTED FLOOR, AND LEAK IN GAS TANK AND TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT DAY, IT STOPPED RUNNING. CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOWED IT AND CLAIMED TO REPAIR LEAKING TRANS. THREE DAYS LATER IT STOPS AGAIN, THEY TOW IT FROM I-480 HIGHWAY AND EACH TOW WE HAVE TO PAY THEM $45. THEY ARE GIVEN A LIST OF REPAIRS NEEDED, EVEN THOUGH PURCHASED WITH NO WARRANTY THE CAR BARELY LEAVES THE LOT BEFORE IT BREAKS DOWN. ON PAYDAY, HE GETS CAR BACK THIS TIME AND FILLS TANK UP ONLY FOR HIS JOB PARKING LOT TO BE COVERED WITH LEAKING GAS AND THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. ARE CALLED AND TELL HIM NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AS THE LEAK IS A DEATH TRAP. AGAIN I PAY FOR A TOW FROM AAA $64. THEY ARE INFORMED AND STATE THEY PUT A GAS TANK ON AND THAT WE CANNOT CONTACT THEM REGARDING ANYMORE PROBLEMS. TWO DAYS AGO THE CAR STOPS AGAIN, BATTERY DEAD. I PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY AND TODAY, THE STABILIZER BAR FALLS AND THE STRUTS ARE HANGING LEAVING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE REGARDING UNSCRUPULOUS DEALERS THAT SELL THESE HARD WORKING PEOPLE UNRELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10363945

Incident

Oct 9, 2010

Mileage

137,000 mi

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH DOWN A CIRCULAR RAMP IN A PARKING GARAGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL DID A 90 DEGREE TURN OUT OF THE CAR. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE BALL JOINTS FRACTURING. THERE WAS NO INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101983

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. DEALERSHIP INFORM EDTHE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM PERTAINED TO THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT FAILURE, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079803

Incident

May 16, 2004

THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING SLOWLY OR TURNING. SUPER LUBE REPLACED THE LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT BECAUSE IT HAD CRACKED. THERE WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS PART ON SOME LUMINA'S, BUT WHEN I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THE DEALER, BOTH CLAIMED THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10078605

Incident

May 9, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

NHTSA#94-V-230-000: THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10008906

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

70,860 mi

WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 55 WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO MAKE A NOISE LIKE I HAD A FLAT. WHEN I SAFELY STOP THE CAR AND LOOKED THERE WERE NO FLAT TIRES. DROVE ON SHOULDER AS NOISE STARTED AGAIN AT 20 MPH. STOPPED AND LOOKED AGAIN AND SAW THAT THE OUTSIDE SUPPORT BROKE IN HALF. OTHER SUPPORT OK ALINEMENT SUPPORT BENT. THIS MOST LIKELY FROM THE SUPPORT BREAKING. NO ONE AT THE DEALER WERE I HAD THE CAR FIXED HAS EVER SEEN ONE BREAK BEFORE. MAYBE A PROBLEM. DT

NHTSA ID

770373

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT FRACTURED. THIS FAILURE PULLED THE HALF SHAFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED THE RIGHT TIRE TO FLIP BACK DAMAGING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. *MR *NLM

NHTSA ID

8022681

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY SHE HEARD A NOISE. THE UPPER BALLJOINT BROKE. THE RIGHT TIRE CAME OFF ALSO THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8021604

Incident

Oct 14, 2002

RECALL 94 V 230 00/FRONT CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT; RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WHILE MAKING A TURN. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

898884

Incident

Sep 12, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH LOST STEERING CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH, THE WHEEL BEARINGS HAD NOT BEEN SEALED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.*AK THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER WITH THE REPAIRS STATING THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, ALSO HOW MANY TIMES VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED.*JB

NHTSA ID

896729

Incident

Sep 19, 2001

RIGHT FRONT SIDE WOULD BE MAKING LOUD NOISES. OWNER BELIEVES IT WAS LOWER BALL JOINT THAT WAS CAUSING PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED FOR CANADA.*AK

NHTSA ID

884879

LEFT BALL JOINT FELL APART WHILE LEAVING PARKING LOT. THEN WHEEL WEDGED INTO TIRE WELL AND BENT BODY METAL. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE AXLE SHAFT TO COME APART. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

724144

Incident

Jun 2, 2000

THERE IS ALOT OF PLAY WITHIN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM/BALL JOINT WHICH CAUSES VIBRATION. ALSO, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL WILL GO A DIFFERENT WAY, AND CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

847891

Incident

Jul 1, 1999

IT APPEARS THAT THE BALL JOINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO COME TO A SCREACHING HAULT. THE WHEEL JAMMED INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND BENT OUT THE FENDER. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTERWARDS AND MADE A SCREACHING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTED TO START IT.

NHTSA ID

709076

Incident

Jul 21, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED, CAUSING TIRE TO LOCK INSIDE THE FENDER, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID

840250

Incident

Jun 16, 1999

LUG NUTS BENT.

NHTSA ID

543998

Incident

Apr 7, 1995

RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRE,WHEEL,CV BOOT,AND FENDER

NHTSA ID

701798

Incident

Dec 25, 1998

1. BATTERY FAILED TO TURN ENGINE OVER 3 DIFFERNT TIMES IN ONE DAY. TURN THE KEY AND IT JUST CLICKS. TOWED IT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS THE BATTERY FAILED LOAD TEST. RELACED BATTERY. 2. A RUBBING NOISE IS HEARD FROM THE REAR WHEN TURNING. DEALER FOUND REAR STABILIZER BUSHING ON RR STRUT OUT OF POSITION. RR STABILIZER SHAFT TO POSITION PROPERLY. 3. POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT AND LEFT ACTUATOR BUMPERS. CAME OUT OF ACTUATORS. 4. BRAKE SQUEAL NOISE UP FRONT. DEALER INSPECTS FRONT BRAKES AND CONCLUDES APPROX. 3-5K LEFT ON FRONT BRAKES. MILEAGE AT THIS POINT IS ONLY 16345.

NHTSA ID

700895

Incident

Mar 11, 1997

VEHICLE HIT HEAD-ON. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. VEHICLE TOWED. AFTER REPAIRS, VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT/TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY/ DOOR LOCKS GO UP & DOWN WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKING IS VERY HARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

830313

Incident

Dec 24, 1997

STEERING COLUMN MAKES NOISE.

NHTSA ID

542182

Incident

Nov 14, 1995

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED HARD, DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD SLIDE FORWARD OFF TRACK. FENDER WOULD IMPEDE ITS PROGRESS. PASSENGER'S DOOR FAILS TO OPEN. BRAKES: BRAKE PADS WORN DOWN. FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO RIGHT/TIRES TO WEAR OUT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

828244

Incident

Jul 2, 1998

THE DRIVER'S SIDE LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSING THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD TO SEPARATE AND SPLIT THE BOOT.

NHTSA ID

530863

Incident

Dec 17, 1997

RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO WHEEL/STRUT/BRAKES AND FENDER.

NHTSA ID

520030

Incident

Mar 20, 1997

THERE IS A THUMPING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN THE VAN IS ACCELERATED OR DECELERATED.

NHTSA ID

516657

MISALIGNMENT AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS.

NHTSA ID

509506

Incident

Sep 2, 1995